One-on-one discipleship connects three men to God’s purpose

As we step into the obedience of God’s calling to “make disciples,” what exactly does this look like following one’s initial conversion? Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is a lifelong endeavor of being poured into as well as pouring into others.

As followers of Christ, having the ever-present thought of “who’s my next” to disciple and minister to challenges us, enriches us and gives us kingdom vision.

Potential for leadership

Aidan Altamirano exemplifies this. He has both been someone’s “Next” and sought out a “Next” of his own.

Altamirano is a member of Pinal County Cowboy Church in Casa Grande and a Christian Challenge campus missionary to Central Arizona College Maricopa Campus.

When Altamirano first met Steve Dokka, associate pastor of Pinal County Cowboy Church and Christian Challenge campus missionary, in the spring of 2020, Dokka easily identified a few things about Altamirano: He was an introvert, quiet and showed potential for leadership.

Dokka soon initiated one-on-one discipleship with Altamirano by going through a series on being a disciple.

“Meeting regularly, I saw a younger version of myself: Shy and introverted with perceived roadblocks to sharing the gospel,” Dokka said. “But through discipleship, I saw God help him overcome those obstacles.”

By 2021, Altamirano, who had been serving as a student leader with Christian Challenge, was asked to transition into serving as an apprentice when the door opened for a Christian Challenge chapter to begin at Central Arizona College’s Maricopa Campus. Both Dokka and Altamirano attribute him taking this path to Altamirano’s desire to be a disciple and grow in his faith and share Jesus with confidence.

“There is great value in being discipled and for me, that was with Steve,” Altamirano said. “When we first met, I was a Christ follower but not super serious about my faith. Steve challenges me and always tells me the truth even if it’s hard, and I am grateful and better for it.”

Discipled to disciple

Serving faithfully in his church and with Christian Challenge, Altamirano applied the discipleship he had received, waiting for the Lord to show him his “Next.”

Then, in the spring of 2024 he met Elijah Lindor.

Lindor, just like Altamirano and Dokka, is an introvert who found it difficult to be bold and openly share his faith.

“He showed up and kept showing up,” Altamirano said. “Elijah joined my parents’ young adult group and was welcomed into our family. I continue to see God use him. He connects with and invites people the rest of us can’t into God’s story and His church.”

Lindor agrees that he has grown because someone discipled him.

“I went to the Christian Challenge evangelism conference Proclaim last fall, and that changed everything. I needed to get real,” Lindor said. “The value of this relationship is that I respect Aidan and his walk with God. It encourages me to want to be more Christ-like.”

Growing with one another

This is what discipleship looks like after conversion: Three men seeking God, living out their faith, being obedient and asking, “Who is my ‘Next,’ Lord?”

“I have grown exponentially and Aidan has shown me a new way of walking with Christ, fellowshipping with believers and why it’s important to be a growing disciple,” Lindor said. “When walking with Jesus, you may try to go it alone, but you won’t get too far. It’s hard. You may get knowledge but can lack understanding.

“God puts us with one another to grow, be moved out of our comfort zone, and, most importantly, He uses you,” Lindor continued. “It reminds me of the missional call Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:19.”

Lainee Pegelow, a freelance writer and photographer, is the missions and communications catalyst for Christian Challenge AZ. She is a member of Challenge Church, Flagstaff.