What makes the Life Transformation Discipleship Course transformational is that it requires more than just mental comprehension of the material covered in the chapters. After each chapter are life applications.

These life applications help the student put into practice what they are learning. At the end of each of the four stages: 1) Commitment, 2) Character, 3) Calling, 4) Commission, there is a progress report to be completed. Once the progress report is fulfilled for each stage the person can then proceed to the next stage.

     Pastors have been frustrated with not seeing much real change in people’s lives with those attending their churches. Many who pray to receive Christ do not grow in Christ and many fall away. Pastors have taught and preached their best yet congregants still do not grow to maturity in Christ. There does not seem to be any real transformation in peoples’ lives. Pastors seek answers to these problems through reading books, attending seminars, and church growth conferences. Some pastors are looking for a “silver bullet” to give their church a quick jump start. Many pastors try copying the methods of some larger churches hoping to experience the same success.

     The answer to how to see people in churches experiencing true life transformation is not in some new program, technique, or technology. The key for each church is to develop a biblical discipleship process that will work in their church. How does a pastor develop a biblical discipleship process in his church? Developing a workable biblical discipleship process requires a lot of biblical study and years of work.

     Doctor Ronald Thorington has done extensive study on the biblical methods used for developing disciples. Thorington has developed his Life Transforming Discipleship Course over a period of 25 years that has proven to be life transforming. Pastor Thorington has 48 years of pastoral ministry and has completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Pastoral Ministries. His dissertation was on subject of how pastors can help their churches become life transforming. One primary reason why churches succeed in being transformational is through developing an effective discipleship process in their churches.

     It is Doctor Thorington’s desire to help as many pastors/teachers as possible develop a biblical discipleship process in their churches. Doctor Thorington wants to share his many years of work by making available to pastors his Life Transforming Discipleship Course. Doctor Thorington has shared his material with many pastors at numerous conferences. There are pastors from not only the U.S. but also Canada, England, France, Uganda and Rwanda Africa that are now using his materials. Rather than having his work published he is now making it accessible for downloading from the internet. Pastors from all over the world can now have access to use his materials in their churches simply by enrolling. Pastors can examine the discipleship material by enrolling as a student. If you so choose, go through course, or just give it an overview. If you decide that as a pastor you would like to use this material for your church, just enroll as a pastor. 

     The Life Transforming Discipleship Course was developed to be used in a church context. For the course to be transformative there needs to be accountability. The course was not designed for a person to complete just as an individual. Each student needs to have a mentor to work with him as he progresses through the four stages. For this course to work effectively pastors need to be involved. Pastors, please use the material to disciple people in your church. Use it for your home groups, Bible studies, Sunday School Adult classes, or School of Discipleship.