Nurturing Church Growth Through Strategic Discipleship
The Osogbo Discipleship Conference was held on Saturday, 24th May, 2025, in the city of Osogbo, with participants drawn from different Local Governments across the State, centred on the foundational elements of building a spiritually healthy church, with a strong emphasis on discipleship as a catalyst for genuine spiritual transformation and church growth. The event aimed to equip church leaders, ministers, and workers with biblically grounded tools and actionable strategies to foster vibrant and growing faith communities.
The central theme explored key pillars of a healthy church, highlighting biblical discipleship, leadership influence, spiritual maturity, and the practical steps necessary to cultivate a discipleship-driven culture.
Attendance and Participants: A total of 228 participants attended, drawn from church founders, senior ministers, assistant pastors, and active church workers from various denominations.
Key Takeaways:
- Discipleship: The Core of Christian Growth– True church health is impossible without a robust discipleship system. Discipleship leads believers from mere attendance to spiritual maturity and fruitfulness.
- Biblical Foundations Are Crucial – A healthy church stands on a deep commitment to God’s Word, consistent prayer life, and an active passion for evangelism.
- The Power of Intentionality –Intentional strategies such as one-on-one mentoring, small group systems, and targeted community outreach were recognised as critical and effective avenues for fostering sustainable and impactful discipleship.
- The Role of Leadership – Effective leadership is pivotal. Church leaders must model discipleship personally and create systems that support spiritual formation.
Conference Highlights
Inspiring Welcome Address
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun State Chapter, Rev. Dr. John Adeleke, warmly welcomed all participants to the conference, including the distinguished leaders of the various CAN blocs within the state. He began by expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to gather for such a spiritually significant event and acknowledged the efforts of the organisers in putting together a timely and purposeful conference.
Rev. Dr. Adeleke then issued a heartfelt challenge to all participants, urging them to approach the sessions with intentionality and focus. He encouraged them not to be passive observers, but active learners—taking careful notes, asking questions where necessary, and reflecting deeply on the insights to be shared. According to him, the principles, biblical truths, and leadership nuggets that would be unveiled during the training are not only relevant but critical for personal development, ministry effectiveness, and the advancement of the Church in Osun State and beyond.
He further stressed the importance of unity among the CAN blocs, reminding everyone that true impact is achieved when the body of Christ stands together in purpose and action. Concluding his address, Rev. Dr. Adeleke prayed that the conference would be a defining moment of renewal, revelation, and rededication for every attendee, equipping them to return to their local assemblies as catalysts of transformation
- Theme Focus – Themed “Growing A Healthy Church,” the conference highlighted strategies for cultivating biblically rooted churches with sustainable discipleship models. Sessions addressed effective discipleship practices, leadership development, church health perspectives, and understanding spirituality.
- Interactive Workshops – The breakout sessions were engaging and interactive, enabling participants to:
- Exchange Real-Life Experiences and Practical Wisdom.
- Build Practical Skills for Discipleship Implementation.
- Strengthen Theological and Practical Understanding of Discipleship.
- Cultivate a Lifestyle of Intentional Discipleship.
- Discover Contextual Models and Tools for Disciple-Making.
- Enhance Leadership Capacity for Discipleship Movements:
- Engage in Spirit-Led, Scripture-Rooted Practices.
- Identify and Overcome Barriers to Effective Discipleship.
- Develop a Personal or Ministry Discipleship Action Plan.
Conference Outcome
The Osogbo Discipleship Conference concluded on a powerful note, marked by a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and spiritual urgency. Throughout the sessions, participants were not only equipped with practical tools and biblical insight but also deeply stirred by the call to intentional, life-on-life discipleship.
By the end of the conference, attendees expressed a firm recommitment to making discipleship the heartbeat of their ministries. Many left with a sharpened vision to integrate discipleship into every layer of church life — from leadership development to family engagement and community outreach.
The conference ignited a collective resolve among participants to return to their churches, homes, and communities as catalysts for spiritual renewal and multiplication. Armed with practical strategies and spiritual conviction, they embraced the challenge of raising disciple-makers who will, in turn, disciple others — igniting a ripple effect of transformation that extends beyond Osogbo.
As a result, the conference has not only inspired individual recommitment but has also laid the foundation for a growing discipleship movement in the region, rooted in biblical truth, relational engagement, and sustainable impact.
