{"id":6061,"date":"2021-03-03T10:17:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T10:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-sites.ccci.org\/agapeuk-old\/?p=6061"},"modified":"2023-05-11T11:31:09","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T11:31:09","slug":"immersed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-sites.ccci.org\/agapeuk-old\/immersed\/","title":{"rendered":"Immersed"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
By Ross McCall in 2016, adapted by Miriam Westfall in 2021 <\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Jesus\u2019 command to \u201cmake disciples of all nations\u201d is why\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Agap\u00e9<\/span><\/span>\u00a0exists as a movement. Diane Cowles, Anna McCall<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Kimberley\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Carribine<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and Miriam Westfall<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>share<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a powerful story of disc<\/span><\/span>ipleship and being deeply immersed in one another\u2019s lives.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>

In 2005 Diane and her family moved to Newcastle because they felt God\u00a0<\/span>calling<\/span>\u00a0them to\u00a0<\/span>nurture<\/span>\u00a0young staff members in our student ministry. Anna was\u00a0<\/span>serving<\/span> with Agap\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0UK<\/span>\u00a0and Kimberley was her key student leader.\u00a0<\/span>Kimberley\u00a0<\/span>then\u00a0<\/span>led<\/span>\u00a0the Newcastle ministry, as Diane and Anna did before her<\/span>. She then<\/span>\u00a0discipled Miriam who now leads the same team<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Three words paint their picture of discipleship as spiritual multiplication: sharing, serving, showing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Baking\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Sharing<\/h2>

Diane: The theme of all of this for us is family. Meals\u00a0<\/span>together<\/span>\u00a0were important from the beginning; we ate together several times every week. We\u2019re\u00a0<\/span>going<\/span>\u00a0to be together forever in\u00a0<\/span>heaven<\/span>\u00a0one day so why not start living like that now.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Anna: My\u00a0<\/span>husband<\/span>\u00a0and I were about to buy our first house shortly after Diane arrived in Newcastle. She asked us to reconsider our choice because of\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0location. She pictured our team living within walking distance of each other\u00a0<\/span>so we could model community in a radical way to students like Kimberley. She was so committed to doing life with us that we gladly found another house nearer by. This is how we learned what it meant to make life choices based on our commitment to Jesus and to\u00a0<\/span>each<\/span>\u00a0other.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Diane: The thing I always try to be the most intentional about is loving women like Anna and Kimberley, not just teaching or training them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kimberley: Diane taught me about creating environments where it\u2019s safe to talk about deeper things. <\/span>Miriam and I share a common love for baking and dancing,\u00a0<\/span>as well as<\/span>\u00a0Jesus! This took us beyond the Bible studies and intentional evangelism we did on campus to becoming more involved in one another’s day-to-day lives. By naturally bringing up spiritual topics in conversation with Miriam’s flat mates whilst baking in their kitchen or praying for opportunities to be a light for Jesus on the walk to a dance class, I was able to model things to Miriam in the places and relationships she most wanted to impact in everyday life.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Miriam: I felt so at home in Kimberley’s house that I would make my own cups of tea! Seeing how purposeful Kimberley was about hospitality challenged me to think about how to make my own space.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Serving<\/h2>

Diane: I interviewed Anna for her job with\u00a0<\/span>Agap\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0UK<\/span>\u00a0and felt immediately that I loved her. I also\u00a0<\/span>recognised<\/span>\u00a0something of myself when I was a young woman joining\u00a0Agap\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0UK<\/span>, desperate for someone to show me what to do.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kimberley: When I lost my mum unexpectedly, I had to fly back from serving overseas. Anna met me at the airport. Then she rented a car and drove down to stay with me and my family, who she\u2019d ne<\/span>ver met, so she could offer me spiritual support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Anna: Every time we\u00a0moved house, whether in Newcastle or later in Glasgow, Chip and Diane were there alongside us packing boxes, cleaning or doing whatever needed to be done.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Miriam:\u00a0<\/span>Life could get\u00a0<\/span>really busy<\/span>\u00a0during exam and deadline season.\u00a0<\/span>Kimberley\u00a0<\/span>would bring<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>home<\/span>–<\/span>cooked food onto campus for me and my course mates<\/span>\u00a0as we worked long days, in a sim<\/span>ilar way\u00a0<\/span>to how\u00a0<\/span>Anna had helped feed her as a student too<\/span>. I<\/span>t was a great conversation starter!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Helping\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"cooking\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Showing<\/h2>

Diane: I dedicated one day each week to focus entirely on training Anna. The two of us met in the morning to talk and pray. In the afternoon we led a group of women, including Kimberley, who showed a strong commitment to what we were<\/span> doing. We talked about Jesus to the students on campus, and then over a meal at my house we talked about our relationships with God.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Anna: Diane taught me how to do ministry, but more than that, watching her life with Chip, my husband and I learned about being married, raising children, and living in a way that draws others towards Jesus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kimberley: Before university I had no female mentor. When I first got involved with\u00a0<\/span>Agap\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0UK<\/span>, I would see Anna almost every day of the week. I\u00a0<\/span>remember<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>thinking<\/span>\u00a0her prayers were always longer than mine,\u00a0<\/span>bu<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0that taught me I could have a conversation with God about all areas of my life.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Anna: Kimberley was so hungry to learn all the time. I just had to be intentional about giving her the right opportunities. When I met with\u00a0<\/span>students,<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>always tried to involve\u00a0<\/span>Kimberley<\/span>\u00a0so she saw what I was\u00a0<\/span>doing and<\/span>\u00a0knew how to begin discipling others. As Diane would say, \u2018More is caught than taught\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kimberley:\u00a0<\/span>Miriam was keen to learn how to better share her faith and put things into practice. I really enjoyed passing on the practical things Anna and Diane had taught me<\/span>\u00a0b<\/span>ut, like them, I was quick to turn to God in prayer together too.\u00a0<\/span>Chatting,<\/span>\u00a0I would highlight where I felt weak in an area and\u00a0<\/span>emphasise<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>things<\/span> I learnt from observing Miriam too. I wanted Miriam to know that making Jesus known was more about trusting in God than having a certain gift set or good ‘tools’ in your belt. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Miriam:\u00a0<\/span>I remember seeing\u00a0<\/span>how Kimberley\u00a0<\/span>talked about Jesus\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>the same openness and gentleness to everyone she met.<\/span>\u00a0Whether in my halls, chatting with new students in the bar, or\u00a0<\/span>at her house<\/span>, she allowed God\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>help her genuinely love\u00a0<\/span>by being<\/span>\u00a0honest<\/span>, present<\/span>\u00a0and real in each interaction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t