---
title: 5 Steps To Producing Disciples
description: It breaks my heart when I learn about a former student that has walked away from the church. Questions of, “How did this happen?” and “What could I have done better?”…
---

[MYM Blog ](https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/blog)

# [5 Steps To Producing Disciples](https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/blog/5-steps-producing-disciples)

 Written by [Christopher Wesley](https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/blog/author/christopher-wesley) | Oct 3, 2014 7:30:06 AM

It breaks my heart when I learn about a former student that has walked away from the church. Questions of, “*How did this happen?” *and “*What could I have done better?”* race through my mind. It’s a fear many churches and youth ministers face.  No one wants to see teens **Graduate Their Faith** when they **Graduate High School.**

Courtesy of [timparkinso](https://www.flickr.com/photos/timparkinson/)n/[Creative Commons License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

While there is no magic bullet you can fight the trend by creating a system that grows disciples. That system begins with:

#### **SITTING IN PRAYER**

God’s got a plan for your church. To understand what a disciple in your community is going to look like you need to ask Him. Spend time with your coworkers and volunteers praying over what a disciple looks like in your parish.

#### **IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE**

Who are you trying to reach?  When you answer this question you give yourself a starting point. You’ll know the obstacles and limitations that are preventing people from growing.

#### **NARROWING THE LIST**

While there are thousands of disciplines and habits a disciple can possess. You need to narrow down the list to about 5-7.  They should stem from scripture, your church’s vision and mission. 

Our church has identified 5 that we call steps.  We want our disciples to:

- SERVE in a ministry or mission.
- TITH through sacrificial giving.
- ENGAGE in small groups.
- PRACTICE prayer and sacramental life.
- SHARE their faith through a strategy we call *Invest and Invite*

What you choose should be a reflection of your church.

#### **CREATING PATHS AND RESOURCES**

Your programs, ministries and events should be conduits to producing disciples. Growing disciples is more than just teaching people, it’s giving them the opportunity to behave like one. Build a strategy that focuses on the vision.

#### **COMMUNICATING, COMMUNICATING AND COMMUNICATING**

Everyone in your church needs to know what a disciple looks like. Preach it at Mass, in your programs and share it with new members. Have kids and teenagers learn it at a young age, so they know what to shoot for as they get older. Your disciplines are an extension of your vision, you cannot over communicate it.

[/reminder] ***What does a disciple of Christ look like in your church? ***[/reminder]

[View full post](https://blog.marathonyouthministry.com/blog/5-steps-producing-disciples)

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