Proximity Profile
Discipleship-Driven
Proximity Ministries is a discipleship-driven mission aiming to recover the lost art of discipleship and to promote the early church model as recorded in the biblical book of Acts when Jesus Christ, close relationships, and discipleship-apologetics were the pillars of Christianity (Acts 2:42–47). Proximity is unaffiliated with any traditional religious denomination yet has established healthy relationships with numerous Protestant, Catholic, and independent individuals and local church bodies through relational face-to-face encounters.
Proximity’s Personal Mission
Jon Scott Birch acts as a relational resource offering biblical discipleship and training, personal faith/spiritual consulting, and comprehension of the times concerning Israel and prophecy (1 Chronicles 12:32). Indeed, understanding Israel’s history and divine purpose builds up our faith in Jesus Christ; and confidently discerning prophetic truth amidst the present political climate enables God’s love to dispel all fear (1 John 4:18). Jon likewise offers edifying and educational assistance to the ministry endeavors of individuals, small groups, and churches – including house churches. His writing and publishing of Christ-glorifying books coupled with developing diversely tailored curricula provides further instructional enrichment toward a spiritually and emotionally healthy discipleship and an understanding that the church is who we are, it is not where we go or what we do. A glaring lack of discipleship to both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit exists in the Western Church. It is within this gap Jon has been called to stand and prophesy/teach/exhort concerning the severity of what it means and costs to follow Christ (Luke 14:26-35; Ezekiel 22:30). Consider that Jesus personally initiated His kingdom of relationship here on earth in gritty face-to-face immersive affinity. The biblical books of the Gospels and Acts present the simple relational/approachable model He and the Holy Spirit demonstrated for us to prayerfully emulate; yet how often are western spiritual leaders insulated and/or isolated (often by choice) from those whom they instruct and care for from a distance? Indeed, as Jesus’ disciples we must bear and share the tension, toil, tears, and triumphs of life in personal proximity to those whom we love and lead.
Discipleship Practically Applied
For over 25 years Jon has made himself available to people both spiritually and socially, primarily operating under the radar and close to home as the Holy Spirit would lead. In recent years, however, the Lord God has granted opportunities toward growing the ministry He continues working through Jon, reaching an expanding personal mission field. Foremost, this is accomplished by facilitating/leading individual, small group, or class discussions and studies that establish a biblical philosophy of discipleship to be employed as a lifestyle rather than as a part-time recreation or mere intellectual assent. Such instruction always leads to comprehensive discernment of effective biblical interpretation and application, relational theology and discipleship, apologetics and eschatology, and the history (past, present, future) of geopolitics and Israel.
Connect with Proximity for Ministry Cooperation and Partnership in Discipleship
- Facilitation of individual and small or large group Bible discussion/studies (at home or church)
- Prayerful establishment of home groups (independent or church affiliated)
- Classes/curricula (or personal discussion) on discipleship/spiritual disciplines, apologetics, prophecy, relational evangelism, etc
- Personal discipleship/spiritual development rooted in the Word of God
- Offering clarity between counterfeit discipleship and truly following Jesus Christ
- Equipping disciples to prayerfully identify spiritual gifting/mission
- Equipping disciples/churches to discern the times (1 Chronicles 12:32)
- Exhorting disciples/churches to discern between church politics and biblical policy
- Exhorting disciples/churches toward biblical servant-leadership accountable to Christ above institution and presumptuous priests
- Advising disciples/churches to comprehend and implement church discipline as sanctioned by Holy Scripture
- Testifying of Christ via speaking and teaching in various contexts
- Prayerfully counseling souls weary from church-hopping, from bearing the cares of the world, and from debilitating spiritual warfare
Proximity humbly yet earnestly asks for your bold and steadfast prayers as we continue Jesus’ kingdom work. Godspeed you in your own endeavors!
Proximity is also a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit faith-based entity, assuring that all financial gifts/donations to Proximity Ministries are appropriately leveraged toward supporting the ministry and administering the goodwill, relational care, counsel, instruction in righteousness, and diverse teaching methods purposed toward glorifying Jesus Christ.
Donations Are Welcome!
The Chi-Rho is one of the earliest Christian symbols, formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters—chi (X) and rho (Ρ)—of the Greek Χριστός (Christos—Anointed One, Messiah). After the fourth century AD this image appeared often in Christian art throughout the Roman Empire, as well as in many other contexts (see Byzantine coin below). Yet even today it is used in/by churches/ministries worldwide to represent Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death. Proximity has adapted this symbol and expanded it via the “M” for Ministries.
