Discipleship at the YMCA

Early in 2008 my daughter decided that I needed to get more exercise and Julie agreed so we joined the YMCA near our home and it's been a lot of fun and I really do enjoy getting up even earlier and getting moving. And, my brain & body thank me!!

There's an amazing array of tools to sculpt, shape & tone our bodies and new interactive computer aided tools that will track our progress and help us achieve customized goals. What used to be a 'one size fits all' approach related to getting fit has morphed into a very personalized game plan built around lots of different tools and custom coaching toward individual goal attainment.

One of the 'wonderings' I have these days is how to accomplish the same thing at Phos Hilaron Church. How can we build in personalized spiritual life coaching so that people can grow into the full-on Christ Follower (what we call an 'Apprentice of Jesus') that they were dreamed by God to be.

So, we're building in Life Transformation Groups that will be coached by 'Transformers' --people who are willing to train as Spiritual Life Coaches much the same way a Fitness Coach trains people to accomplish health goals. The Transformers role is to oversee the personal development of each member of her/his group. So, what a transformer IS NOT may be as important as what he/she IS. If a person has super strong preaching/prophetic gifting then it's not likely that he/she will be a good transformer. Because a person with huge preaching/prophetic gifts cannot silence themselves long enough to hear from anyone else at a deep enough level to help them grow. They tend to be 'one size fits all' communicators and that certainly has a place when addressing the whole body collective. He/she is not a 'therapist or counselor' because they're not simply processing past trash. The 'Transformer' is very much a coach of the inner life -- of how to grow a vital dynamic relationship with God through the work of Jesus powered by the Holy Spirit.

The 'transformers' are the key to a church that offers help and hope and growth to those who want to grow strong in their walk with Christ.

I've got the concept in mind a clear view of the desired outcomes...now it's time to build the team to accomplish the dream!

Working out!
Jeff Fuson