The Disciple-Making Pastor

Hull never strays into unbiblical "shepherding" theories of discipleship. He consistently develops a cogent argument for how pastors should forget about entertaining people and set about equipping their members for ministry. Unlike his more general works on disciple making, this title is geared towards leaders. Hull begins by stressing the importance of discipleship, challenging the traditionalist view that the pastor is the only one capable of doing important ministry. Later he focuses on how pastors can coach their people toward a successful multiplication ministry. - Dennis McCallum author, Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community

Bill Hull's "The Disciple-Making Pastor" is a classic in the field of local church ministry. I can't imagine a pastor being without it, or at least without the concepts and processes that Hull highlights. My ministry mentor first introduced the book to me two decades ago. The Ephesians 4:11-16 principles that Hull emphasizes changed my mindset about the role of the pastor. Before reading "The Disciple-Making Pastor," I was trained in two Evangelical schools (a fine Bible College and an excellent Seminary), yet somehow I was never exposed to "the pastor as equipper." To this day, many Evangelical pastors assume that their role is to do the work of the ministry. Hull reminds us that Christ calls pastors to equip others to do the work of the ministry. Pastors, as Hull says, are player-coaches. They are skilled ministers, but more importantly, they are skilled makers of ministers. Hull's model helps us to see that the issue really relates to whether a pastor wants to be Ed Sullivan or Milton Berle. Milton Berle reflects the pastor doing the ministry. Berle kept himself in the limelight, however, his show did not last nearly as long as Sullivan's. Ed Sullivan, on the other hand, kept putting other people in the spotlight, and his show lasted decades. More importantly, Sullivan launched the careers of many others--just as pastors ought to launch the ministry careers of their parishioners. People tend to think that pastors who equip are lazy or uncaring--"You just don't want to be bothered with visiting people in the hospital!" The true motivation for the disciple-making pastor is just the opposite--the desire is to see every member a minister. The disciple-making pastors refuses to rob people of the joy of serving others. Such pastors take great joy in distributing shepherd staffs. Hull is right; pastoral care is actually the care the entire church provides for one another. On the ship of the church, there are no passengers, only crew members. Hull is not content to talk in theory only. He provides a time-tested, proven model of disciple-making. His concluding chapters and charts are indispensable in "putting feet" to his model. Readers of "The Disciple-Making Pastor" will also want to read Hull's latest book, "Choose the Life." Here Hull continues the disciple-making premise of his earlier works, but with a greater emphasis on the relational component (the people, character development) and the spiritual focus (spiritual formation, spiritual direction). Blending these two books creates a healthy recipe for relational disciple-making. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."

Hull has written what I believe to be an excellent text challenging the reader to reconsider the priority of making disciples in the church. His underlying premise is that Christians do not stop at just leading someone to Christ, but to make disciples of others who in turn become disciplers. Among the points covered include: 1. Ways cultural influences resist the pastor's discipling-making efforts. 2. Estimated that only 7% of evangelicals are trained in evangelism and only 2% have led someone to Christ. 3. The importance of multiplying disciples. 4. Getting the flock to thinking that the kingdom of God is more than just staying inside the walls of the church. 5. Effective communicators know how to get others to understand what and why something needs to be passed on to others. 6. Description of "velcro" ministries that keep people plugged into the church until they are ready for deeper discipling. 7. What a trained disciple looks like in terms of character and ministry skills. 8. A 6-step method of classroom training and on the job training for developing disciples. Recommended. Be challenged and encouraged to do your part to make church much more than just a time of entertainment!

Having been personally discipled in a small group setting, I believe this is what the modern church has always missed. The shepherd must come to realize the tremendous gap between Sunday worship and daily practical Christian living is filled by a determined, systematic, measurable, plan of Biblical discipleship. Too many churches are little more than "pools of ignorance", lacking the ability to think critically and practice discernment, things so dearly needed today. In today's "instant gratification" mentality, this 2-3 year plan is not popular, but bears fruit lasting into eternity.

There is no shortage of work to be done by the average pastor in the average church. Yet, Christ calls us to select the excellent priority of making disciples who will reproduce themselves in others. The authors rightly insist that the church must refocus its efforts on people not programs. Pastors cannot leave this task to others, but must lead the church family through the transition. This is a must read for every pastor who is bothered by the lack of significant discipleship taking place in the church.