I serve on a campus‐based network in Texas, and I live and breathe collegiate ministry alongside my wife and two college‐age sons. My family is fully committed to campus ministry. In my 26 years in the trenches, I have learned that the very heart of our calling is radically simple: make disciples.
Embracing the Simplicity of the Task
I still recall the early days of my collegiate ministry when I arrived on campus as an immature believer. I witnessed genuine Christian community for the first time, and it sparked in me a hunger for a deeper encounter with Jesus. A pastor from my local church invited me to meet regularly, memorize Scripture, and engage in accountable living, and it changed everything. His insistence that I “follow Jesus” was less about a system and more about an invitation to be transformed. That invitation, echoing the command in Matthew 28 to make disciples, became my blueprint for ministry.
Every moment of my years in ministry has reinforced one truth: if we don’t make disciples, nothing else happens. We may design sophisticated leadership pipelines and dream of multiplying campus initiatives, but without the clear mandate of imparting the gospel personally and authentically, our efforts fall short. Throughout my journey, from memorizing Bible passages in those early college Bible studies to seeing firsthand the transformation of students, the call remains constant: our only alternative is to follow Him and invest in discipleship that multiplies.
Here are the eight keys to multiplying disciples, a 101 outline that has been baked into my ministry over decades.
1. Live and Breathe the Great Commission
If we’re going to see real multiplication, we have to move beyond agreeing with the Great Commission to actually living it. Every waking moment should be infused with the passion to see others grow into mature followers of Christ. We should be so shaped by this calling that it becomes instinctive. When life surprises us, when we’re tired, and when we’re stretched, this is what comes out: make disciples. This is not a matter of strategy or systems; it’s about embodying the gospel we preach.
2. Walk with God Before Leading Others
You can’t reproduce what you are not. That’s a hard truth, especially for those of us who love strategy, systems, and productivity. It’s easy to mistake ministry activity for spiritual intimacy with Jesus. But if I’m not walking closely with Him, I cannot expect to lead others into a life-transforming relationship with God.
Throughout the years, I have experienced moments of insecurity. I sometimes wonder if I truly know what I’m doing. Yet, I have learned that the power to disciple doesn’t come from our credentials or methods; it springs from an authentic walk with Jesus. As His presence fuels me, I am better equipped to encourage emerging leaders who might also feel overwhelmed by the challenge of collegiat ministry.
3. Choose the Disciples Intentionally
One of the most critical decisions I’ve faced in ministry has been choosing who to invest in. In my early days, I was surrounded by a mix of students—some brimming with potential and others burdened by emotional needs. I discovered that while it’s natural to want to help everyone, true multiplication only happens when we pour our time into the right students. Jesus modeled this. He ministered to the crowds, but He invested deeply in a few.
So, what should we look for? We talk about “FAT” students:
- Faithful: they want to walk with Jesus
- Available: they make time for what matters
- Teachable: they’re willing to learn and grow
I’ve seen it firsthand. A handful of freshmen who eagerly embraced discipleship went on to lead Bible studies, plant churches, and even embark on missions abroad. When God calls us to invest deeply, it is a matter of nurturing genuine spiritual growth.
4. Cast Compelling Vision Through Personal Invitation
My own transformation began when a campus minister looked me in the eye and challenged me to lead a Bible study, even though I doubted my own capabilities. I was invited to help shape a vision that stretched far beyond the boundaries of what I ever imagined for myself. This personal invitation was not just reassurance; it was a call to action. It instilled in me the courage to invite others to a similar journey, to share a vision so compelling that it ignited passion and transformed lives.
Whether you are just beginning or are deep into your ministry, never underestimate the power of a warm, personal invitation to follow in Christ’s footsteps.
5. Call Students to Ownership
There is a tendency to think of discipleship as a process of “pouring” our resources, time, and wisdom into students, as if they were passive buckets to be filled. But over the years, I have come to realize that this approach misses the point. Discipleship is not a one-way transaction; it is a journey walked side by side.
We must stop enabling consumer Christianity by expecting others to be passive recipients. Instead, let us challenge our students to step up, take initiative, and claim responsibility for their own journey with Christ. In this way, the gospel does not remain confined to Sunday classrooms but becomes a living, breathing part of everyday life.
6. Integrate Evangelism into Every Aspect of Discipleship
I have seen that Bible study, no matter how deep, thrives best when it compels believers to share the gospel. Evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin, inseparable like the perfect blend of peanut butter and jelly.
Over the years, our campus initiatives that deliberately integrated evangelistic training have led to unprecedented fruit. Students not only grew in their understanding of Scripture but also developed a passionate drive to reach out to the lost. As I reflect on the many moments when students overcame their fears to share their faith, I am reminded that intimate discipleship naturally fuels bold evangelism.
7. Use Simple, Reproducible Tools
In today’s digitally-driven world, it’s tempting to reinvent every aspect of ministry with new tools and technologies. However, I have learned that consistency and simplicity often yield the best results. In my ministry, we have maintained a couple of trusted workbooks—one for new believers and another for those growing in their faith. We employ simple memory tools that help our students retain and apply the essentials of Scripture.
While it might be alluring to customize endlessly, I encourage you to adopt effective tools and stick with them. These tools not only support a structured approach to discipleship but also create a sense of continuity that students can lean on over time.
8. Stay ConsistentConsistency is the secret ingredient that transforms effort into habit and habit into identity. Discipleship must become part of who we are. When we deliberately set aside time to engage with God and with our students, consistent acts of faith accumulate into tremendous impact.
I have witnessed life-changing ripple effects over the years—students who initially struggled become leaders who mentor others, and entire campus cultures begin to shift toward authentic Christian community. Remember that while our days might be filled with challenges, it is the steady, faithful pursuit of the Great Commission that ultimately propels lasting change.
In my journey from a timid freshman to a seasoned collegiate ministry leader, I have learned that effective discipleship is not about adding more strategies, but about faithfully multiplying the simple truth of Jesus’s call. By living and breathing His Great Commission, walking closely with Him, choosing and investing in the right disciples, and integrating evangelism into every facet of our ministry, we can set in motion a chain reaction that transforms lives on and off campus.
My prayer is that you, too, will experience the deep fulfillment that comes from seeing the ripple effects of faithful discipleship—an unending cycle of transformation that declares the gospel to every corner of your campus and beyond.
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Adapted from the Collegiate Coaching Network. Learn more about our Collegiate Coaching Network and sign up for the next cohort.
Published April 7, 2026
