THE CHAPEL OF GRACE, UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI.

RELATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
MENTORING
CHAPLAINS MESSAGE AT THE END OF ITR TRAINING,
2ND 14TH MAY 2011
Visit the Chapel site: http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com

God gave the leadership of the Chapel the desire and directive towards discipleship
fruitfulness. He also confirmed this with startling signs of great response to Gods
Word and the Spirits move. In cooperation with God we began to intensify and
enhance our discipleship capacity, first from among us and now with help from the
Institute of Transformational Relationships (ITR) Jos, Nigeria. The intension is that
from now on we shall all endeavour to work continuously together to apply what
we have learned in order to produce the fruit of veritable disciples in whom Christ
is formed to become spiritual leaders for the Kingdom. All of us who have
participated in the ITR shall constitute the Relational Discipleship Ministry of The
Chapel to help our Evangelism and Follow-up Teams in order to disciple those won
to Christ in the course of our programmes.

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP is meant for growth in the Faith until the FORMATION of the
full stature and measure of CHRIST (Gal 4:19; Eph 4:13). Such mentoring involves:
not only about INFORMATION from Gods Word for UNDERSTANDING and
KNOWLEDGE (Didactically),
but also has to do with COMMUNICATION of Gods Word for SHARING and
RESPONDING (Experientially),
as well as EXEMPLIFICATION of Gods Pattern of loving-kindness and holiness
for BEHOLDING and IMITATION (Relationally),
and even REFORMATION with Gods Kingdom Principles for DISCIPLINE and
ORDER (Administratively).

Christian Spiritual Formation or Discipleship comes from exposure to a combination

of propositional SPIRITUAL TRUTH for learning and relational SPIRIT-FILLED
TRAINING for character (Eph 4:10-16). This forms Disciples that are thoroughly
furnished (2Tim 3:14-17) to do every good works of the MINISTRY and attain maturity
and stability in FAITH (Eph 4:11-14). Such Disciple are able to practice the TRUTH in
LOVE for the whole body of the Church to be built up into Christ in love, and for all
supporting parts and ligaments of Christs body to fit and knit together and so grow
completely into Christ (Eph 4:15-16).
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Eph 4:10-16
(10) The one [Jesus] who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens
so that he might fill everything.
(11) And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be
evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers,
(12) to perfect the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body
of Christ
(13) until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until
we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in Christ.
(14) Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every
wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray.
(15) Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely into the
one who is the head, that is, into Christ,
(16) in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with
which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body's growth is promoted so
that it builds itself up in love.

WHAT IS IT TO BECOME A DISCIPLE?

Tit 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;

Becoming a disciple (Mat 28:18-20; Tit 3:3-7; 1Cor 6:11) involves:

FAITH in Christ for translation/regeneration/justification/rebirth by the Holy
Spirit (Col 1:13-14) and
FOLLOWING of Christ for transformation/renewal/sanctification/growth by the
enabling Grace of God (Rom 12:1-2).

To be a true disciple one must therefore:

TRUSTINGLY COME TO CHRIST AND BE BORN INTO HIS BODY (by conviction
and conversion) and
OBEDIENTLY FOLLOW AFTER CHRIST TO MATURE INTO HIS STATURE (by
communion, consecration, conformation and commission)

WHAT IS IT TO MAKE DISCIPLES?

Making disciples is about travailing to train of disciples for SPIRITUAL FORMATION till
Christ is Formed in them (Gal 4:19). This requires:
DIVINE TRUTH of Gods immutable MESSAGE/Word as the equipping TOOL
(i.e. DOCTRINAL principles which is non-compromisable for spiritual
illumination) and
DIVINE LOVE of Christly adaptable MANNERS/Ways as the exemplifying SKILLS
(i.e. RELATIONAL patterns which is customisable for practical imitation).
We have brought you to ITR (or brought ITR to you) to acquire the latter which is very
necessary for effective Christian ministration and leadership. Over the centuries the

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Church has drawn from various aspects of Acts 2 in implementing her soul-winning
and spiritual-formation mandates:

1. By Propositional ministration of Gods WORD (messages to be acknowledged and

meanings so Disciples could acknowledge and comprehend)
Preaching and Persuasion,
Doctrinal (Instruction and Education),
Personal (Meditational Devotion Guide),

2. By our Relational exemplification in our WALK and WAYS (morals and manners so
Disciples would observe and imitate)
Mentoring and Modelling for Imitation,
Experiential (Fellowship and Worship Assemblies),

3. By our Distributional WORKS (ministrations to meet desired needs, so Disciples

are to be recipients or nowadays even clients)
Charitable Service and nowadays even Commercialised Services,
Phenomenal (Miraculous Signs and Wonders),

4. By a mixture of all these

the Word (Propositional)-
the Walk and Ways (Relational)-
the Works (Distributional).

Whatever our emphasized and customized methods, models and milieux for
training disciples in the Church, none should be allowed to either overshadow or
compete against the ministration of the absolute Truth of Gods immutable Word
(Act 6:2-4; Exo 18:17-23). We must recognise that all relations, methods and
structures are of no value without the pure seed of Gods Word sowed into our
hearts (Psa 119:140; Mat 13:23; 1Pet 2:2) and the light-lamp of Gods Word shining
on our paths (Psa 119:105). Gods Word is infallible but our relations and propositions
or methods and models are all imperfect. The Institute of Transformational
Relationships (ITR), has trained us in the biblical nitty-gritty of the age-old Relational
Discipleship method and structure which can work even in absence of literacy,
money, material and technology.

Let us move together and go beyond

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 celebration and participation at the public (ecclesial/congregational) RALLY of
thousands in the Temple court (Act 2:41-45; Act 20:7),
to also ensure
demonstration and inculcation of the personal (familial/communal)
RELATIONSHIP as between relatives from house to house (Act 2:46-47; Act
20:20).

Let us co-operate together to operate the whole counsel of God and enhance
the propositional through our relational.
the preaching (of the Word) through our patterning (of the Ways),
the message through our manners,
the truth through our love, and
the instruction through our imitation.
The exposition through our exemplification
Let us all be committed to begin to DO and to TEACH after the model of Christ (Act
1:1) and the Apostles (1Tim 4:12-16). Henceforth let our evangelistic outreaches,
Sunday school, follow-up, fellowship and other disciple-making programmes and
opportunities be loaded with relational spirit and strategy. God shall grant signs and
wonders in our midst and will daily add multitudes to our number such as are to be
saved (Act 5:12-16). Relational mentoring for walking in Christs Way involves:
showing the Way, sharing in the Way, supporting in the Way and sending in the Way.

Relational Discipleship skills and structures are indispensable for pleasing God and
bearing fruit in the Chapel of Grace, University of Maiduguri. Relational Discipleship
Ministry, is not about methodology, material and money used but about our love,
sanctity, service, sacrifice and commitment of the discipler who become all things to
all disciples in order to win them to Christ and wean them in Christ (1Cor 9:20-22).
Relational Discipleship Ministry is about raising offspring and productive successors
in the Faith (2Tim 2:1-3).

May the labours of this ITR training not be in vain in the Lord (1Cor 15:58); may we
produce fruit that abides (John 15:16) and that springs forth to everlasting life (John
4:14) in the Name of Jesus.

Thank you all for responding to this call with a ready mind. May God bless you all
beyond measure.

The Venerable Dr Ifechukwu U Ibeme.

CHAPLAIN.
Website: http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo