Who Are You Discipling?
As I visit missionaries around the world and speak with the very people they live among, I have had an unexpected realization: most of them didn’t even know what a missionary is — let alone that my friends were missionaries.
Is that good or bad? I’m still not sure.
What I do know is this: Jesus Himself commissioned us to be missionaries.
In Matthew 28:18–20, we read:
“Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” (CEV)
This call isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s for every believer. The nation you live in is part of “all nations.” Whether you’re called to go around the world or stay in your hometown, the command is the same: make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey.
It sounds like a lofty mission — and it is — but it’s not unattainable when we rely on the leading and power of the Holy Spirit.
The Call at Home
In America, we often overlook our local calling. We think missionaries are only those who travel overseas. But sometimes, we miss the very people God has placed in our care — our children, our neighbors, our coworkers.
Discipleship starts in the home and is often done by demonstration: by loving well.
That’s why our tone matters. The way we speak and the way we live leaves a lasting imprint. Paul reminds us repeatedly in the New Testament to walk in love, speak with grace, and live in a way that reflects Christ.
I remember as a child, my mom worked in real estate. She could be yelling at me one second (probably deserved!), and the next, she’d pick up the phone in the sweetest voice:
"This is Jayne, how can I help you?"
I remember thinking, “That’s so fake.” But it stuck with me. It made an impression. And it taught me — we all have moments where our walk and talk don’t match. But if even children can spot it, how much more should we be aware?
What imprint are you leaving on others?
Discipling Our Children
Do we speak to strangers more kindly than to our own children or spouse?
Our children are our first disciples. Not just in chores or schoolwork, but in knowing who God is — so they will want to make Him their God.
We teach them how to trust God, love God, and depend on God not just by words, but by how we live through the hard things. Invite them into your story. Share your struggles — in an age-appropriate way — and let them see how God is your provider, your healer, your strength.
Let them see you pray, praise, repent, and give thanks. That is discipleship.
Around the World
Yes, going into other nations often comes with extra layers — learning a new language, understanding unfamiliar customs, living in dependence on God's provision. Many missionaries can’t work in the countries they serve, so they rely entirely on God's provision through His people for everything: food, housing, medical care, even phone plans.
Even everyday choices like going for coffee or taking a vacation come with the weight of judgment. They are acutely aware that they’re spending “God’s money” — and while we all are, it feels different when you depend on donor support.
But here’s the truth: all our resources are God’s. When we give — to a missionary, a church, or someone on the street — we do it out of obedience. What the receiver does with it is between them and God. That perspective brings freedom in giving.
Love in Action
At the end of the day, the real question is: How can we love others well?
Love looks different every time. It might be:
A meal, a ride, or a warm hug
Doing someone’s laundry or simply listening
A prayer, a gift, or picking up their kids
A note, a phone call, or just sitting with them in their pain
Maybe it’s something so specific, so Spirit-led, I couldn’t even name it here.
If you want to love well, ask the Holy Spirit. He knows the person. He knows what they need.
It might take one act. It might take a lifetime. You may never see the harvest — but keep planting seeds. Stay open to what God is doing around you, in you, and through you.
Who are you discipling?
Who are you a missionary to?
Who are you teaching to obey everything Jesus has said?
Whether at home or across the world, the call is the same.