Greg Ogden, in his book Transforming Discipleship, argues convincingly that programs will never build disciples. And Campus Crusade has long been committed to building movements not programs or ministries. The following are Ogden’s characteristics of programs.Think thru these questions. Are we running programs at our locations? If so, how can we pursue the biblical mandate to make disciples?
Programs tend to be information or knowledge-based. Programs operate on the assumption that if someone has information, having that information will automatically lead to transformation. In other words, right knowledge will produce right living.
Programs are the one preparing for the many. Most programs are built around an individual or a few core people who do the hard work of preparation. The rest come, to a greater or lesser degree, as passive recipients of that work.
Programs are characterized by regimentation or synchronization. The nature of programs is that they do not take into account an individual’s growth rate, which is essential in growing disciples. For example, in programs, people cover identical content in the same sequence at the same rate. Completing a curriculum is equated with making disciples.
Programs generally have low personal accountability. The focus again is on completing an assigned study curriculum rather than committing to life change. Few people have any personal connection or accountability.