In a relay race, you only hold onto the baton long enough to make sure your teammate has a firm grasp, and then you let them fly. If you continued to hold on, it would only slow them down and keep them from performing at their best. Jimmy Page, FCA Divisional Vice President - West USA, describes empowerment as “passing the baton.”
Empowering the E3 way includes four levels of empowerment: modeling, assisting, watching, and launching.
Show Me - Empower by Modeling
We know children learn best by watching their parents. Parents know this to be true in the good and not-so-good things their children pick up by watching them. While there is value in using words, words alone are ineffective without the modeling that goes along with the words. Jesus knew this and lived his life in front of the disciples. Most of the time, they probably didn’t even know they were slowly being empowered, but Jesus knew.
Empower by modeling is not about modeling a specific process. Instead, it is about modeling the image of God and reflecting the character of Christ. It is about showing people, not just telling them, who God is. Jesus called His disciples to do life with Him, and we are called to do the same. As we live out our calling of being and making disciples in close proximity to others, they learn how to be and make disciples as well.
Help Me - Empower by Assisting
During this part of empowering, disciple makers identify individuals that they will intentionally pass these principles off to. They commit to training, encouraging, and discipling them. These disciple makers will continually delegate more and more responsibility, but they will also be right there assisting them along the way. This is where the disciple becomes the main initiator in the process and the disciple maker stays close by but slowly starts to back away.
Watch Me - Empower by Watching
This part of empowering adds another layer of distance where the disciple maker stands back and watches the disciple as he/she tries out new skills of disciple making. The disciple maker is still close by and ready to help if needed. Regular check-ins are important, but the disciple maker must give space for the disciple to learn and grow. It is often more difficult for the disciple maker at this point because they love to help and come alongside, and they know how to do the work. It’s easy to jump back in and take control, but they have to hold themselves back and allow the disciple the opportunity to try and make adjustments as needed along the way.
I’ve Got This - Empower by Launching
If the previous three stages are done right, this final stage of empowering will be a natural transition. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus launched his disciples. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” These disciples had been engaged and equipped. They had all the tools they needed.
Jesus had empowered them by modeling his own life for three years. He assisted them earlier on and then he watched as they did ministry. Finally, these disciples were ready to make disciples themselves.
It is important to note that this final step does not mean the disciple maker ends the relationship.
Instead, the process of engaging, equipping, and empowering continues. Jesus continues to do this with his disciples all over the world and promises to stay with them until the very end. The same is expected of the disciple maker. This will allow for the greatest multiplication possible.
When an entire organization works on something together, the results can be staggering. FCA has drawn a line in the sand to declare that discipleship is a top priority, and they have provided consistent tools for staff to be able to disciple others well. We are excited about what this means for the ministry of FCA and the Kingdom of God as more and more people learn what it means to follow Jesus and become disciple makers.
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