Disciples Making Disciples
A Cycle of Transformative Growth
At ABTS, our mission is to serve the Church by equipping faithful men and women for effective ministry, and an essential part of this is training them to train and equip others. Thus, our Bachelor of Theology (BTh) program is designed to equip church leaders with a solid biblical foundation and to help them be transformed not only intellectually, but also affectively and behaviorally. Jesus did not only teach His followers how to think, but He also modeled how they should live, act and serve others.
Through the Disciples Making Disciples module which they are currently completing, our BTh students explored the heart of discipleship, and learned how to actively engage in discipleship-making ministries that serve the local Church and extend its impact. They studied Christ’s model and teaching, the history of discipleship, and spiritual formation. They also reflected on discipleship in the Middle East and North Africa, which better prepared them to mentor others and help the Church fulfill its mission.
The first course of this module, History of Discipleship Movements, was taught by Abed El Kareem Zien El Dien, the module leader. It aimed to encourage students to engage in lifelong, individual, and communal discipleship. The course explored the Methodist discipleship movement founded by John Wesley as a case study and examined how its principles can be faithfully applied within the MENA context.
Through this course, students gained a strong theological and historical foundation that helps them understand discipleship as the heart of the Christian mission and an essential element in the formation of church leaders. The course intentionally engaged the behavioral, cognitive, and affective dimensions of learning, recognizing that discipleship requires both understanding and embodied practice. By connecting historical insight with spiritual practice, the course demonstrated that discipleship is not a theoretical concept on its own, but a daily way of life shaped by faith, obedience, and commitment. Abed remarked:
God has shown me through teaching that discipleship is not simply an academic subject, but a lifelong spiritual journey. I witness God Himself working through the Holy Spirit as the ultimate Teacher, opening both my heart and the hearts of the students to understand obedience and live in holiness. This process shapes us into true disciples who follow Christ faithfully and guide others in a spirit of humility and love.
Abed praying for one of our BTh students
Then, the students took the second course of this module, also with Abed, which was In Quest of the Rock: Peter’s Transformative Journey with Jesus. In this course, students examined their lives and learned how to discern God’s purpose in shaping their character, behavior, and relationships through learning from Peter’s journey with Christ. Through studying Peter’s life, students were invited to grow spiritually and become more Christlike in thought, affection, and conduct, both individually and within the Christian community. The course emphasized that transformation is not achieved through personal effort alone, but through abiding in Christ and allowing His grace to work through human weakness. Therefore, students learned that true formation comes not only through theological reflection, but also through lived practice seen vividly in Peter’s walk with Jesus.
Hassan, a fourth-year student, reflected:
This course changed the way I see myself. I no longer view my weaknesses as obstacles to God’s work in and through me, but as a place for His grace to work. It also encouraged me to continue walking with Christ even in times of failure. I came to understand that God sees not only the person I am now, but also the one I can become through His work in my life. This understanding gave me hope and steadfastness in my journey of faith.
Afterwards the students took the Spiritual Disciplines course, which was taught by Grace Al-Zoughbi. This course was designed to equip students to live intentionally as disciples of Christ, helping them anchor their spiritual growth in both Scripture and the rich heritage of Christian thought. By engaging with texts such as Pilgrim’s Progress and Augustine’s Confessions, students were invited to trace the journeys of faith of believers who wrestled with trials, temptations, and the search for truth. These stories provided a mirror for their own spiritual journeys, offering both guidance and encouragement as they navigate life and ministry in the MENA context. In this region, where faith is often expressed under complex social, cultural, and religious circumstances, developing a disciplined spiritual life is both a personal necessity and a ministry imperative.
Moreover, students learned to integrate spiritual disciplines like prayer, Scripture meditation, confession, reflection, and service into their daily rhythms. By applying these practices within their cultural and ministry contexts, they see firsthand how a disciplined spiritual life sustains maturity, nurtures wisdom, and develops authentic Christian witness.
Grace explained: “Spiritual disciplines are the sacred pathways through which God molds our hearts, refines our character, and empowers us to shine as faithful witnesses of Christ in the complex landscapes of our region.”
Sevin, a fourth-year student, shared:
This course revealed that spiritual discipline is not a burden or heavy obligation, but a space in which one prepares to listen to God’s voice. I learned that prayer, silence, and meditation on Scripture are not merely tools for gaining knowledge but means through which the heart is shaped. The course also prompted me to ask honest existential questions about the foundation of my faith and ministry. It guided me toward a deep examination of my motives and helped me rebuild my life on Christ alone.
Grace sharing during BTh Residency
Sevin studying
Walid with one of our BTh Students
Chelsea sharing during BTh Residency
This course was then followed by Biblical Theology of Discipleship course, taught by Walid Zailaa, that explored discipleship through the overarching narrative of the Bible. Students began by examining how God’s people lived in covenant relationship with Him in the Old Testament. Then, they studied the cultural and civilizational context of the first century, engaging both the Greek world of philosophers and teachers and the Jewish context in which Jesus lived and ministered. Building on this foundation, the course focused on the distinctive model of discipleship introduced and embodied by Jesus Himself.
Walid shared: “Our BTh students in the Disciples Making Disciples Module engage Scripture as a formative space where following Christ involves obedience, transformation, and participation in God’s redemptive mission. Discipleship is therefore understood not only as learning to live under the lordship of Christ as individuals, but also as being formed to walk with others, helping them grow in faith and obedience within the life of the Christian community.”
The last course of the module was The Challenge of Discipleship in the MENA Context, taught by Chelsea Hurlburt. The purpose of this course was for students to take a cultural perspective on discipleship, recognizing the unique challenges of discipleship in the Middle East and North Africa. The course helped students look at the diverse challenges that believers from diverse religious backgrounds may face in truly living out the call to follow Christ. This course also helped students recognize the sometimes invisible or neglected cultural and social factors that affect their own discipleship journey. By recognizing and understanding these, students can then consider different ways to overcome them. After all, true change begins with understanding, and to face chaos, students must first recognize it.
Chelsea shared: “While I hope students will benefit from greater understanding of the challenges affecting their own discipleship journey, I also hope they will grow in grace, compassion and understanding for the challenges that other believers from different backgrounds may face. This will equip them to better serve diverse groups in the church.”
The Disciples Making Disciples module will conclude with an Integrative Project that students are currently working on. This project invites students to connect what they have learned across the different courses and apply them in their ministries. This will allow their calling to make disciples to be deeply rooted in their hearts and minds. Our prayer is that God will use this module to shape students in ways that glorify Him. May they remain obedient, always remembering that God is the One guiding their ongoing cycles of growth.