Intentional Discipleship Systems (IDS) are valuable in carrying out our mission as members of the United Methodist Church.  The NIC Discipleship Task Force has developed trained Resource Teams for each district to support churches that want to develop and maintain an Intentional Discipleship System. They met in early March to share ideas are standing by ready to help.  Find out more about IDS and see a list of trainers by clicking here.  

Here is a message from trainer and pastor Charles Straight at Faith UMC in Dolton:

At Faith Church, intentionally developing disciples also means incorporating our social principles that teach us to “improve the lives of those who suffered from debilitating conditions such as poverty, starvation, illiteracy, imprisonment, addictions, and disease”. 

We have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage the development of the fullest potential in individuals in the place where we serve. That commitment to justice and to the community of Dolton has lead us to create a year-long project to make our church a center of community life and a public resource shared by and accessible to people in Dolton. We will create a more sustainable plan for Faith Church to engage with and serve our community, invite partners to use our space, and identify new sources of revenue consistent with our mission. We believe that every step towards the goal of loving community demonstrates our commitment to love God and makes us better disciples. 

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” MLK