In March 2001, members of the seventeen covenant discipleship groups at Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington, DC, gathered in the social hall for our annual fellowship experience. We enjoyed a bountiful breakfast, held a period of devotions, then began the meeting led by Associate Pastor, Irene Pierce.

I presented a brief update on the latest happenings in Covenant Discipleship around the country, the work of the Council for Accountable Discipleship, and the latest resources available. A question-and-answer period and a witnessing period followed. The questions presented were: "How has your discipleship been strengthened?" and "What help is needed?" Interesting responses were shared, including a discussion of Acts of Justice. Rev. Eugene W. Matthews sat with his group and responded from the point of view of a pastor in a covenant group. The meeting ended with a reconfirmation of the General Rule of Discipleship, the pinning of all members with the new covenant discipleship lapel pins, and Holy Communion. All Asbury pastors participated. Included below are statements from four covenant group members:

From Leona Ferguson . . .
I have been a member of Group 10 for five years. It has helped me to be more disciplined in my daily devotions. I've made a commitment to read The Upper Room and the Bible each morning. However, when something interrupts this routine, before I can go to sleep, a little voice reminds me of my commitment and accountability to the group, and I do my devotions. I am an only child from a small family, and the group has become my extended family. We provide support to each other, not only in times of spiritual testing, which is a part of the conclusion in our covenant, but at other times as well. On several occasions, I have shared our covenant clauses about "listening to others as a ministry of grace," "praying for those that hurt us," and "not letting the sun set on our anger" with others to help them look at situations they encounter differently.

From Richard Colbert . . .
The Covenant Discipleship Ministry has given me the opportunity to reassess and evaluate myself in relationship to others in the world, the church, the community, and those with whom I have daily contact. It has caused me to be more receptive to others, rather than make judgments without knowing the full circumstances of the situation. It has further provided me an opportunity to take stock of my approach in dealing daily with persons with whom I make contact. I stop, think, and reflect before responding to situations, since the clauses are my responsibility and I am accountable to report weekly to my group as to how well I have met them. This covenant has really tempered my response to others so that, however I respond, it is done with a Christian attitude of love and respect.

From Mary E. Pressley . . .
Being part of a Covenant Discipleship Group is another extension of family. It's having those who care for you encourage you in your Christian growth. They reprimand you with love, as needed, and rejoice with you in your victories. It's having friends who will be there when needed. Each member is a reminder that "God is indeed a good and gracious God."

From Floyd Robinson . . .
I have no difficulty with some of my CD group's clauses, like reading the Bible regularly and praying for others. My most difficult one was "striving for unconditional love for all of God's children." There were some people in my interaction with others who were negative toward me. They acted as if they didn't like me, and I in turn reacted the same to them. As I listened to others in my CD group respond to this clause, I realized that I wasn't alone. Several people who were negative to me and demeaned me in other arenas, I began to greet with a smile, kiss, or handshake in an effort to be kind. I did everything to show that I was genuinely friendly. Their response was surprise! Shock! But they began to change in their attitudes toward me. It works. When people see you are friendly, they are disarmed from negative attitudes. I continue to greet people with love, and enjoy their warm, spontaneous response. After all, how can I say I love God whom I have not seen when I can't love someone I've seen? God's unconditional love is real to me!

Grace Bradford is editor of Covenant Discipleship Quarterly, a member of Asbury UMC, and author of Guide for Class Leaders: A Model for Christian Formation (Discipleship Resources, 1999).