How it began

The Timothy Initiative is the product of a collaborative effort by the Adult Ministry Team to address the development of an intentional disciple-making process at FBC Hendersonville, TN. The team includes: Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and Mature Adult Ministry.

Identifying the problem

Spiritual transformation among Western culture churches has been lacking in recent decades. Sounding the alarm were Francis A. Schaeffer in True Spirituality, Bill Hull in The Disciple Making Church, Dallas Willard in Renovation of the Heart, David Platt in Radical, and Jim Putman in Real-Life Discipleship. Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer in Transformational Church said, "We have churches filled with knowledgeable religious people not living on mission, wasting their time criticizing those who are."

Stating the problem

What is the problem? The church has failed to make disciples who re-produce themselves in making other disciples. In Real-Life Discipleship, Jim Putman said, "We have no idea that conversion is just the beginning of a spiritual growth process and that what comes next - discipleship - will determine if a person matures spiritually to a stage where that disciple experiences real change that others will notice."

We must avoid the trap popularized in Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes". Two weavers make an Emperor a new suit of clothes they report are invisible to those unfit for their position, stupid, or incompetent. The Emperor cannot see the clothing but is afraid to admit it. All his subjects likewise refuse to admit the obvious. Finally a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" Such child-like honesty establishes a foundation for significant change to be addressed.

Addressing the problem

Jesus gave the church an explicit mandate to "make disciples." (Matt 28:19) That is why the church exists. Focusing on disciple making, reproducing our faith, must be at the forefront of all church activity. Bill Hull states in The Disciple Making Church, "The real evidence of success will be the constant production of reproducing disciples and leaders who become multipliers." The Timothy Initiative is a strategic disciple making plan for FBC Hendersonville, TN.