{"id":256055,"date":"2022-02-14T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/?p=256055"},"modified":"2023-08-09T12:20:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T18:20:12","slug":"how-one-dad-equipped-his-son-for-the-discipleship-long-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navigators.org\/blog\/dad-equipped-son-discipleship\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Dad Equipped His Son for the Discipleship Long Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Of course Nate Schellhause was nervous to share his faith with his newfound soccer friends. Coming from a homeschool background and transitioning into a public high school, Nate didn\u2019t know anyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That\u2019s when Zach*, one of these soccer players Nate first met through a community league, started to introduce him to others at school. It was through soccer and his first connection with Zach that this group of soccer-loving high school guys brought Nate into their group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t even know Jesus, but saw someone who didn\u2019t know anyone, like a lost puppy, and wanted to bring me into their group,\u201d Nate shared. \u201cI think it shows a lot of maturity for freshmen in high school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate wasn\u2019t sure how they would respond, but knew he couldn\u2019t just say he followed Jesus and not live it out every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t just go to church on Sundays and profess I know Jesus as the most important Person in my life and not share that,\u201d Nate said. \u201cI would ask myself, How could I talk about Jesus and the Bible in a way these guys would find interesting?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Nate got creative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrazy\u201d Bible Stories at a Bonfire <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One night in high school, he and his friends had a bonfire where Nate shared crazy stories from the Bible, like the story of Ehud and King Eglon from Judges 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI shared this Bible story and how Ehud stabbed Eglon and the sword went right into his belly, including all the details guys appreciate. My friends looked surprised and responded, \u2018That\u2019s in the Bible?!\u2019\u201d Nate laughed as he shared. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s a crazy story from the Bible!\u2019 Sometimes when it\u2019s weird it appeals to guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate didn\u2019t want to water down God\u2019s truth, but to meet his friends where they were, making the Bible relatable to their interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These friends heard more than a crazy Bible story from Nate, they saw a guy who made counter-cultural choices. His life spoke to them, too. But to Nate it seemed like very little was happening in his friends\u2019 hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate\u2019s parents had modeled to him from an early age what it looked like to be an everyday disciple. They emphasized the intrinsic, infinite value of each person and reminded him to treat them as such. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Your Kids to Share Their Faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kent Schellhause<\/a>, a Navigators 20s<\/a> leader in the Cincinnati area and Nate\u2019s dad, would say the most important preposition in discipleship is \u201cwith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was led to Christ my freshman year by a Navigators staff named Charlie Green. For the next four years I was not just taught how to walk with Jesus and minister to others, but Charlie did it with<\/em> me,\u201d shared Kent. \u201cThe \u2018with Him\u2019 principle based on Mark 3:14<\/a> was part of my DNA because of my involvement with The Navigators and Charlie\u2019s example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nate and Kent Schellhause<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kent and his wife Jill both came to Christ through Navigators Collegiate<\/a> and eventually had three kids, who all chose to be involved in Navigators Collegiate during their college years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kent constantly instilled in Nate what was important in life. It\u2019s remembering those conversations that bring Nate back into focus when his priorities get rearranged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think my dad\u2019s biggest spiritual investment in me was instilling the value of spiritual investment in my own life,\u201d Nate shared. \u201cHe always said we should be investing in the only two things that have eternal value on earth: the Word of God and people\u2019s souls. This is such an important reminder as I get caught up in the complexity of everyday life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kent and Jill allowed the \u201cwith Him\u201d principle to guide how they discipled their children. Ministry wasn\u2019t something they did solely as a couple. Their family was involved in ministry and they followed Christ together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had quiet times with<\/em> the kids; we prayed with<\/em> the kids; we went on missions trips with<\/em> them; and did Bible study with<\/em> them,\u201d Kent shared. \u201cIn most of our Navigator career, Jill and I made it a priority to include our children and their friends and those friends\u2019 parents in our everyday life and ministry, primarily families who did not know Jesus yet. Hopefully our children saw an example of what a disciple is through my and Jill\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Take the Pressure off When It Comes to Evangelism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward 20 years later and you\u2019ll find Nate and his soccer friends married and starting families and still an intentional community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, this group seeks the Lord together and many of them have accepted Christ and been baptized. Nate was surprised at the change of heart that happened when he moved out of state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember asking God, \u2018Hey God, I\u2019ve been praying for these guys for 15 years and it\u2019s when I leave and am not a part of their everyday lives that I see more fruit from their lives?\u2019\u201d Nate shared. \u201cIt was then that they started going to church. It was a good reminder for me that it is all Jesus. He\u2019s the One who pursues and transforms their hearts, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Nate back in the Cincinnati area now, the guys meet every other week and their wives on the opposite weeks. At times this involves Bible study and other times a discussion topic, while rotating facilitators. One of these friends, Bryan*, is even a part of the Navigators 20s which they now have coined the Nav 30s because of the group\u2019s longevity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, I come back to my dad\u2019s advice of investing in the Word of God and in people. I know if I really believe this is most important then this is how I should spend my time,\u201d Nate shared. \u201cMy dad has emulated this in his life and I have tried to copy his example in mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray<\/strong> for The Navigators 20s ministry in Cincinnati and the Schellhause family who continues to invest in spiritual generations. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\t