Equipping a Church Member to Use Archery to Engage the Lost

After returning from a sabbatical earlier this month, Mark Robinson reconnected with a younger leader from his church—a former youth volunteer with a quiet personality and an engineering background. Though not naturally outgoing, this young man had caught hold of the vision for organic discipleship.

Instead of waiting for formal church programs, he began using his personal passion—archery—to draw young men into meaningful relationships. He invited them to shoot bows, compete together, and spend time outside of traditional church structures. What surprised Mark was not just the number of young men who came, but the depth of conversations that followed. Around the archery range, they were discussing theology, life challenges, and leadership principles.

Mark described how this young leader is stepping into areas that are not his natural strength—developing relational and leadership skills while discipling others. What began as casual archery practice has grown into a powerful tool for outreach and spiritual growth.

Mark’s prayer is that more men and women would discover how to use their own passions—whether sports, hobbies, or everyday interests—as platforms for disciple making. “Discipleship doesn’t have to wait on church structures,” Mark reflected. “It grows best when it happens naturally, as we invite people into our lives and passions.”