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DONÁT SÁMUEL GYURKÓ INTRODUCTION — WHAT IS DISCIPLESHIP? The practical foundational question of Christian discipleship — “How does one become a disciple of Christ today?” — explores the nature of the disciple’s life and its practical realization in a modern context. It thus falls under practical theology, specifically missiology and congregational pedagogy. Based on research addressing the future of Christianity from the perspectives of congregational pedagogy and missiology, it can be determined that two opposing processes are occurring within Christianity. In the Western world, one can observe that the Church is struggling significantly to engage the younger generation and contemporary communities, showing signs of decline.’ In contrast, in Africa, South America, and Asia, Christianity exhibits a picture of dynamic development, typically characterized by a Pentecostal and charismatic emphasis.” Predictions suggest that Christianity will remain dominant in these areas over the coming decades and will even experience substantial growth that is not due merely to demographic characteristics.* This implies that there is still potential within Christianity to reach new people; however, essential characteristics that would unlock this potential are missing from current European and Western practices. Leaders belonging to various denominations have recently started seeking ways to change church practices in light of these processes. Feeling the necessity for a cultural shift, new community forms are emerging, and a reimagining of older forms has begun to foster a sense of community among those entrusted to our churches.* This development points toward the concept of intentional discipleship. In addition to the existing thinking present in historical Christian churches, which labels every program and activity of the Church under the concept of discipleship,° one can discover pathways that consciously focus on the practical realization of discipleship, reaching and teaching new individuals entering the community." Upon examining the biblical and Research on the situation of Christianity in Western Europe and Central Europe. Conrad Hackett — Alan Cooperman: The Changing Global Religious Landscape, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2017/04/05/the-changing-global-religious-landscape/ (accessed 2 September 2024). Research on the religious habits of young people. Stephen Bullivant: Europe’s Young Adults and Religion 2018, https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/research/centres/benedict-xvi/docs/2018-mareurope-young-people-report-eng.pdf (accessed 3 September 2024). Key findings from the Global Religious Futures Project. Pew Research Center 2022. December 21, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/12/21/key-findings-from-the-global-religiousfutures-project/ (accessed 5. September 2024). Pängyänszky, Agnes: Kontextudlis kérdésfelvetések a gyiilekezetpedagdgidban. Lelkipdsztor, 2020/5. sz. 173. Debra Dean Murphy: Discipleship, in. G.T. Kurian — M.A. Lamport: Encyclopedia of Christian Education. 2015. Rowman & Littlefield, http://site.ebrary.com/id/11054927 (accessed 15 May 2024). The work of Christian Schwarz, Rick Warren, and Timothy Keller, among others, and the movements that have developed around them, are of particular significance. D w > u a + 36 +
