How Jonathan Training Changed Our Ministry

I honestly don’t remember if we even knew what Jonathan Training was before we took it or if we just knew that it was required and that we were available when it was being offered. But boy, did it change us! I think it would be beneficial for every Christ follower to take!

Jonathan Training was like a missing puzzle piece of evangelism and discipleship that we never knew existed. We have the Bible for instruction obviously, but we realized that throughout our lives, it had been overwhelming to try to explain our faith (or even what the Bible is about without just giving the Sunday School answer of “Jesus.” It’s such a thick book, what if we forgot one of the important parts?!) We would invite friends to youth group or church and hope the minister would take the baton from there. That was the beginning and end of our part in evangelism and discipleship.

We had always felt unqualified to give a testimony because the only ones we had ever heard had been from people who had gone through “real” tough times. Both of our lives (at least through high school) had been fairly easy. We had both grown up in our church with families who also believed and were supportive and loving. How could we stand up in front of our youth group and tell them how Jesus had radically changed our lives when our lives had been so uneventful?

But now, because of Jonathan Training, we understand that the testimony doesn’t necessarily have to include a “test” but is our perspective of how we were and then how Jesus changed us, and that change is our personal perspective of Jesus’ existence and transformative power.

Since Jonathan Training, we have taught the simple tools we learned: Creation to Jesus, 3-circles, the formula of testimony, prayer walking, 3-thirds, etc.

We were able to present to the high school youth group and several adult Sunday school classes at our church. We have a couple of 3-thirds Bible studies, and one study has resulted in our friend regularly attending church for the first time in her life, but we also understand discipleship better now, that it must be long-term and personal, it is our race to continue with her, and we can’t pass off the baton to our lead minister and hope our friend will continue her own relationship with Jesus. We continue working through the Bible with her, studying Jesus’ life as well as “important” Old Testament stories and figures.

We started a garden this past spring and we have come to understand the parable of the sower a little more intimately. When plants are seedlings, the gardener must work overtime to protect the baby plant from the scorching sun, drought, and even heavy rainfall or the plant will die, even if the soil and roots are good. It’s the same with baby Christians. We can’t just get them “in the doors” and then leave them to fend for themselves. They require prayer against spiritual warfare, communication, studying, explanation of new concepts, etc.

I can’t express enough how Jonathan Training changed our thought processes and helped us grow more confident in exactly how we can be obedient in our part of helping to fulfill the Great Commission.

Do you want to experience the life-changing transformation of Jonathan Training? Learn more and sign up to participate!