Experiencing public servants swear an oath is a moving moment. Hands raised, or over a Bible, they swear to “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign, or domestic.” But what if their service extended no further than swearing the oath? What if they lived their lives serving themselves instead of others? What if their promise fell like a thud from their lips, and lives are left unchanged? Are they still considered public servants?

This question extends to Christianity. Is the Great Commission simply an admonition to get people to make an oath, or is it a call to equip believers to multiply and reach others?

Making decisions count

Shortly after emerging from his wilderness temptations, Jesus started his public ministry. He proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and soon began to invite people to get right with God. The focus of his invitation was, “Come and follow me.” Those who agreed became his disciples. Some, like the rich young ruler, expressed respect for Jesus, yet still refused to follow him.

When Jesus had nearly completed his earthly mission, he told his disciples to follow his example and make disciples of people everywhere. “Make disciples of all nations” became the watchword of the Christian movement. A disciple is someone who follows his Master. A disciple emulates his Master’s lifestyle, submits to his Master’s training regimen, proclaims his Master’s Good News, and promotes his Master’s vision.

Before becoming a disciple, a person must meet Jesus and trust him for the free gift of eternal life won by his death and resurrection. Usually, this involves a personal decision to turn away from the old way of life and turn toward Jesus as Savior and Master. But it never happens in isolation. There are no lone ranger disciples. Those who already follow Jesus mentor those who want to follow him. Learning to trust Jesus and adopt his lifestyle is a growth process empowered by engagement with the scriptures, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and submission to God’s leading. Jesus spent three years of his earthly life making disciples of his followers. It’s often a long road between making the initial decision to receive eternal life and actually becoming a follower of Jesus.

The difference between decisions and disciples

There are many ways to evangelize, to share the Good News of God’s redeeming grace. A large gathering can introduce the basics of the Good News and invite people to make a decision for Jesus. But a large gathering can never make disciples. Much more is needed. Evangelism of this sort is only a prelude to the real work that Jesus commanded.

Consider a community like Bacolod City in the Philippines. Six churches came together to sponsor an event held in a local theater. Hundreds of people attended. After the message was shared, many stood up to signify their decision to trust Jesus. Volunteer church members prayed with each person and provided information about local churches.

Three weeks later, church leaders met to debrief. They were excited about the many decisions made for Jesus. But then came the question, “How many new disciples are being made? How many of those decisions led to people showing up in your church?” One after another, pastors admitted, “We haven’t seen anyone.” Many decisions were made. But no disciples.

This challenge echoes around the world. Organizations may count decisions for Christ as a measure of success, but what happens after those decisions? Are these individuals growing into disciples who multiply the gospel within their communities? Jesus didn’t call us to count decisions; he called us to invest in people who will transform nations from within.

Jesus called us to make disciple-makers

Jesus did not say, “Make decisions in all nations.” He said, “Make disciples.” He showed his followers that making disciples is more than an event; it’s about life transformation. It involves living together, praying together, serving one another, and submitting to God’s Word.

The urgency of reaching over 3 billion people who have never heard the gospel requires a shift in focus. Instead of decisions that may fade with time, it’s about empowering national believers, equipping them to plant churches and lead movements that will transform their regions. Jesus modeled this approach: by investing deeply in a few, they became the ones to multiply and spread the gospel far and wide.

In the “There and Now” movement, we see this truth. The work of empowering local believers to be disciple-makers, to grow where they are planted, is the most effective way to reach those who have never heard the gospel. National believers are the ones who will endure, who know the culture, and who can disciple others, igniting a multiplying movement. In this way, we are not just making decisions—we are making disciples who will carry the good news to the ends of the earth.