Four Factors Challenging the Ministry of Discipleship
In the closing plenary of the Missio Nexus 2026 Mission Leaders Conference (September 26) Dr. Ted Esler, summarized the findings of Missio’s yearlong research into the challenges the global church is facing in the ministry of discipling the nations that Jesus called us to in Matthew 28:18-20. Watch Why Discipleship Doesn’t Scale.
His four findings give us pause:
- The church lacks a common language for the ministry of discipleship.
- Discipleship is not scalable.
- Shallow discipleship is the number one global risk factor confronting the Great Commission.
- Our church structures work against deep discipleship.
Ted points out that we put too much “emphasis on a scaling metric instead of a growing metric.” It’s a lot easier to talk about the number of churches being planted or the number of people coming to Christ through our evangelism ministries. It is much harder to measure personal spiritual growth because:
We have to give time for people to grow in Christ even if it defies our organizational and ministry definitions for growth…discipleship has a long-time horizon; it’s better done with others…and something we need to slow down while spending time with people.
Each of the four conclusions warrants a much deeper dive, and Ted calls us to address together the many questions surrounding these issues. He makes the point that the global church is well aware of the risk we are facing.
The Number One Global Risk
Citing a recent research project on global risk in the space of the Great Commission, leaders were asked about the biggest risk factors we face in missions today:
Shallow discipleship is the number one risk that mission leaders cited as a problem for the Great Commission. The survey defined shallow discipleship as spiritual immaturity and weak theological formation.
Ted goes on to ask, “If we think that shallow discipleship is our biggest risk factor, then why aren’t we working on this problem?”
One of the people surveyed made this comment:
Discipleship is the main assignment Jesus gave the church. No matter how successful the church becomes in other areas, if we fail in the first task then we have failed altogether.
Shallow discipleship was revealed in the survey to be a global problem, as the majority of those who responded to the survey were not Westerners. Many were from the Global South.
Along the Way Discipleship
As I listened to Ted’s presentation, I found myself thinking about all the ways I continue to be discipled by the brothers and sisters we are privileged to partner with for Christ’s glory and the advance of the kingdom of God. Serving alongside the church in China and the diaspora, I always learn so much and am greatly heartened in my faith, calling, and worship of Jesus. The ChinaSource Journal summer edition, July 2026, entitled Chinese Public Theology for Our Time, is just one of many examples where church leaders from various places in the diaspora share and receive from one another.
Jerry An, in his article “Public Theology Begins with God,” writes:
If churches in these different settings can listen to, converse with, and reflect upon one another, they can form a healthier and more holistic understanding and practice of public theology.
This is a form of “along the way” discipleship as we learn and grow with one another, following Jesus on mission and in fellowship with him.
Kerry Schottelkorb
President
Ways to Pray
Praise
- Praise God for those who are called to serve Christ and his people in the Mainland, regardless of the challenges before them. See “The Lockdown That Made Shanghai Home” by Lily Foster, October 13, 2026.
- Praise God for the 4,000 young people from over 50 countries who attended Arise Asia 2026 in Manila last summer. Thank him for their response to make Christ known among the nations and to remain in Christ the Vine, as they go. Please see “The Work of Remaining: What Arise Asia Taught Me About Calling, Identity, and Belonging” by Greta Li, October 12, 2026.
- Thank the Lord for parents in China walking closely with Jesus and seeking his will for the lives and growth of their children. See “When Our Children Don’t Go to School: Ten Years of Homeschooling” by Wellspring, October 6, 2023.
Prayer
- Please pray for pastors and church leaders trying to protect Christian witness and preserve regular in-person fellowship in an environment increasingly focused on preventing all religious association. Pray for wisdom, protection, unity, and for a way forward during these difficult times.
- Please pray for believers who continue to study Scripture quietly and faithfully in changing circumstances. Pray for wisdom, protection, and humility for those who teach, and for God’s Word to nourish those who may feel scattered or isolated.
- Please pray for pastors and ministry families who carry hidden burdens while serving others. Pray especially for children of church leaders who may be struggling silently, and for churches to respond to mental health needs with wisdom, compassion, and appropriate care.
Note: Greater context for these requests can be found in “The Pressures of Ordinary Faith” by the ChinaSource Team, September 28, 2026.
News and Notes
Lecture
China Academic Consortium will be hosting a public lecture on November 14, 2026, in Berkely, CA. Dr. Timothy Tseng will speak on “How Chinese Christians Saved America’s Soul.”
To learn more about this lecture, and to register, please go here. This lecture is part of the joint lecture series co-hosted by China Academic Consoritium, ChinaSource, and the U.S. China Catholic Association.
Online Event
On December 9, 2026, Joann Pittman will host ERRC’s online book club. The book we will discuss is Builders of the Chinese: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders by Wright Doyle. Bonus: the author of this book will join us!
Please register to attend the discussion at ERRChina.com. If you do sign up to participate, please take the time to read the book. That will make for a richer discussion.
ChinaSource Team News
- On September 22–24, Andrea Lee attended the Cambridge Centre for Chinese Theology’s conference, Churches in Global Chinese Communities: Chinese Ecclesiology in the Making, at the University of Cambridge, engaging with scholars on Chinese ecclesiology and the changing landscape of Chinese Christianity worldwide.
- On September 26, Joann Pittman gave a talk on the church in China at the Godward Life Conference.
- Brent Fulton peer reviewed two chapters for a forthcoming book on Chinese theological education.
- The Chinese version of Brent Fulton’s Reframing the Mission series is being used in small group settings with church leaders in China.
- Christian Daily International is continuing to republish Brent Fulton’s Reframing the Mission series.
In Case You Missed It
A selection of recently published items:
- A Story of God’s Love, ChinaSource Stories, October 20.
- Staying, Leaving, and Finding a Way Forward, ChinaSource Stories, October 19.
- Born to Not Fit In, ChinaSource Ideas, October 16.
- ZGBriefs, October 15.
- The Lockdown That Made Shanghai Home, ChinaSource Stories, October 13.
- The Work of Remaining, ChinaSource Stories, October 12.
- When Questions about Eternity Become Personal, ChinaSource Resources, October 9.
- ZGBriefs, October 8.
- When Our Children Don’t Go to School, ChinaSource Stories, October 6.
- Living at the Hyphens, ChinaSource Scholarship, October 5.
- Leaving China, Entering Mission?, ChinaSource Ideas, October 2.
- ZGBriefs, October 1.
- When Fear Sets the Table, ChinaSource Ideas, September 29.
- The Pressures of Ordinary Faith, ChinaSource Stories, September 28.
- Reframing the Mission IV, ChinaSource Ideas, September 25.
- ZGBriefs, September 24.
