The Core of Our Mission: Disciple-making

At the very center of TEAM’s mission is a simple command from Jesus: “Make disciples.” These were some of his final words before ascending to the Father, and final words matter! This isn’t just a slogan or a strategic aim, it is a command from King Jesus to continue His work on earth. The full mission statement reads:TEAM exists to partner with the global Church to send disciples who make disciples and establish missional churches to the glory of God, but the core that gives it purpose is this command from Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:18–20.

The heart of Jesus’ command is these two words make disciples. At TEAM, we use the definition of one of our former International Directors:

A disciple is “one who moves closer to Jesus as a learner, follower, and lover, together with other disciples.”
                                                                                                                —Charlie Davis 

To make disciples is to invite people into this ongoing journey, into a life of learning from and loving Jesus, and following Him in every sphere of life, together with a community of other disciples. It is not a formula or a transaction but a relational, lifelong calling to help others grow in grace, obedience, and gospel purpose. Jesus gives the power, scope, process, context, and promise for this important work.

The Power: Rooted in His Authority and Presence

Jesus reminded His disciples of something crucial at the beginning and end of this passage:

Verse 18 begins with: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” and verse 20 ends with: “and surely I am with you always.”

This means there is no place, culture, or circumstance where Jesus does not reign—and no moment where He is absent. That truth should shape our courage and boldness as we approach disciple-making. We are not alone. We are not under-resourced. We are not helpless. Even the opposition we face is not the ultimate authority. We serve under the full authority of King Jesus and the constant presence of our Savior.

The Scope: As You Go

The call to “Go and make disciples” in the original language could be better understood as, “As you are going, make disciples.” That is, wherever life takes you—your neighborhood, your job, your family, and even another nation—disciple-making is a key activity in which every disciple of Jesus must engage.

But do not allow that to distract from Jesus’ specific call to make disciples of all nations. Jesus not only calls us to make disciples where we are, He also invites us to cross borders, to be intentional about going to places and people where Christ has not been proclaimed. We go, not because we are driven by ambition or obligation, but by obedience rooted in love.

The Process: Baptizing, Teaching, Obeying

Jesus gives us three key actions in the Great Commission:

• Baptizing – We proclaim Jesus and invite people to follow Him, by repenting of their sins and believing in Jesus, with baptism signaling their desire to obey Jesus. 
• Teaching – We then teach people all of the things that Jesus commanded.
• Obeying – We not only teach, but we model what it means to obey Jesus’ commands and help others do the same. 

This isn’t just about transferring knowledge, it’s about seeing whole lives, and thus whole societies, changed and aligned with Jesus. Disciple-making results in followers of Jesus submitting all of their lives to His rule and reign, and engaging their contexts by demonstrating and proclaiming the love and transformation of Christ.

The Context: Where Christ is not known.

Every follower of Jesus is invited and entrusted with this sacred responsibility. It’s not limited to a spiritually elite few, it’s for all of us. And we’re not called just to the familiar, but also to the peoples and places of the world who don’t have access to the message of Jesus.

Consider this:

• 87% of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have little to no contact with a disciple of Jesus.
• Only about 10% of Muslims in Asia personally know a disciple of Jesus.
• Asia remains the most isolated continent with less than 20% of its 4.5 billion people knowing a disciple of Jesus.

This reality should stir our hearts deeply. If disciples of Jesus are so scarce in these nations, how will these nations come to follow Jesus? This is why we go. This is why we send. This is why we walk together in the mission of God.

The Promise: He is With Us

Making disciples is often easier to discuss than to do. We may feel fear, inadequacy, or experience distraction. But Jesus doesn’t just command us, He empowers us. He reminds us:

All authority in heaven and earth is mine. I am with you always.

When it comes to how we get to participate in God’s mission, this is the heart. This is the center. Make Disciples.