Originally called Disciple 328, the concept comes from the heart of Galatians 3:28, which encourages us to see the individual and their humanity over societal labels that often serve to separate and alienate instead of unite and support.
The name, I feel, says the rest. Disciple, or discipling, is the act of sharing faith and helping another to develop or grow their own faith. 1, not the loneliest number, directs us to an individual relationship where 1 person shares and guides 1 other person. 365, the number of days in 1 year, is the commitment made by the 1 to the other 1, a willingness to dedicate 1 year of getting know someone else.
Evangelism is a word that often scares people. It can conjure wrong ideas of holding ominous signs, pushing Bibles on others, and the dreaded knocking on doors of people we do not know. Disciple 1 365 is a take on the biblical practice of breaking bread together, of taking time to be in the home of someone or welcoming someone into our home. For 1 year you are asked to commit to someone else and get to know them. While getting to know someone, you are freed to share how God has been active in your life, and how a relationship with Jesus can bring new levels of fulfillment and community.
Imagine what it would mean to you to have someone put in the effort to really get to know you for 365 days and at the same time share their journey with you. That is how you do Disciple 1 365. The first step is to identify the person that you want to get know and with whom you want to share your faith and life journey. This could be a family member, a next door neighbor, a co-worker, or even the barista at your favorite coffee space. The next step is to become intentional and make a plan for how often you will interact, such as a weekly coffee, a bi-weekly meal, or a monthly event. The final step is to follow through with the plan and focus on the other person.
The goal is not to immediate sway someone to your beliefs or to suddenly come to church. The goal is to actually develop a meaningful relationship built on trust and love for one another. Many times it may be one way for a long time before the other person is ready to be as open as you are. By listening to hear what the other is saying you acknowledge that their experience is valid. Getting to know their journey will allow you to share how in similar circumstances your relationship with Jesus and your being a part of a community of faith have helped you.
There is no guarantee that this form of evangelism will bring someone to church or into a community of faith.I truly believe that regardless of the outcome of church attendance, the work you put into someone else will be meaningful and lasting for you both. We may never know the full extent of how much we changed someone's life, nor will we know how far reaching that 1 relationship will go into the world.