I was sitting in a conference workshop when the leader said this line, “Disciples are handcrafted one at a time.”

He explained the difference between something mass-produced in a factory and something made by a local artisan. One is automated and quick, while the other is slow and methodical. One produces items that are fine for use, but the production value is usually low. The other is a high-quality product formed by the hands of a master.

His point was that when believers seek to make disciples in the image of Jesus, we cannot treat the Church like a factory that can crank out one after another. Instead, the Church is like a community of local craftsmen pouring their time and energy into one person at a time. Everyone is handled with care as a unique creation designed to serve the Lord’s needs.

In a world of mass production, disciples are still handcrafted one at a time.