Making Disciples or Making Noise?

Recently, our media was flooded with reports from Kilifi about a school where our Hindu cousins checked in with a sizeable donation and promises that turned the eyes and hearts of the faculty and students toward Hare Krishna as their god.

The news caused quite a stir among believers in Christian circles. Conversations flared, condemnations flew, and opinions overflowed.

But as I reflected on that story, I saw something deeper—and more troubling. I realized that we, the Christian community, had made certain assumptions before condemning.

First, we assumed that the staff and students of that school were Christians.
Second, we assumed that they turned away from the true God to worship an idol.
Third, we assumed that because the school is in Kenya, it must be a Christian school.

All three assumptions were wrong.

If there had been true believers among them, the story would have sounded different. We would have heard of teachers who turned down the donation because it compromised their faith. We would have read of students who refused to eat food offered in worship to another god.

But none of that happened. Their silence and participation said it all: “Let’s eat first; we’ll deal with the elephant later.”

That, my friends, is not the posture of those who call Jesus Lord.

So, there was no turning away from the faith because there was no faith to begin with. Many of them likely had no real relationship with God at all. Perhaps they were atheists, or perhaps they simply followed the motions of religion—singing church songs, ending prayers “in Jesus’ name,” yet never knowing the Person behind the name.

And yes, maybe there’s a PPI (Program for Pastoral Instruction) running in that school. But are those “instructions” truly pastoral? Do they come from the Scriptures, or are we reading from a different script altogether?

This is a sad and sobering reality.

Since 2012, the Lord has helped me push for discipleship among teenagers in our schools and homes. I long to see Parents, Pastors, Patrons, Preachers, and Priests be intentional—not just in hosting services, but in forming disciples. The Kilifi incident is proof that disciples have not been made, either in that school or at home.

Some of those same individuals are probably faithful church members somewhere—attending, giving, and participating—but not yet disciples.

The Lord left us one instruction:
“Go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:19)

Anything else we make is just noise.

So, I ask you who has read this far:
Are you making disciples, or just making noise?
How are you doing it at home, in your neighborhood, and through your hustle?
Is the Lord seeing an obedient saint in you—or just another religious actor?

Whether you are a Pastor, Patron, Priest, or Parent, how are you using your position to make disciples?

Here’s how disciples are made:
You feed the sheep the most important meal—the Word of God. You teach(not preach) and train. You seat in circles(not rows) and correct. You rebuke(not encourage timidity) and restore.

According to the Lord, you are either a disciple-maker or a noise-maker.

Let’s allow the Lord to build His Church, His way—not ours. Let’s do it for Him, not for us, if indeed we love Him.