It starts at home.
Bambang Budijanto, Secretary General of the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA), highlights the urgent need for the Church in Asia to embrace growth through discipleship, warning that anything not growing will inevitably decay. He points out that spiritual growth requires actively helping others grow in Christ, a core aspect of Jesus’ last command. If churches neglect discipleship, they risk spiritual decline. AEA’s recent General Assembly in Mongolia focused on this critical issue, bringing together Christian leaders under the theme “Disciple or Die,” emphasizing the importance of discipleship as the Church’s mission.
Budijanto underscores that holistic discipleship is the primary strategy given by Jesus to fulfill the Church’s mission, with no middle ground—churches are either growing through discipleship or in decline. He cites studies revealing low involvement in discipleship, both in the U.S. and Asia, with younger generations particularly disengaged. Budijanto warns that neglecting discipleship is a global issue, leading to the Church’s slow decay and hindering its ability to transform the world.
Empowering younger leaders is also crucial to revitalizing the Church, according to Sanya Ladaphongpattana of Thailand, who sees a leadership crisis as a major factor in youth leaving the Church. He emphasizes the need for older generations to change their mindset and make space for young leaders to contribute now, not just in the future. Younger leaders like Rei Crizaldo of the Philippines echo this, calling for intentional involvement of youth in leadership and equipping them with theological foundations, rather than just entertainment, to help them navigate the challenges of today’s world.
Another key issue raised by leaders is the need for family-based discipleship. They argue that true discipleship starts at home, with families playing a central role in nurturing faith and instilling values. Leaders warn that neglecting this responsibility leads to dysfunction within Christian homes and weakens the Church’s foundation. They stress that parents and elders must take the lead in discipling younger generations to ensure the long-term health of the Church.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for renewal if the Church embraces intergenerational discipleship, where both older and younger members work together in following Christ. Budijanto envisions a movement of the Holy Spirit sweeping across Asia, bringing revival through mission, prayer, and discipleship initiatives that will transform the Church and the world.