Friends of Aslan: En Kristen Gemenskap för Discipleship

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Embrace your priestly and emissary role at work or school

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Team up with others to maximize your growth and impact

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Team up with others to maximize your growth and impact

Our Vision

Vintage drawing of a smiling man holding a Bible and wrench.

1. Your workplace or school is your primary sphere of influence

Most missions organizations operate from a recruiting model that sounds like: “Give up your job and join us!” However, we believe that you don’t have to leave your job to live your mission and join the Great Commission. You can continue your work or studies within a supportive Christian community — and we’ll come alongside you to provide discipleship and mentoring as you discover your purpose and walk with you on your journey.

2. We are called to be emissaries

Christians are called to be emissaries in work and school, representing Christ through integrity, excellence, and love, so that others may see God’s light in them (Matthew 5:14–16). As part of the Christian community and ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), we are sent to bring His love, truth, and grace into every sphere of life. Through discipleship and mentoring, we live out our faith in both word and action, as encouraged in Colossians 3:17.

3. We are not meant to journey alone

The Christian journey was never meant to be walked alone—God designed His people to grow together in a Christian community through faith, encouragement, and accountability (Hebrews 10:24–25). Mentoring relationships and a team of fellow believers help us stay rooted in truth, sharpen our character (Proverbs 27:17), and strengthen our witness. United in discipleship, we can more effectively fulfill Christ’s mission in the world (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10).

What is Friends of Aslan?

Illustration of hands nurturing a tree growing from an open book.

Friends of Aslan exists to encourage, equip, and connect believers to live out their faith in Jesus

Most mission organizations today operate from a recruiting model that sounds like: “Give up your job and join us!” However, we believe that most people don’t need to leave their jobs to engage in the Great Commission (Mat 28:19-29). Instead, we invite you to 'Keep your job (or get one) — and we’ll join you in your journey of discipleship, because making disciples is a team sport, and we can be part of your Christian community focused on mentoring and support.'

Why Friends of Aslan?

We call ourselves Friends of Aslan™ as a nod to the famous novel series The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Just like in The Chronicles of Narnia, we've incorporated a few Turkish words into the language of Friends of Aslan to enhance our Christian community. C.S. Lewis famously used the Turkish word for lion, 'Aslan,' as a Christ allegory in his beloved Narnia series. Similarly, we have adopted two additional Turkish words—Yoldash and Yurt—to describe key roles and communities within Friends of Aslan. A Yoldash, meaning fellow traveler in Turkish, serves as a mentor and coach in our discipleship efforts. Meanwhile, a Yurt, which refers to a circular tent historically used by nomads in Central Asia, represents our onboarding program within a local church or Christian organization.

Is it hard to join?

Yes, becoming a friend of Aslan is challenging and requires commitment. However, we believe that we are not asking more of Friends of Aslan than what Jesus asks of all his followers: to take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). Of course, it's difficult, which is why we need each other in this Christian community. We want Friends of Aslan to be a place where we encourage each other in our discipleship journey and provide mentoring to help one another persevere through these challenges.

An elderly man and boy observing a glowing lion constellation in the night sky.

Theological Foundation

Our two core pillars:

1. The priesthood of all believers

We believe that every follower of Jesus is designed to be a priest and emissary of Christ. As such, we are authorized and entrusted to represent God before our people and to represent our people before God. In most cases, "our people" are the individuals in our affinity groups, including our family, neighbors, work colleagues, and interest groups within our Christian community.

2. A Biblical theology of work

As Christians, we are called to do good works through our studies, professions, and relationships. We believe our work is meant to be an act of worship. Therefore, we strive to adopt a mindset about work that is rooted in biblical thought, reflecting our commitment to discipleship.

Friends of Aslan is also a community loosely modeled after classic religious orders or guilds, incorporating steps to membership. We aim to build disciple-making communities for the 21st century, specifically catering to individuals in the workplace and/or school. These communities are designed to complement (not compete with) local churches, mission agencies, and Christian organizations.

Participation in Friends of Aslan is voluntary and mentorship-based, fostering a supportive environment for individuals seeking growth in their faith and work. Importantly, it has no employed leadership or staff.

The Mentoring Community

Chapters

The Friends of Aslan community is built around chapters (which we call yurts) that facilitate the training, mentoring, and membership onboarding process within a vibrant Christian community. These chapters typically operate as a program within a partnering church or Christian organization. We are seeking more churches and/or Christian organizations to serve as test sites for Friends of Aslan by hosting a chapter focused on discipleship. Contact us if you're interested.

The Community:

Is a Christian community of believers committed to living as disciples of Jesus in everyday life. It maintains a decentralized leadership structure with no celebrity leaders or central figureheads. This community is open to men and women aged 13 or older who commit to embracing the 25 Commitments. The onboarding process is supported by partnering local churches and Christian organizations who believe in the vision and goals of Friends of Aslan, with a focus on discipleship and mentoring.

The Goal

To provide a basic foundation of discipleship within a supportive and encouraging mentoring community that adheres to the 25 Commitments.

The 25 Commitments

The 25 Commitments are a Code of Conduct that candidates work to embrace

The Commitments are derived from multiple onboarding criteria and competency studies drawn from interdenominational, international mission communities and Christian workplace networks. They serve as a foundational discipleship curriculum, enabling various Christian communities to build upon them. Each Yurt has the freedom to add up to five additional commitments, but cannot modify or drop any of the original 25. This structure supports the mentoring of individuals within the community. The 25 commitments will be reviewed every seven years.

Friends of Aslan: A Global Christian Community

A. Foundations

I was created to love and be loved by God. Therefore, I purpose to understand and put into practice all the teaching of Jesus for the rest of my life. John 14:21, 2 Tim.3:16-17. As initial actions towards this rule I:

Surrender my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ., 2 Cor 4:2, Eph 6:12, Col 2:15
Repent/turn away from all my known sin and false beliefs. I renounce the Devil and his works. Acts 2:38, Gal 5:19-21, Ja 4:7
Have a growing understanding of my identity in Christ and the purposes for which I was designed. Eph 2:10
Have been baptized. Acts 2:38
Forgive those who have wronged me and pursue reconciliation with those I have wronged. Heb 12:14, Mat 5:23-25,6:14-15, Eph 4:31-32

B. Good Works

I was created to do good works. Eph 2:10. Therefore, I purpose to do works that are ethical, excellent, and beneficial to others all my life. (Mt 5:16, Gen 1:28). As initial actions towards this rule I have:

Had a Luke 10:1-20 experience (sending of the 72) where I can personally testify to how God provided for me and used me to bless others. Also see Luke 9:1-10.
A trade, skill, qualification, or work(s) that serves the common good and provides (or can provide) an income or financial benefit to myself. Col 3:23-24, 1 Tim 5:8, Eph 4:28.
Evidence of excellence at my trade, skill, school, or work. I strive to be excellent at work. Titus 3:8
Embraced my work (paid or volunteer) as an expression of worship, done wholeheartedly unto God. Col 3:23
Team up with other followers of Jesus for service, prayer, edification, effectiveness, accountability, encouragement, counsel, and other mutual benefit. Ecc 4:12, Pr.27:17, 1 Pet 4:8, Heb 10:25

C. Spiritual Disciplines

I was created to be holy. Therefore, I purpose to love God with my whole being and to know Jesus as a friend all my life. Mt 6:1-8, 1 Tim 4:8, Jn 4:24. As initial actions towards this rule, I:

Have read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and purpose to understand and obey it.
Practice daily rhythms of intercession, confession, thanksgiving, praise, and rest. Phi 4:6, Col 4:2, 1Th 5:17,
Practice daily rhythms of listening, reading, study, memorizing, and meditation. 2 Tim 2:15; 3:16, Ps 119:105, Jos 1:8
Confess (and turn from) my ongoing failures and false thinking rather than hide them. I am appropriately transparent about past and current struggles with materialism, lust, pornography, crime, violence, laziness, greed, drugs, alcohol, and other addictions or harmful habits and beliefs. Ja 5:16, 1 Jn 1:9, Pr 28:13
Use my words to bless, encourage, and edify others. I strive to always speak the truth in love even when I need to correct or admonish others. I refuse to participate in gossip, slander, deception, falsehood, and grumbling. 2 Cor 12:20, Prov 20:19. 1Pet4:11.

D. Stewardships

I was created to be a steward of all that God has entrusted to me. These include the earth and all creation, my possessions, my finances, my body, my mind, my time, my talents, and my relationships. By faith I will invest and develop what has been entrusted to me. By faith, I will take appropriate risks, but I will avoid reckless or careless decisions. 1 Pet 4:10, Lk 16:11. As initial actions to this rule, I submit to God my:

Finances/Possessions: These belong to God. Therefore, I embrace a modest lifestyle and live within my means. I Cor 10: Heb 13:5, 1 Pet 3:3-4. I purpose to be both generous and frugal. Act 20:35, 2 Cor.9:7, 1 Tim.6:17-19. As such, I am free from consumer debt. Heb 13:5, Rom 13:7-8, Lk 16:11
Body/Appearance/Strength/Skills: These belong to God. I understand my body is a temple of God and therefore I pursue healthy habits of eating, exercise, sexual purity, and rest. I discipline my body for self-control and strive not to harm my body nor expose it to unnecessary harm. 1 Cor 3:16-19; 9:24-27; 10:31 Rom 12:1
Mind/Heart: These belong to God. I guard what goes into my mind through my eyes and ears and what I think about. I nurture my mind with that which is pure, good, noble, and edifying. Rom12:2, Ph 4:8, Pr. 4:20-27
Time: My time belongs to God. I purpose to make the best use of my time and avoid squandering it. Eph 5:15-17, Ps 90:12
Stewardship of the earth and all living things: These belong to God and are entrusted to human stewardship. I purpose to act responsibly to God’s creation, to learn from it, care for it, and avoid exploit it. Gen 2:15, Ps 24:1, Job 12:7-10

E. Global Discipleships

I was created to make disciples of all nations. Therefore, I purpose to make disciples in all my affinity groups and relational networks and to all nations, especially to the least reached as long as I live. Therefore, as initial actions towards this rule, I:

Am/becoming multilingual (one of which is either English, Mandarin, German, Spanish, French, Arabic, or Bengali). These are the seven major trade languages spoken in the world.
Have been through intercultural training and have a greater understanding of the lens by which I understand the world and am frequently able to adjust accordingly.
Practice biblical peacemaking and can help others do the same.
Have been trained in church multiplication principles and practices including multiple expressions of ‘church’, people of peace, Discovery Bible Studies, and other multiplication principles.
Embrace the Lausanne Covenant

A Global Discipleship Community

Friends of Aslan seeks to help followers of Jesus discover and live out their God-given identity and purpose through mentorship, one-on-one coaching, and spiritual direction.

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Embrace your priestly and emissary role at work or school

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Team up with others to maximize your growth and impact

Approach your work (or studies) as an expression of worship

Team up with others to maximize your growth and impact