In Matthew 28:19-20, we find the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This is Jesus, instructing his 11 apostles to carry the gospel around the known world. The Great Commission still applies to us as Christians today.

As musicians and artists within The Salvation Army, we are certainly afforded many different blessings. We can fellowship with others through our various music and gospel arts sections, hone our God-given talents, and provide support to our ministry units, however they may look. But, dare I say, if we do not have discipleship at the forefront of our hearts and minds, we may be missing the point.

Prior to coming to the music and gospel arts department at territorial headquarters, I was a professional musician and private teacher. I accompanied many soloists and choirs. I worked with individual students in piano, voice and theory in a private studio setting. At the same time, I was involved with all aspects of music ministry at my corps, from banding to songsters and worship team. What sets the professional music world apart from what we do as musicians and artists in The Salvation Army is the desire to go and make disciples. The message we carry in our music is far too important to act like it shouldn’t take precedence.

But what is discipleship? What does it mean for us to be disciples of Jesus Christ? What does it mean for us to disciple another individual?

In simple form, to be a disciple of Christ is to be a follower of Christ. Therefore, when he instructs us to go and make disciples of all nations, we are to do that if we want to be a follower (a disciple) of Christ ourselves. Others need to hear about his love and grace, and they need to hear about it from those of us who believe already. Remember that a soul who does not know the Lord is a lost soul and we need to understand the importance of sharing the gospel with them.

Music and gospel arts ministry can be the vehicle with which to reach those who don’t know the gospel. And once that door is open, we are able to “go and make disciples.”

Does that sound like a daunting task? One for which you feel unprepared and unqualified? Me too, quite often. So how do we prepare ourselves? We do it through prayer and studying Scripture.

Sometimes I want to make it more complicated than that, but if we study God’s Word and pray for his direction, we will be given the answers we need in all sorts of aspects of our lives, including how to go and make disciples.

I believe God values and inspires music and art, and that he wants us to use it in worship to him, to connect with him, to help others connect with him, to witness—and the list could go on. However, I believe that our music ministry will only be fully what it was intended to be if we go forward and make disciples of the individuals we encounter.

Heather Osmond is the territorial secretary for music and gospel arts.

Reprinted from MAGAzine, September 2022.

Photo: Inbetween/Lightstock.com