Local mission and disciple making

After five years as Elim's International Missions Director, Iain Hesketh has stepped back into local church leadership. Jack Skett caught up with him to find out more

Iain Hesketh has stepped down as
International Missions Director

How did you begin to sense God calling you to move on?

Every time I’ve moved it has seemed like a sudden moment; the reality is it is always a longer process! Over the years, I’ve spoken about and written of the call of Jesus to his people to be focused on disciple-making as the primary way through which the church fulfils his mission. I’ve talked with leaders of church planting movements and heard stories of people actively involved in helping people come to Jesus. At the heart of this decision is my desire to be involved in local mission by making disciples.

What are the highlights from your time as IMD?

It is hard to narrow it down to just a couple but if I have to, I would say what we are seeing happen in regard to church planting. It was a joy to witness church planters being trained in Cambodia and the work on Cebu in the Philippines shifting to form gospel communities which are multiplying. The second highlight is this year’s Missionary Conference in Malvern. The Lord met with us in a special way. Also, the response from Elim churches and people to our ERA Covid appeal and recent European conflict appeal was phenomenal!

Do you have any advice? What are you going to be doing in your new role?

I’m going to be co-leading the church in Stratford-upon-Avon with John Martin, who has been the sole pastor at the church for the last nine years. Our vision is to plant a gospel community for every 1,000 people in the Stratford-upon-Avon district, so my main focus is going to be on reproducing leaders, walking with them in the way of Jesus and then working with them to establish these communities of faith. Over the years I have picked up principles used by disciple-making movements to great effect in many parts of the world and I believe these can and will work in the UK.

What is your parting encouragement to missionaries?

It’ll sound so simple, but the truth is that Jesus told us without him we can do nothing (John 15:4). The best thing I can say is if you want to bear fruit for Jesus you have to keep walking with Jesus. Don’t get so caught up with doing things for Jesus that you miss being with him. Don’t just rely on your quiet times in the morning but seek out others who are desiring to be like Jesus and commit to helping each other.

How do you have good conversations about tough topics?

I’m looking forward to spending time developing disciple-making pathways for people as they seek to engage with the mission of God in their neighbourhoods and workplaces; sitting in people’s homes listening to their stories and helping them discover where God is at work; developing leaders to pioneer gospel communities in Stratford-upon-Avon; and being engaged with our local town and working with other churches to see the gospel advance. I’d love for us to be a church from which missionaries are sent out to the nation and the nations. Most of all I’m looking forward to relentlessly pursing the birth of disciple-making movements in the UK to the glory of God.
 

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

Enjoy this article? Don't forget to share