M.A.W.L. - Modeling Christ and Teaching Others
We are not God. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t act like Him. That was always His intent. Scripture contains all the information we need, and the Holy Father gave us all the instruction we need to do that. However, our limited human minds weren’t getting it.
So, God sent Jesus to model it for us.
We all have different learning styles and some people do better if someone tells us, shows us, and models for us what the desired actions and behavior look like. As you read Scripture, you can see example after example of Jesus modeling the behavior, the actions of God, and He did so in human form. Do you know what that means? If Jesus did all that in human form, so can we. Go back and look, Jesus did nothing without the Father. And neither should we.
Jesus gave the 12 a template on how to act in the way God intends us to act but then also to model for others what that looks like. And how we are to do that in our daily lives not only as Jesus followers but as disciple makers.
And this is the mission of the gospel: The gospel was meant to change us, convict us, and penetrate the deepest parts of our hearts. It wasn’t meant to make us better versions of ourselves, it was meant to make us more like Jesus. It was meant to free people – and free people, free people. That’s us. That’s me and that’s you.
And this is the heart of our ministry: M.A.W.L. – Model, Assist, Watch, and Launch.
This is what we do with not only the incarcerated but those we train up in all of our 3Thirds Discipleship Groups. 3Thirds is not just for the incarcerated, 3Thirds is a discipleship training tool used around the world to multiply God’s Kingdom.
3Thirds is part of the DMM (Disciple-Making Movement, or Disciple Multiplication Movement) principles: we model Christ, we train and assist others, we put leaders in place and watch them assist others, and when they are equipped to lead on their own we move on to launch another group. That’s the MAWL process, and it’s the number one fruit-bearing tool in the world at multiplying God’s Kingdom.
Here’s the breakdown of the DMM Principles
DMM Principle – MODEL: The DMM principle of MODELING comes directly from the great commission. We are to go, make disciples teaching them to obey all that Jesus taught while on earth. We must show others how to do what Jesus asks us to do. We pray so we need to help show others how to pray. We study the Bible on our own. So, we need to show others how to study the Bible on their own. This is a principle that is simple to follow. Pray for all believers and those who we train inside the prison system to model to others what it means to be a Christ-follower.
DMM Principle – ASSIST: Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and take care of others, then sent them out on missions to minister to others as he instructed and helped them understand what happened while they were out. Jesus assisted in implementing what he was teaching them. Assisting others in honing the skills they are learning is crucial in the disciple-making process.
DMM Principle – WATCH: Paul was a leader maker in a disciple making movement. In his relationship with Timothy and Epaphroditus, there came the time when Paul sent them out to lead on their own. He would check up on them regularly. This time is the “watch” phase where a leader is on his own leading yet knowing there was a mentor who would be willing to help out if needed. Pray there will be many leaders inside the prison system who are mentored to make new disciple makers.
DMM Principle – LAUNCH: This last step in leadership preparation allows greater multiplication of the work. When Jesus left this earth, He entrusted the apostles to take over the work of introducing people to a new way of life through knowing Jesus and living out His commands. Jesus launched the disciples to do the work of teaching all to love and obey Him. Pray that this cycle of training will create many more workers to enter the harvest and find even more workers inside the prison system.
We encourage those we minister to inside the prison system to be like Jesus… We walk with them and train them to train others how to do the same.
Since September 2018, when we first went into the facility where we hold our 3Thirds Discipleship Group Study, to September 2020, we have been blessed to minister to 768 men inside the prison system. God has allowed us to baptize 232 men, and we have seen generational baptisms to the 5th generation with these simple and reproducible DMM tools that anyone can learn to use. Praise God, those numbers continue to grow every week!!
Please pray with us for those we are ministering to, that they will continue to stay connected to the vine upon release from the prison system. We are asking God to provide the way for us to continue to walk with these men upon release, and we are seeking His direction and will for our ministry inside and outside the prison walls.
Learn more about the DMM Tools
