Samenvatting

Lentera Papua is a young organization in the highlands of Papua that currently operates an elementary school and a flying company where they train local pilot and mechanic students. Lentera disciples and trains people in a holistic way within a community setting to become professionals in serving God and their fellow men. The overall purpose of this research is to describe a contextualized discipleship method for Lentera and similar contexts.
The biblical concept of discipleship starts with a loving God who invites us, through Jesus, to ‘follow Him’, on a journey of ‘taking up the cross’. It is a journey of spiritual formation where the Holy Spirit builds Christ-like character. Discipleship is the transmission of God’s love, one life to another, where people get a true self-perception and a true God-perception.
The Papuan context nowadays contains multi problems on account of historical, social, political and spiritual elements like colonialism and a failing education system. A ‘collective inferiority complex’, a lack of morality and animistic family relationships are the main challenges young Papuan Christians nowadays experience.
An approach with reciprocity, cross-cultural teams, modelling and identification helps people to grow towards a complete devotion to God in all areas of life. People experience a growth in self-perception and dignity. People also need to be empowered to deal with animistic family patterns. It results in discipleship structures such as Growth Groups, and in mentoring with a balance of grace and growth.