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When Ruth says, “Where you go, I will go… your people will be my people and your God my God,” she’s not just making a dramatic promise. She’s giving us a vision of what Gospel-shaped discipleship and mentoring can look like—one that can deeply influence how we think about leadership at NBCC.
In the Indian context, we’re no strangers to loyalty and relational depth. Many of us have grown up in households that value respect for elders, staying connected through thick and thin, and honoring spiritual authority. These values reflect something beautiful and biblical. Ruth’s commitment echoes that deep loyalty—choosing to walk with Naomi when she had nothing to give in return. But here’s the twist. Ruth isn’t following a mentor who is strong or successful. Naomi is empty, grieving, and uncertain. And yet Ruth chooses to stay. That alone challenges our usual ideas of mentorship. In many churches—including ours—mentoring can become too focused on expertise, influence, or ministry success. But Ruth reminds us that Spirit-empowered discipleship isn’t about convenience—it’s about covenant. It’s about journeying with people through loss, doubt, and weakness, all while keeping our eyes on God’s redemptive work. At NBCC, we’re being called to build a new kind of leadership culture—one that is Spirit led, where our motivation to lead and mentor comes not from position or reward, but from love, faith, and surrender. Ruth’s example shows us how mentoring relationships can shape leaders who are humble, faithful, and Spirit-led. We live in an urban culture where relationships are often transactional or short-lived—people change jobs, churches, and even faith communities quickly. But Ruth’s radical choice to walk with Naomi points to a better way: one of faithful presence, spiritual adoption, and Gospel witness. If we want to see a leadership culture at NBCC that reflects the heart of Jesus, we must disciple and mentor others the way Ruth followed Naomi—not because it’s easy or strategic, but because it’s faithful. That kind of commitment can’t be manufactured; it must be cultivated through time, trust, and the Holy Spirit. Let’s be a church that raises up leaders who walk with others not just in their strength, but also in their brokenness—leaders who point others to Christ not only by their gifting, but by their Gospel-shaped lives.
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In a culture where people are constantly hurried, guarded, and uncertain, the Church has a powerful witness in its hands: Hospitality. Not just coffee, chai and cookies after the service, but deep, Gospel-shaped welcome—the kind that invites the confused, the hurt, and the weak to feel seen, safe, and valued.
At NBCC, we’re not just called to build a friendly church—we're called to be a Christlike family. That requires more than good intentions. It means shaping our time, our spaces, and our hearts around the practice of welcome. Why? Because this is how God welcomed us. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” —Romans 15:7 Hospitality is evangelism. It reflects the Gospel better than words can. When you open your circle, your home, or even your Sunday lunch plans to someone who feels out of place, you're making room for Jesus to meet them there. It’s service in love (Gal. 5:13). It’s sacred space for encounter (Matt. 18:20). It’s how strangers become family (Heb. 13:2). It’s worship (Col. 3:17). So here’s the challenge:
Let’s show the confused and curious what Jesus is like—by the way we invite, include, and embrace. As leaders at New Bridge Community Church (NBCC)—a vibrant faith family in the heart of Pune’s urban tech neighborhood—you’re not just called to serve; you’re called to reflect the Father’s heart. In Luke 15, Jesus gives us a powerful leadership lesson through the story of the lost son. The parable challenges not just how we respond to the lost, but how we lead others into the joy of God's redemptive mission.
The older son in the story is hardworking, responsible—and deeply resentful. Why? Because the celebration for the returning prodigal came at his expense. As leaders, we must shift our mindset from “What do I get?” to “Whom do I get to welcome with the Father?” Ministry in our city will often require sacrifices of time, energy, and comfort—but the reward is people returning to God. The Father’s generosity in the story is costly. He gives from what is left—the older son’s share. It’s a picture of Jesus’ own sacrifice. We, too, are called to a leadership posture that’s willing to give, not guard. True Gospel-shaped leadership rejoices at redemption, even when it costs us something. The older brother served like a slave, but never mirrored the Father’s joy.
This is our calling: to lead not from entitlement, but from love—to make room for more prodigals to come home In our fast-paced, tech-driven city, many families find it challenging to build consistent rhythms. But one habit that holds lifelong spiritual value is weekly, on-time participation in church community.
Children are always observing. When parents consistently show up for worship—week after week, month after month—they are forming something powerful: a core memory. These rhythms, seemingly ordinary in the moment, become anchors later in life.When children face seasons of confusion or crisis, they will remember the warmth of community, the joy of worship, and the safety of shared faith. These memories help them return to their spiritual roots. They also grow up knowing church is not a program to consume, but a family to belong to. They gain a regular experience of seeing different generations worship and serve together, helping them embrace a broader, richer view of the Christian life. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6 On the other hand, when church becomes optional or casual in the family calendar, children learn that God’s people and purposes are secondary. It subtly teaches them to prioritize convenience over commitment. They may also grow up lacking accountability and spiritual friendships—essentials that are hard to build later in life. Gospel culture must be guarded diligently. “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” — Hebrews 10:25 As parents lead by example, they do more than attend—they pass on legacy. Let’s build a culture where presence is sacred, service is natural, and the Gospel is central. In doing so, we offer our children more than discipline—we offer them direction, memory, and a durable faith for life. In a church like ours—rooted in a vibrant tech neighborhood and blessed with many emerging leaders—there’s a constant need to remind ourselves of what biblical leadership truly looks like. At the heart of servant leadership is a posture of gratefulness, not entitlement. Leadership in the body of Christ is never about position, but posture. The towel and the basin—not the title—are our true symbols. Jesus, our model, did not merely instruct; He knelt and washed feet. He didn’t demand loyalty; He demonstrated sacrificial love.
Sometimes, among leadership teams, a subtle disconnect surfaces when few refrain from showing up or standing alongside the team in unity. When leaders selectively engage, it undermines the unity and trust we are meant to cultivate. This signals something deeper: perhaps a drift from servant-heartedness toward self-importance. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” — Philippians 2:3–4 Our actions speak louder than our titles. A team is only as strong as its shared buy-in. Gospel culture is at stake—not just task execution. When we withhold presence, we diminish partnership. When we fail to show up, we fail to serve. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 Let’s return to the joy of being grateful servants—eager, present, and supportive. Not because we must, but because Jesus first gave Himself for us. Let’s lead in a way that reflects His heart—faithful in presence, generous in attitude, and humble in posture. The world may value control and credit, but we follow a crucified King. |
AuthorKaran Thomas is the lead pastor of the New Bridge Community Church. He also serves the global body of Christ through his expertise in project management Archives
June 2025
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