THE PRIMARY ROLE/GOAL FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION THROUGH EVANGELISM THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP
"All Authority Hath Been Given Unto Me in Heaven And on Earth. Go Ye Therefore, And Make Disciples of All The Nations, Baptizing Them in The Name of The Father And of The Son And of The Holy Spirit"...Matt. 28:18, 19.
"Go Ye Into All The World, And Preach The Gospel to The Whole Creation. He That Believeth And Is Baptized Shall Be Saved; But He That Disbelieveth Shall Be Condemned." Mk 16:15, 16.
After centuries of preparation, in an act of incomprehensible love, God sent His Son into the world as true flesh and blood to be His sacrificial lamb. In crucifixion, Jesus shed His sinless blood to pay the price of redemption for the sins of all mankind. The redemptive power of that blood made atonement for all the sins forgiven by God prior to Jesus' sacrificial death, (Romans 3:25, 26.) and made atonement for all sins God would forgive thereafter. There was sufficient power in Jesus' blood offering to atone for every sin committed from the rebellion of Adam and Eve until the last moment of this earth's existence.
FOR LOVE OF THE WORLD, JESUS CAME (JOHN 3:16.) .
FOR THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD, JESUS DIED (EPHESIANS 1:7.).
BY DIVINE PLAN AND INTENT, THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE WORLD (ACTS 10:34-43).
The two primary responsibilities of a Christian Martial Arts Fellowship ministry are to share Jesus with the world, and to build disciples to the level of disciple-makers. Seeking to evangelize the world is not an optional Christian responsibility. Having been commanded by Jesus Himself, evangelism is one of the two charter responsibilities of the church. For too long it has been the neglected commission.
Jesus not only commanded His disciples to evangelize, but also to "teach." This suggest an ongoing relationship with a convert. It sounds ludicrous that you would share the Gospel with someone and then after they receive Him, you say "Well, that's what I came here for, hope you have a good life, see ya in Heaven!" But many evangelistic ministry do just that. I believe we must take the next step in sharing the Gospel; Discipleship. As Christian Shihan, we must dedicate ourselves to teaching "what it means to be a Christian and have an intimate relationship with the living God."
To complete the circle, the Christian Shihan should develop not just disciples (within the ministry, Black Belts), but strive to cultivate Disciple-Makers (within the ministry, other ministry leaders). By so doing we will fulfill the Great Commission of our Supreme Master and Teacher of Life, JESUS CHRIST.
THEN HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, THEREFORE, TO SEND OUT WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD." - MATTHEW 9:37-38