Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry A. Weddell is a very popular book and has remained in the top 5,000 best sellers from all the books available on Amazon. It is popular because first it includes shocking statistical evidence:
- Only 30% of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing (p. 24). 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics (p. 25).
- 79% of those who have dropped the name “Catholic” and claim no religious affiliation of any kind have done so by age 23 (p. 33).
- In the early 21st century, among Americans raised Catholic, becoming Protestant is the best guarantee of stable church attendance as an adult (p. 35).
- The majority of adult Catholics are not even certain that a personal relationship with God is possible (p. 46).
- Mass attendance is always lower than, and goes up and down with, the percentage of those who are certain that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God (p. 44).
This statistical analysis of the Church in the United States in all probability reflects the situation here in the UK. Furthermore, the old adage that they will come back for the Sacraments no longer holds true. Between 1972 and 2010 the number of marriages celebrated in church has plummeted by 60%. As Sherry Weddell says, ‘God has no grandchildren.’
Next, the author provides a concept of Intentional Disciples that can be easily shared, discussed, and adapted for parishes in England and Wales. She describes an Intentional Disciple by using the analogy of Simon Peter dropping his nets to follow Jesus (p.65).
Intentional is not a matter of following the rules or being a cultural Catholic. It means entrusting one’s life to Jesus Christ and regular participation in the Sacraments as the vessels of grace.
Then, using the Five Thresholds as outlined on pages 129-130, the author explains the stages to conversion, to becoming an Intentional Disciple:
- Initial trust: Someone makes a positive association with Jesus, the Church, or a Christian believer.
- Spiritual curiosity: A person is intrigued by or desiring to know more about Jesus, his life, his teachings or some aspect of the Christian faith.
- Spiritual openness: A person acknowledges to himself or herself and to God that he or she is open to the possibility of personal and spiritual change.
- Spiritual seeking: The person moves from being essentially passive to actively seeking to know the God who is calling him or her.
- Intentional discipleship: This is the decision to ‘drop one’s nets.’ To make a conscious commitment to follow Jesus in the midst of his Church as an obedient disciple and to reorder one’s life accordingly.
Once someone has become a disciple of Jesus Christ and has commitments their life to Him, it makes sense that that person would go on to share Christ with others. The Called & Gifted Discernment Process helps intentional disciples learn how to do this. The author has gained an immense amount of experience and knowledge by training thousands of people with her Called & Gifted Discernment Process. Bishop Philip Egan recently hosted such a weekend workshop in the Portsmouth Diocese.
If we in the UK adopt the principles outlined in this book, we may well move the Church from its current ‘maintenance’ or even ‘managing decline’ mode to one where parish communities begin to thrive and rebuild.
In a world that is suffering from moral relativism and apathy whilst under the serious threat of militant and violent forms of Islam, as Catholic Christians we can no longer afford to do nothing.
Contemplative Catholic 
This book is not really one for the charismatics.
This is something which has really lead to the success of Youth 2000, and Transformed in Christ etc and is opening up the charisms in the slightly more traditional youth side of the church. The more traditional diocese in the US and even now Bishop Egan is embracing this model for youth work.
If the charismatic arm of the church had followed this model then it would not be dying out in Europe, as a recent article in the Good News Magazine points out.
I came into the church via charismatic renewal and wished that it was more evangelical, but it became inwardly navel gazing and serving it’s own people rather than spreading out (which is proven by its ongoing decline). I know people on some of the regional core Celebrate teams, and they say that people are not returning to celebrate events. The problem is that people are too nice on the feedback sheets and do not always tell the truth. Brushing the Catholic Faith under the carpet is at the core of its failure (there are certainly charismatics that I know that have stopped going to celebrate because of this reason). This is all linked to Waddell’s model.
I know from catholics charismatics who were prominent at the beginning of the 1970’s and 1980’s who state that whilst Myles Dempsey always embraced Catholicism, that Celebrate continued to distance itself from catholicism i.e. no Mary, no saints, and adoration dumped in a side room (i.e. Jesus dumped in a side room – to appease the small handful of protestants and non-conformists that attended). There have also been issues with solid Catholic charismatic speakers not being allowed to talk at celebrate, but speakers from other denominations being allowed to talk (this is not quite what Vatican II had in mind i.e. ecumenism, yes, but not at the expense of the Catholic Faith).
The bottom line is that if you do not pronounce the truth then you will die out. Sherry Waddell would certainly not advocate brushing Catholic Truth under the carpet by any stretch of the imagination.
In short, maybe charismatic renewal (and particularly Celebrate) needs to embrace the Forming International Disciples model of evangelisation and get back on track. Even Charles Whitehead has said that he is disappointed that the church in this country is now tending to become more traditional. Has he not yet realised that it is because the more successful grassroots Catholic youth work has been actually using Waddells work.
In the words of Pope Francis to charismatic leaders “You are dispensers of the grace of God, not controllers! Don’t be a customs office to the Holy Spirit!”
This is where the failure lies.
Thank goodness for Sherry Waddells book actually being really used in other parts of the Catholic Church in this country. The evangelisation is beginning to take hold (but, not through charismatic renewal).
I do not see the Church in terms of Charismatic Renewal versus Traditionalists or for that matter left wing or right wing. In order for a plane to fly, it needs both wings, right to the tips, plus a good body in the centre and a robust set of engines. It also needs a pilot and navigator to fly it. Sherry Waddell’s book is not exclusive as suggested in this comment, it is inclusive as it should be and as the Church should be. I have seen many young people actively involved in their parishes and the wider community through Charismatic Renewal and I have heard that many are encouraged through Traditional liturgy. There is room for both in the world and if those in the Church spent less time labelling people and bickering, there would be more room for evangelism.
Indeed Jesus prayed ‘That they would all be one’ (John 17:21) and he meant in the Church of his time as well as what has evolved into the Catholic Church today.
Yes, but the point is that CCR is no longer evangelising.
It is just navel gazing, hence the reason for it’s decline.
Also, I wasn’t comparing charismatic v’s Traditional.
I was comparing an overtly protestantised version of CCR v’s tradition
i.e. liberal v’s traditional
Just more labels, which I object to because they are meaningless. Charismatics are both liberal in terms of their methods of expression in praise and worship and traditional in that Jesus was himself a charismatic preacher and the disciples at Pentecost received and used the charisms, the gifts presented to them in the upper room.
Saying that CCR is no longer evangelising is a massive generalisation my friend! Many Catholics who attend Mass are not evangelising, they keep their faith quiet and personal. This is a problem for the whole Church, particularly in the West,and not just those who express their faith through CCR.
Hi,
Just for the record I have no problem with Charismatic Renewal, just Celebrate which appears to have gone AWOL. There are lots of great Catholics that have come out of New Dawn, and are genuine followers of Christ. Probably a lot of this is down to the example of Myles Dempsey who has a deliverance background and is Catholic, through and through.
Also for the record I have put my money where my mouth is and am not just being hypocritical by saying these things. I have been one of a small group people who have brought authentic renewal to the local church (which is now spreading out to local areas). I would not have been able to do this without some exposure to Charismatic Renewal. However, just like at St. Peter Catholic Church, Ohio, Brigg Lincolnshire etc we did did not hide the Catholicism, and we were rigorously faithful to the letter of Vatican II and to the Magisterium throughout.
Yes, the Holy Spirit does turn up at charismatic events, but breaking Satan’s grip in churches and the community is another thing. Only by following what Vatican II actually says (and not listening to and following the misinterpretations) will we get this renewal into the churches. Some authentic teaching from st. John of the Cross as well as some ascetic Catholic theology, and solid knowledge of the charisms (and even deliverance) is also required.
If we honour God then God will turn up. In our local Catholic church this even meant that we had an E.F. Mass with one of the deacons speaking in tongues on the sanctuary during the Latin Mass, and then people experiencing manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way after the Mass. Let me tell you that this was even an eye opener for me, as I did not think it would be possible at an E.F. Mass (though it was prayed in). Aspects of what happened at this Mass are now spreading out into the rest of the region (I’m not talking about more Masses – I’m talking about teaching spreading out regionally).
During a period of 14 months we gave the best that we had to offer to God and we had someone acting as a living sacrifice (i.e. real charismatic renewal which is spiritual warfare). Church started working and going out into the community. Satan’s grip was lifted and there was even some of that joy that is often mentioned.
I would not have posted on your blog, but the Waddell reference was just too tempting. She speaks of intentional discipleship, actually following the Word of the Gospel, and taking risks for the kingdom. Charismatic renewal organisations need to be more evangelical and tell the truth i.e. if you want to bring renewal to your local area then it is going to be extremely difficult and it is going to take people being living sacrifices.
I think that the problem is that my definition of charismatic renewal (and Myles Dempsey’s and Sherry Waddell’s) is that being a follower of Christ equates to receiving the Spirit and then being a real disciple and bringing the faith to people knowing and accepting that there is a personal cost to be paid in the spiritual battle.
Certain organisations seem to have lost this zeal that was prevalent at the beginning. The evangelist Nathan Morris talks of charismatic being “in it for the tingle” and “chasing from one conference to the next”. I think that this is true of charismatic renewal in the UK i.e. it is self serving.
In short, if you receive the spirit you have a responsibility. Just saving the message for yourself is not what is required.
Yes, there are charismatics in churches acting as extraordinary ministers, and children’s catechists, and doing something. As far as I am concerned the responsibility of receiving the spirit goes far beyond this remit. People who have not fully received the Spirit can do these jobs.
I am sorry that my tone was harsh, but the point was that it is time for Catholic charismatics to roll their sleeves up again and build up the kingdom (by following what the Catholic Church actually says rather than what they think it says).
You have given me lots of food for thought here and I shall have to go and listen to Myles Dempsey. I do think some attending Celebrate are true disciples but I’ve also noticed how some conferences have really struggled to get people through the door and cover their expenses. If it is truly being run in obedience to God, you would not expect this to be a problem!
Ii is also noticeable that most speakers come out of the Celebrate ‘stable’ and seem to do the rounds and they also use non-Catholics who may not be in a position to give authentic Catholic teaching.
Thanks for your comments, it is good to discuss these things and as I say, I have plenty to think and pray about.
I may get back to you at a later date, here, to develop the discussion. Funnily enough some of my faith was renewed this weekend (in Celebrate) at the Cleethorpes Celebrate Conference where three people from the Louth Catholic Church (which is really struggling spiritually) received the Holy Spirit to varying degrees, and we were praying and fasting for this.
Let me tell you that ultimately I have no problems with CCR, but I just wish charismatic renewal was raising up some extra workers in the Vineyard (though I appreciate that this does not just happen in individuals overnight). As the Waddell book points out there is a process to go through to get to this stage.
For the record I am a great fan of Dave Payne. A great speaker and a top Catholic. I have tended to attend the St. Albans Celebrate in the past which seems a good one.
All the very best. Cheers.
Why not join Legion of Mary?
Door to door work is just great I really enjoy ,foot soldier for Christ ,hand book fantastic
Donal,Ireland.
I live in Herefordshire, we don’t have the Legion of Mary here! God bless you in your work.
Chris,just get handbook of Frank Duff ,Tessera and another 2 people,weekly meeting ,1 hour work per week and you and others will feel wonderful about giving people hope and the love Christ has for everyone.Sure our praesidium was slow to get going ,people come and go but when you get 1 like minded person ,your away and running,its not success Christ wants but faithfulness,go through our Lady and Holy Spirit and you have a short cut to Christ.Shyness just has to be over come .If you want any info just get me at deenydonie@hotmail.com
donal