Discipleship Starts at Home: What One Mentor Did That Made All the Difference

Words of Life: Weekly Christian Podcast with Testimonies & Teachings from the Salvation Army

In this powerful episode recorded live at the 2025 Salvation Army Commissioning event, we hear a heartfelt testimony from Gessica Pierre, a Salvation Army officer, and her spiritual mentor, Gloria Diavangama. What starts as a story about gratitude quickly unfolds into a practical masterclass on what authentic discipleship looks like — not in theory, but in real homes, real relationships, and real-life chaos.

Whether you're leading teens, parenting, or just trying to live a more consistent faith, this conversation delivers raw, relatable wisdom that will both challenge and encourage you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Discipleship isn’t a program — it’s a presence.

Gloria’s most impactful ministry didn’t happen at a pulpit; it happened in her home, her car, and through consistent presence in Jessica’s life.

1. Authenticity is transformative.

Jessica’s faith was reshaped when she saw that Christianity wasn’t a performance — it was something that could thrive even in the hard, messy parts of life.

1. Teens don’t need a perfect example — they need a real one.

From seeing a healthy marriage to being lovingly corrected, Jessica shares how being included in everyday life helped her internalize spiritual truths.

1. Legacy leadership happens when we invest deeply in a few.

Gloria’s intentional discipleship of Jessica eventually bore fruit not just in Jessica’s life, but in the lives Jessica now pours into as an officer, wife, and mom.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who invited you into their life in a way that shaped your faith?
2. What are simple ways you can create “access points” in your daily life for younger believers?
3. Are you modeling a faith that’s real enough for others to want to follow?

Learn more about Words of Life at https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/wordsoflife

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