In July 1986, when I returned to Nashville from living abroad, David Lowes Watson hired me as the bilingual administrative assistant for the Office of Covenant Discipleship. That was my introduction to the Wesleyan class meeting and mutual accountability for Christian discipleship. In six months, I became a member of a Covenant Discipleship group at my local church. After 14 1/2 years, people still ask me: "Why is it important for you to be accountable for your discipleship? Why is it important for congregations to have Covenant Discipleship groups and/or class leaders? What makes you stick with it, personally and professionally?"

During those 14 1/2 years, the accountable discipleship movement has grown and changed. We started with Covenant Discipleship groups recovering the early Methodist class meeting and its principle of mutual accountability for Christian discipleship. Then we incorporated the emphasis on recovering the office of Class Leader and the development of leaders in discipleship for congregations. Some Covenant Discipleship group members developed models for college students, youth, and children. From the beginning, various overseas churches expressed interest in recovering these two Methodist traditions. The Council for Accountable Discipleship was created.

We have had three different sets of basic resources, culminating in the five books now available.

In those same years, I experienced personal change. In January 2001, I celebrated 14 years as a United Methodist. In 1990 I bought a house and began making it a home. I have had three job promotions and multiple portfolio changes. I have made many friends, and I have lost some loved ones to death. A niece and two nephews were born.

Today, I am still in a Covenant Discipleship group. I still work at the General Board, and still work with congregations and people who would like to be accountable for their discipleship. And I have written a book in Spanish about Christian discipleship in the Wesleyan tradition that blends accountable discipleship principles and the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry's concept of faith communities.

For 14 1/2 years, accountable discipleship has been the gyroscope keeping me stable in a sea of change. It has helped shape my responses to God's work in my life and in the lives of those around me. It reminds me that I must look at and analyze critically life situations on personal, work, congregational, societal, and global levels. Accountable discipleship helps me apply biblical and theological teachings to those situations, and trust God's grace to transform them for the good of God's people.

The process of mutual accountability keeps me attentive to the promptings and warnings of the Spirit. It also empowers and propels me to act on my discoveries and convictions. Walking the road of discipleship with others in a Covenant Discipleship group tells me that I am not alone and that God's grace is sufficient for all people and all situations. In the words of the old hymn, "Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home." Accountable discipleship is that means of grace that keeps me on the road that leads to life.

Marigene Chamberlain served the General Board of Discipleship for 10 years as Accountable Discipleship staff person. Now Director of Hispanic Ministries, she is compiler of the new manual, Creer, Amar, Obedecer: Discipulado cristiano en la tradición wesleyana (Discipleship Resources, 2001).