October 1, 2026
The Georgia Baptist Mission Board Discipleship team is excited to relaunch the Georgia Baptist Discipleship Podcast with a renewed vision, expanded content, and a brand-new audio and video format designed to equip local church leaders across Georgia and beyond. Beginning Tuesday, May 19, listeners and viewers will be able to engage with new episodes through both podcast audio platforms and video conversations online.
The relaunch represents more than simply restarting a podcast. It marks the beginning of a broader effort to help churches intentionally build healthy discipleship cultures that can thrive for generations.
The first four episodes will introduce a brand-new resource titled FORMED: A Discipleship Culture Blueprint. This discipleship framework has been in development for nearly two-and-a-half years through collaboration, research, listening sessions, and practical ministry experience. Key input and guidance were also provided by discipleship consultants Ray Sullivan and PJ Dunn, along with ongoing conversations with pastors and ministry leaders across Georgia.
FORMED was created to help churches answer one of the most important ministry questions of our generation: “How do we intentionally make multiplying disciples in a way that lasts from generation to generation?”
Rather than offering another short-term program or ministry trend, FORMED serves as a culture blueprint designed to strengthen the entire disciplemaking ecosystem of the local church. The framework is built around four foundational elements:
These four elements work together to help churches create a clear and sustainable pathway for spiritual growth and multiplication. The Georgia Baptist Discipleship team believes that nearly every major discipleship challenge facing churches today can be answered directly or indirectly through these foundational principles.
From assimilation and Sunday School to men’s ministry, volunteer development, evangelism, and leadership multiplication, FORMED provides a practical framework to help churches think intentionally about disciplemaking culture rather than isolated ministry silos.
The first episode introducing FORMED will premiere Tuesday, May 19, on the Georgia Baptist Discipleship Facebook group and on Georgia Baptist Discipleship YouTube channels. Episodes will also be available on major podcast platforms where listeners normally access podcasts.
New episodes will release every two weeks during the initial FORMED series. Following the four introductory episodes, the podcast will continue regularly with a wide range of conversations designed to equip pastors, staff members, volunteers, and lay leaders serving in local churches.
Future topics will include:
The goal is simple: provide practical, trustworthy, and ministry-tested conversations to help churches move beyond maintenance and toward intentional disciple-making.
Another major milestone connected to the FORMED initiative is the launch of regional discipleship cohorts beginning in August 2026. Six regional local church leaders have been trained to guide pastors and ministry leaders through the FORMED process in cohort environments. These cohorts are designed to provide encouragement, accountability, collaboration, and hands-on coaching as churches evaluate and strengthen their discipleship culture.
Leaders interested in learning more about cohort opportunities or participating in upcoming training can contact me: ssullivan@gabaptist.org.
Church leaders who are interested in joining a cohort or simply learning more about FORMED are encouraged to reach out directly. Questions and interest inquiries can be sent to:lmelton@gabaptist.org.
As new Georgia Baptist Discipleship episodes launch, leaders are encouraged to listen, watch, and share the content with pastors, ministry teams, Sunday School leaders, small-group leaders, and volunteers. By sharing these conversations, churches can help place practical and encouraging disciple-making content in front of as many leaders as possible.
In a time when many churches are asking important questions about spiritual formation, leadership development, volunteer engagement, and reaching the next generation, the Georgia Baptist Discipleship Podcast hopes to serve as a trusted resource and encouraging voice for local church leaders striving to make multiplying disciples.
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You can view the first episode of the new series here, on YouTube.
Scott Sullivan serves as the Discipleship Catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and Director of the SPARK conference. Scott is an author, thought leader, podcaster, discipleship consultant, personal disciple-maker, conference director, and professional speaker. He is passionate about Jesus, family, and the outdoors.
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