Libby Talbot, vicar of St Stephen’s, Twickenham, has spent 24 years trying to work out how to create a disciple-making culture in churches. While she feels she’s yet to crack it, she’s learnt some lessons of what God could do in your context.
By Libby TalbotJune 2025
Lots of us know that churches will grow numerically a) because of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit b) if we have some resources, c) if we invest in leadership, d) if have we are faithful to Scripture. But if we want our churches to grow for the long haul, in number, breadth and depth, then the golden bullet of church growth is creating a disciple making culture. I have spent the past 24 years trying to work out how to do this, I haven’t cracked it, but I have learnt some lessons along the way which I hope may spark your imagination of what God could do in your context.
Pay attention to your own discipleship
If you are going to be an effective and authentic leader in a disciple making church, you can only lead others where you have already been. I once found myself trying to lead from a place of spiritual barrenness, it was painful and fruitless. I quickly learnt, there are no short cuts. You need to prioritise studying and dwelling in scripture, being with God in prayer, retreating with Him, share your faith, being fed, being a true worshipper.
Small Groups are essential
If you look at how Jesus discipled, he hung out with crowds, but he spent time with a few. In that way he could build authentic, deep relationships, explore the Word of God with them, encourage them to spend time with God in prayer. If that is what Jesus did, then that’s good enough for me and my church! So however you do it, whatever you call them, keep small groups central, and their leaders trained and resourced.
Offer multiple pathways of discipleship
I have never been in a church where everyone is the same with the same Christian journey. So why, when it comes to discipleship, do we expect everyone to grow as disciples in the same way? It might take more effort and resources, but we need to offer multiple ways for people to belong, learn to encounter God in scripture, worship, pray, question and serve. Even considering how introverts and extroverts worship and pray is a valuable exercise. In our church, for example, we provide opportunities for people to learn contemplative prayer or prophetic prayer ministry, to pray with others or to pray silently. You might come to a prayer gathering where in one room you can be loudly contending in the supernatural and in another silently going round prayer stations. Whether its enabling people to encounter the presence of God, take their first steps in exploring the Christian faith, or delving into scripture, its important to meet people where they are at and give them the means, the tools, the experience, to grow in knowledge, faith and love of the living God.
Invest in the discipleship and development of your core leaders
Why? So that their leadership flows from their relationship with Jesus, but also because of the principles of multiplication. I can invest in 12 people intentionally every year, who will then go on to invest in six each, taking the number of people who are being intentionally discipled within one year to 84
One of the most fruitful ways I have done this is by setting up leadership and discipleship programmes for leaders in their 20s. At St Stephen’s, we call this programme Rooted (from Col 2: 6-7) and once a month I get to spend a Saturday morning with 12 leaders in their 20’s, together exploring aspects of discipleship, personal development and leadership formation. It is all about investing in the discipleship of other leaders so that they are released to be missional disciple making leaders.
Discipleship is the Core activity!
Be a church which exists to grow disciples who make disciples. If any of the activity of your church or ministry does not fit into that brief, bin it! At St Stephen’s we have a small group called Meet and Make, on the surface it looks like a bunch of ladies of a certain age who crochet together every Monday morning. But this group is fire! Just this year 2 people have become Christians and been baptised as adults through that group and are being discipled by women in the group.
