Mission ready

Catalyst graduates first disciple-makers

A new program equipping, empowering and deploying participants for mission-minded discipleship is now offering places for 2024 after graduating its first cohort this past year.

Catalyst is an initiative of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in partnership with Avondale University. Promoted as a discipleship adventure, the 12-week non-accredited short course is for those who have “a burning desire for their lives to matter for God, regardless of age and circumstance, but need the knowledge and skills to become disciple-makers,” says Dr Gilbert Cangy, director of the division’s Institute of Discipleship.

Seven participants completed the inaugural course in November this past year. They have now returned to their local churches where, says Gilbert, they will work in their relational streams and indigenous cultures and contexts for the long term with no short-term end date and at no ongoing cost. “The graduates felt invigorated in their spiritual walk.”

Equipped to serve in a diversity of leadership positions, including as elders, small group leaders or home-based church planters, graduates of the course will work with their pastor, local church and regional conference to help grow the church, says division president Pr Glenn Townend.

Catalyst “lays a knowledge foundation that gives participants a Christ-centred confidence in the Adventist Church and in their beliefs,” says Gilbert. “They learn the disciple-making principles exemplified by Jesus. They gain an understanding and appreciation of His ministry strategy and the phases in the disciple-making journey. And they are introduced to guideposts and key tools for prophetic understanding of Daniel and Revelation.”

More importantly, adds Gilbert, the participants “experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit as they put discipleship principles into practice, as they study God’s word and as they learn to pray for and recognise people of peace, sow gospel seeds and make a gospel presentation.”

The participants say Catalyst has helped clarify life purpose and direction. Six of the seven, for example, are interested in continuing their study at Avondale—in teaching, ministry, business, outdoor leadership and individual support.