Discipleship Ministry Retreat: Preparing leaders to treasure and share Christ

By Sam Sofio

As the sun gave its last ray of light, darkness blanketed the woods of Scioto Hills Christian Camp and Retreat Center. Ean Sexton, a junior Mathematics student and discipleship group leader, trekked through the darkened woods on a path with drops and turns. 

Flickering torches lined the path, trying to hold back the darkness, while Sexton walked on, uncertain at times where his next step might land. Between himself and each passing torch, a brief stretch of darkness greeted him. 

That night, over 100 students serving in Cedarville’s discipleship ministry walked that path with Sexton. One after another, students silently took this almost ten-minute journey while they prayed and pondered their relationship with God. 

Their journey through the woods served as an analogy of the journey they would embark on as discipleship group leaders.

Over Labor Day weekend, Cedarville’s Discipleship Ministry hosted a retreat for discipleship group leaders and counselors. Aaron Cook, Director of Discipleship at Cedarville University, wanted to give discipleship group leaders and counselors a moment to pause on life, to better equip them to disciple their groups. 

“It’s a sweet time just to get away from campus, and in the quietness of the outdoors, focus on Christ,” Cook said. “Students can then think about what it would look like to embrace Christ and treasure him, because we always share what we treasure.”

To help these leaders treasure and share Christ, Cook teaches “See, Soak, Savor, Sing.” Students see the text, soak in the text through memorization, savor the text through meditation and sing out their newfound affection for Christ. This process helps guide group Bible studies on campus. 

The discipleship model of the weekend retreat mirrors the discipleship model used on campus: Ministry leaders pour into discipleship counselors, who then pour into discipleship leaders to equip them to disciple their students. Trained disciples making disciples. Throughout the retreat, discipleship counselors and the leaders they oversee stayed close together and grew relationally as they prepared to lead together. Groups bonded over hiking, swimming, relaxing in hammocks and even cooking food over a fire.

Training sessions throughout the retreat equipped and motivated students. Through panel discussions, workshops and speaker sessions, students learned how to minister to the needs of others and how to study God’s Word and teach others to do the same. 

Event speakers helped students prepare for discouragements and challenges they may encounter throughout the year, whether internal or external. Students learned to look to Christ when they don’t feel “good enough” to serve.

“Cook encouraged us to gaze at the cross, not at our sin,” senior Social Work and discipleship leader Myah Coffey recalled. “If I’m gazing at my sin, instead of gazing at Christ, I’m idolizing that sin – I’m freed from that. God is using us in spite of our weakness and in spite of our sin. He is such a good God.”

After realizing this, leaders are better equipped to help struggling students look outside of themselves to find lasting joy in Christ. 

“It’s so freeing to forget about yourself and focus on others,” Sexton said. “So much of the anxieties of this world can be helped by focusing on the people around and choosing to love them well, even through my most difficult times.”

When students in discipleship groups drop out or are inconsistent in attending each week, discipleship leaders can stumble into discouragement. Cook shared that faithfulness, rather than results, is their goal. 

“We want to be faithful with who God has put within our close proximity,” Cook explained. “We’re stewards of what God has given us, and we want to be faithful stewards of the people he’s given us.” 

A faithful leader should never lose hope when they fall short of what they feel called to do. 

“There are a lot of times when your heart’s not going to be in it spiritually, when you’re going to be unfaithful,” Coffey said. “But one thing I’ve realized is that God is faithful even in those moments. Christ can use our imperfections and shortcomings to glorify his name. We don’t need to be perfect to be used by God.” 

Emma Bracey, a sophomore Professional Writing and Information Design major, heard reminders at the retreat of how the Gospel and Christ’s sacrifice should motivate their lives.  

“Our purpose, as individual sons and daughters of God and as discipleship leaders, is to dwell deeply in God’s love,” Bracey stated. “Being in a relationship with Christ, we see others through His loving eyes, and we desire to guide people towards Him. His overflowing love inspires us to joyfully strive for the salvation and sanctification of those around us.”

As Sexton walked through the darkened woods, he did not always know where his foot would land next, but he could gaze at the light ahead and remember that God is faithful to direct him. He didn’t journey alone. Before him and behind him, his brothers and sisters in Christ faced and overcame the same challenges as himself as they journeyed together in servant leadership. 

Sam Sofio is a junior Professional Writing and Information Design major. He enjoys spending time with his brothers and sisters in Christ and aspires to write for a Christian organization.