One of my mentors recently started an organisation that is focused on youth development as well as development of gospel ministers. During a recent conversation, we talked about one of his outings with the ministers, during which he challenged them with the words of Mark 16 : 15 – 18, which we popularly call the Great Commission:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
He pointed out something I had never really dwelt on in that passage. Our primary calling as Christians is to make disciples for Christ, not just to increase the number of people that attend our churches or to have record breaking number of first-timers at our services. It is not to increase the number of parishes/branches of our churches. Gathering crowds is great, but remember when the crowd left Jesus because of His teachings, only the disciples stuck with him all the way.
Take another look at that passage. It is not just talking about the glorious life that awaits us as believers, it goes further to describe what the disciples we have brought to the kingdom should be doing. That implies that it is our individual responsibilities to preach the gospel and to nurture the converts till they can get to the level described in the passage above. If we don’t get them to that destination, our task is not yet completed. The assumption here is that we are already disciples operating in that dimension because we cannot give what we don’t have.
I did a personal stock taking and realized that I did not have much to show in terms of real kingdom disciples. The words of a hymn that is no longer very popular in our services came to my mind;
“Must I go, and empty-handed,“ Thus my dear Redeemer meet? Not one day of service give Him, Lay no trophy at His feet?
“Must I go, and empty-handed?“ Must I meet my Saviour so? Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty-handed go?
At the end of everything, when every man’s work will be tried by fire, what will be the fate of our kingdom labour; refined by the fire or burnt by the fire. While it is still day, I want to get back to work. I don’t want to meet my Saviour empty handed. I don’t know about you.
Chidi Ukandu's Blog 
This messages is rare this days. Chidiebere u’ve made me miss NIFES the more.
I like this and pray that God will fill you more!
The WORLD is waiting for more of this!