Cultivate Disciplemaking Book

Through God's glorious design tiny acorns become mighty oaks, which produce and create more mighty oaks. The same is true for disciples of Jesus. Through God's design, we are called to grow from acorns to mighty oaks planted for His glory! All Christians are called to make an impact on those around them for the glory of God. As with acorns, Christians have the potential of experiencing a breakthrough of exponential growth as their roots become established.

Based on hundreds of conversations with church leaders we have found that very few churches have implemented a well-thought-out process for making disciples who make disciples. Disciplemaking denotes a process of growing as a disciple which leads to investing in others for the purpose of making more disciples. Effective disciplemaking is always relationally driven, based on the model of Jesus as He intentionally invested in deep relationships with His disciples. In Cultivate Disciplemaking you will see how God is forming us in Christ to have maximum impact on the nations, our neighbors, and the next generation.

About the Authors

Dr. Kevin Blackwell

Kevin Blackwell has been in ministry for 29 years serving in various capacities including senior pastor, youth pastor, education and associate pastor. A native of Pleasant Grove, AL he serves dual roles at Samford University as both Assistant to the President for Church Relations and as Executive Director of the Ministry Training Institute, Samford's historic Extension Division. Kevin is also the Teaching Pastor at The Station Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Before coming to Samford in 2014 he was Senior Pastor of Valley Creek Baptist Church in Hueytown, AL.  Kevin has served as an adjunct professor in pastoral ministry at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Extension in Birmingham and is former President of the Alabama Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference.  He is the recipient of the Troy L. Morrison award for pastoral excellence through the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. He is married to Lorrie and has four children, Maggie, Andie, Averie, and Brodie.  He also assists Samford athletics as the stadium announcer for Samford football and host of the Chris Hatcher Show.  Dr. Blackwell received his Bachelor of General Studies from Samford, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology from the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His doctoral work was in the area of church health and revitalization.  He recently received his Ph.D. at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation thesis is An Analysis and Critique of Disciple Making Within Ecclesial Movements in the United States, 1970-2020, With a View Toward Implementing a Faithful New Testament Missio Ecclesia.

Kevin's Blog

Dr. Randy Norris

Randy Norris has been in ministry for 30 years serving in various capacities including senior pastor, youth pastor, associate pastor, and church planter. A native of Hueytown, Alabama, he is founding and senior pastor of The Station Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a graduate of The University of Alabama with a B.A. in Communications and also has his Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School.  He received his Doctorate of Ministry from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  Randy is the 2008 recipient of The Troy L. Morrison Leadership Award given by the Alabama Baptist State Convention to the church planter of the year in the state of Alabama. Randy and his wife, Susan, have five children:  Timothy, Abby, John Mark, Paul and Matthew.