Mike Schreiner - Stride: Creating a Discipleship Pathway for Your Church

STRIDE

People are searching and attending churches, but many leave due to a lack of systems that cultivate their discipleship. Stride is a must-have in every pastors strategic ministry tool kit. This great resource provides sound theological reflection and actionable strategies that work in churches of different sizes and context. Thumbs up!

Hector A. Burgos, Director of Connectional Ministries, The United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey

Leaders are fervently searching for resources to help their churches establish a disciple-making process. Schreiner and Willard have heard that cry and created a guidebook that not only outlines key steps but also responds to the typical objections to getting started. Typical discipleship models are so linear that they feel limited and off-putting. Stride offers a flexible process grounded in local church life that recognizes our need to become, belong, and bless, which dont always happen in a clear progression. The web of connectedness meets people where they are and helps people take their next steps in discipleship by building teams, evaluating what is currently in place, and providing coaching conversations to help each person start his or her unique journey.

Phil Schroeder, Director of Congregational Development, North Georgia Conference, The United Methodist Church

Leaders who are serious about discipling their congregations will rejoice with the step-by-step guidance throughout this invaluable how-to resource. Mike Schreiners creative, inspirational, and strategic pastoral leadership of the miracle known as Morning Star UMC is evident upon every page.

Sue Nilson Kibbey, Director, Office of Missional Church Development, West Ohio Conference, The United Methodist Church; author, Flood Gates: Holy Momentum for a Fearless Church

Focusing on developing a clear path to connect with God begins with prayer, practicing spiritual disciplines, and embracing our mission. Start with prayer was the first step that got my attention. Insights learned from bridge events provided great ways to grow leaders who make disciples for Jesus Christ. Enjoyed the book!

Jacqui T. King, Director, Leadership for Congregational Vitality Leadership Ministries, Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church

MIKE SCHREINER
KEN WILLARD

CREATING A
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
FOR YOUR CHURCH

STRIDE:
CREATING A DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY FOR YOUR CHURCH

Copyright 2017 by Abingdon Press

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed in writing to Permissions, Abingdon Press, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988, or e-mailed to .

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data.

Names: Schreiner, Mike, author. | Willard, Ken (Christian leadership coach), author.

Title: Stride : creating a discipleship pathway for your church / Mike Schreiner and Ken Willard.

Description: Nashville : Abingdon Press, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017022576 (print) | LCCN 2017035431 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501849237 (e-book) | ISBN 9781501849220 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Church growth. | Church development, New. | Christian life.

Classification: LCC BV652.25 (ebook) | LCC BV652.25 .S375 2017 (print) | DDC 253--dc23

LC record available at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A_lccn.loc.gov_2017022576&d=DwIFAg&c=_GnokDXYZpxapTjbCjzmOH7Lm2x2J46Ijwz6YxXC Keo&r=ox0wiE5wyqlD4NWBvXI_LEW57Ah1_xv-dTElReAYRyw&m=ruQSKLATkTVJ 6jZtkE9v04z0H01J5uvXmA8O1e96MyI&s=TZEJ5nR2mAj1gfkno8gjpCdNYCYP2ZN_g5kLdj7MrqQ&e=

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnglishBible.com.

Scripture marked NEB is from the New English Bible, copyright Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press 1961, 1970. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Four pathways graphics (Clear Path of Discipleship [xii], Clear Path of Leadership [xiv], Serving Pathway [xiv], Giving Pathway [xv]) and text from the Morning Star Ministry Information Sheet (4648) courtesy of Morning Star Church.

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MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

We first want to thank our wives, Dede Schreiner and Mary Willard, for their continuous support through the years. Without their encouragement and understanding, we would not have had the margin to complete this book.

There are many people who influenced us on this journey. We would like to recognize the contributions of a few of these people. Amie Redding for making connections more of a spiritual process; Gretta Barton for showing us how to move from recruiting to inviting; Kelley Hartnett for your passion, heart, and ability to convince us discipleship is not linear; Rev. Mike Warman for working with us to ensure this resource speaks to a broad audience; Rev. Linda Harris for your heart for smaller churches and challenging us to create a resource they can use; Rev. Jim Peich for taking a rough process and smoothing out the edgesand taking it to the next level; and most of all, Rebecca Shoemaker for all your heart, passion, and commitment to growing disciples. We are able to share this resource today due to the hard work of these and many more servants who have influenced and challenged us along the way.

Like many young boys growing up in the early 1970s, I (Mike) couldnt wait to join our local Cub Scout pack. I was excited to go on overnight camping trips and build and race my own pinewood derby car. But the thing I most cared about was getting the cool patches for my Scout-sanctioned, navy-blue, button-front shirt. As I progressed from Bobcat to Tiger and then on to Wolf and Bear, my mom would carefully stitch on each new patch to my uniform. My personal scouting journey ended at the next stage on the advancement trail: Webelo. But many of my friends continued taking steps: Arrow of Light, Scout Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life, and a few even made it to the elite status of Eagle Scout.

Recently, I was struck how a convenience store chain applied the principle of the advancement trail to their employee recruitment strategy. I was driving with my family to visit my in-laws in Kentucky. My gas light came on, so I pulled off the interstate and into a convenience store, filled the car up with gas, and headed inside to use the restroom. While I was washing my hands, something caught my attention. (No, it wasnt some explicit ink pen picture or knife-carved message.) It was an advertisement seeking new employees. But instead of simply putting up a generic help wanted sign, the slick, four-color advertisement featured road signs, which listed the steps an employee could take up what they termed their career path: customer service representative, shift supervisor, associate manager, food service manager, floating general manager, and finally, general manager. Simple, yet genius. The message was clear: this company wasnt looking for someone to fill a slot behind the counter. It was looking for people seeking the opportunity to grow their career and influence within its organization.