Impact of Discipleship: Andrea Dabbah
“I knew these were the people who would help me have a walk with God”
I always believed in God, but I never understood how to have a relationship with Him. I was raised Catholic, which is the main religion in Mexico, where I lived until I was 19. I had never really had the opportunity to have a relationship with Christ or ever met people that had one. I had a few conversations about God with one of my closest friends from Mexico before coming to Kansas City for college. Those conversations aroused curiosity and the illusion of one day being able to really know who God is. Once I got to college here, those emotions faded. I started living my college experience, making friends, and playing a college sport, which kept me busy and away from those thoughts I had. And even though I had all those things that any young person wants, I would suddenly feel empty, as if something was missing. I thought it was from missing my country and my family.
Psalm 119:59-60 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Being in my second year of college, I received some devastating news. My friend from Mexico who had spoken to me about God fell ill with leukemia, and after a few months passed away. During his illness, I tried to get closer to God and pray for my friend, but I didn't know how. Those were very sad months for me, where I couldn't find answers. Sometime after that, Rylee and Dylan were evangelizing at Rockhurst. We had a small conversation about Jesus and Rylee invited me to her Bible study. I had been praying for an opportunity like this, so I immediately said I wanted to go. First, I got coffee with Rylee, and she shared the gospel with me. A day after reflecting on it, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The first impression I got when I went to Bible study was that I felt so welcomed, the girls sparkled with happiness and love for each other, and I loved seeing how they opened the Word of God and studied from it. I knew these were the people who would help me have a walk with God.
Shortly after attending MBT and getting baptized, I went to the Cost of Discipleship class and signed up for discipleship. I thought I knew what I was getting into from hearing stories from people, but I wasn’t sure how God was going to use discipleship in me. I got paired with Gabby Pietrogiovanna and Rachel Kuttenkuler, which was a blessing from God. They showed me their love, patience, and willingness to teach me how to be a true disciple of Christ. I understood that discipleship was not only lessons in which I learned about God, but that they were the basis to form myself as a disciple of Jesus and eventually help others to do the same.
“Little by little, I began to understand what it meant to be a daughter of God, and to see Him as my Father”
Little by little, I began to understand what it meant to be a daughter of God, and to see Him as my Father. During discipleship, we shared a lot about our quiet time, something that had been hard for me. Before, I didn't feel the need to read God's word constantly since I didn't know how to get applications of God's word, and, sometimes, I didn't understand what I was reading, which frustrated me a bit. They showed me how to approach God’s word and get applications. They taught me that having quiet time is my personal space with God, and now I feel the need to sit down and read for at least a few minutes a day.
It was hard for me to pray, and I thought it was just a matter of doing it before going to sleep. After the lesson on prayer, I understood that it helps us to have an intimate space with God and that God asks us to spend time with him in prayer, no matter how large or small they are. Now I am confident that God hears my prayers and that I can talk with him whenever I need to. Gabby shared with me the following verses which stuck with me.
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us how to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
There were challenging moments during this stage of being in discipleship. Being an international student athlete, it was sometimes difficult to meet up and to keep discipleship a priority. During the year, I went back home to Mexico for a few months so we would have to meet over Zoom. Even though it was not the same experience, it was still possible to continue with the lessons. In the same way, when I was in tennis season, it was a busy time with matches every weekend, but we showed the disposition to find some time during the week. I chose to continue following the Lord because during this time, I began to see what God was showing me, He filled me with joy, peace and His truth. I had conversations with Gabby about how God could use me with my teammates, classmates, and family. What I could get out of discipleship was worth it.
“Discipleship has changed my life in ways I never thought of, and I am so grateful for it”
As I started feeling that I had the relationship I always wanted with God, my life and mindset began changing. I would no longer think that my achievements in school, tennis, and friendships define who I was. Now I see these things as means or opportunities to invite people to know who God is, as my friend did with me. I began sharing with my family, especially my mom, where I was at. I shared about church, discipleship, and Bible study, and suddenly she wanted to read God’s Word with me! After some months of reading together, I took her through Romans Road, which Gabby had shown me in discipleship. My mom saw her need for having God in her life and recognized that Jesus died for our sins. She prayed and got saved! Seeing that filled me with joy, and I realized God can use me in so many ways. Now I am starting apprenticeship and I can’t wait to see what God will do here.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
I will forever thank God for putting Gabby and Rachel in my life. I am not sure I would be where I am in my faith without them. Seeing the love they have for the Lord and the discipline for His Word was exactly what I needed. Discipleship has changed my life in ways I never thought of, and I am so grateful for it.
Andrea Dabbah is a member of Midtown Baptist Temple and is a part of C&YA.
