• Why Discipleship

    Why Discipleship

    "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
    - Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20

  • Partnerships

    Partnerships

    "And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
    - Phillipians 4:19

  • Why Discipleship

    Back

    Why Discipleship

    "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
    - Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20

  • Partnerships

    Back

    Partnerships

    "And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
    - Phillipians 4:19

  • Join the Mission

    Back

    Join the Mission

    With your help we are able to train leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples.

One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet.

Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that.

Global Disciples helps the church fulfill the Great Commission among least-reached people.

Our Vision

To see that every person has an opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand and respond.

Our Prayer

That disciples of Jesus Christ, from many nations and vocations, will embrace this vision and do their part.

Our Mission

To make it possible for clusters of churches to multiply Christ-like disciples and locally-sustainable fellowships among least-reached people.

Our Central Focus

To equip leaders selected by their churches to multiply Christ-like disciples, who multiply churches among least-reached people.

Our Philosophy

That local expressions of the Body of Christ in close proximity to least-reached people are best able to reach them—and we all can help.

Our Values

The values guiding Global Disciples set the pattern of our relationships, integrity and ethics, how we deal with conflict, how we communicate and more. 

Intimacy with Jesus.

Who we are and what we do flows from our relationship with Christ.

Trusting Relationships.

Building trust with our co-workers, partners, and donors is essential.

Risk-taking Obedience.

Obeying Christ requires the courage to risk all for our God-given mission.

Unwavering Integrity.

Being authentic, accountable, and truthful in our words and actions.

Serving with Humility.

Modelling the way of Jesus is our goal, living selflessly for God’s glory.

Transforming by Prayer.

We want our work to be conceived, birthed, and carried out in prayer.

Training in 74 Nations

Global Disciples makes it possible for the local Body of Christ in 74 nations to reach their nations. We currently have 3,475 training programs, 1,997 in Africa, 1,258 in Asia, and 220 in Latin America. Our model has proven flexible and adaptable in areas where visible Gospel activity is restricted or opposed. 

Our Statement of Faith

Global Disciples serves to connect and facilitate cooperation within the global Body of Christ among clusters of churches that are engaged in discipleship, mission, and leadership training ministries and share our commitment to:

  • Glorify God, the Creator and eternal Lord of the universe
  • Exalt the only Savior and risen Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son
  • Rely on the Holy Spirit to teach, convict, comfort and empower
  • Accept the Bible as the divinely inspired, authoritative Word of God
  • Demonstrate love for those in the church, the Body of Christ
  • Show love for those without Christ through lives of compassionate service, righteous living, and evangelism
  • Celebrate the sanctity of human life from conception to death, understanding we are created male and female, in the image of God
  • Live in sexual purity, whether single or in a marriage covenant between a man and a woman
  • Pray and work diligently to see the Gospel spread to all peoples in anticipation of the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ

As grateful recipients of God’s grace, we always seek to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). In each area of responsibility, it will be our goal to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Our theological understanding flows within the believers’ church tradition and we embrace the Lausanne Covenant and the Manila Manifesto.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Our History

It was November 1995. Leaders from several discipleship and mission training programs had gathered for a day of prayer and fasting. Drawn together by a common mission, they shared a common desire: to respond to the need expressed by churches worldwide to provide discipleship-mission training for their own young people.

As the Holy Spirit moved, these leaders began seeing how the barriers separating them and their ministries from each other had prevented collaboration. Through confession, brokenness, and prayer, God birthed Global Disciples and the initial training model now known as Global Disciple Training (GDT). Since then, Global Disciples has added training for trainers in small business development (SBD) and leadership development (LEAD).

Today, Global Disciples serves in partnership with more than 1,800 groups of churches fellowships or denominations, in 74 countries, providing training enabling them to equip and send out mission workers to multiply Christ-like believers and plant locally-sustainable fellowships and churches.

Global Disciples Canada was established in 2013 as a federal not-for-profit corporation with CRA registered charitable status. We see ourselves as one small part of a big thing God is doing. We pray that we’ll see spiritual renewal here at home as we partner with others who are following Jesus, often at great cost. We work closely with the international Global Disciples team to accomplish Jesus’ Great Commission. 

1996

Global Disciples is launched by Galen Burkholder in partnership with 5 discipleship-mission programs in Canada, Ethiopia and the USA.

1998

Small Business Development Training Begins.

2002

Leadership training launches to assist indigenous churches in training leaders in character, skills and knowledge.

2005

15 training programs multiply to 57 training programs

2006

Discipleship-mission and leadership training programs grow to 64 programs operating in 24 countries.

2008

16,681 people come to faith in Jesus Christ and 1,108 churches are planted as a result of our Discipleship-Mission training programs.

2009

Our 1st National Foundation launches in Indonesia to provide leadership and funding for national ministry. 18,412 people come to faith In Jesus Christ and 895 Churches are planted in this year.

2010

Our 2nd National Foundation launches in Ethiopia. 15,078 People come to faith In Jesus Christ and 723 Churches are planted in this year.

2011

18,190 New Believers come to faith in Jesus Christ and 607 Churches are planted in this year.

2012

The Canadian Foundation, Global Disciples Canada, is launched alongside the National Foundation in Kenya.

2014

Our National Foundation launches in India.

2016

10,363 Disciple-Makers trained in this year and now operating in 43 countries.

2017

2,037 Churches Planted as a result of our Discipleship-mission training programs. 13,021 Disciple-makers Trained.

2018

77,560 people come to faith in Jesus Christ and 3,213 Churches planted in this year.

2019

Our National Foundations launch in Nigeria & Zambia. 83,515 people come to faith in Jesus Christ and 3,507 Churches planted in this year.

2020

Our National Foundation launches in Mexico. Global Disciples training programs now operating in 62 countries.

2021

Our 25th year Anniversary of Training Leaders.

2023

Global Disciples training programs now operating in 71 countries. 83,515 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, 3,507 Churches planted in this year and we surpassed 3,000 active programs!

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Our Pledge

I am a global disciple of Jesus.

My allegiance is to Jesus Christ. He is the Living Word of God, as revealed by the Holy Spirit and through the Bible.

I want to do my part so everyone has the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus and to choose if they will believe and follow Him. My desire is to see each person experience the transforming love of Jesus, live in the fullness of the Spirit and enjoy God forever.

As a participant in a local expression of the global Body of Christ, I am united in heart and purpose with sisters and brothers of many nations, ethnic groups, languages, and churches to glorify God and to make Him known.

I believe my part as a global disciple of Jesus Christ is to:

  • Pursue Intimacy with God as my Creator, Provider and Father, through Jesus my Saviour, Lord and Friend
  • Love others as Jesus loves them, relating and serving as witnesses in word and deed, loving even enemies
  • Pray diligently for people who do not yet know Christ, especially those unreached with the Good News
  • Live generously as a steward of all God has entrusted to me, being an ambassador of our generous Master  
  • Rely on the Holy Spirit and the Bible to lead, guide and empower me to live, love and serve for God’s glory

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What if your dinner table could become a place of global impact? Around the Table is more than just a gathering—it’s an opportunity to hear firsthand what God is doing through Global Disciples Canada and consider how you and your circle of influence can be part of the mission.

To learn more about hosting or joining a session, head to globaldisciples.ca/contact-us/
📬 Stay Connected. Be Inspired. 🌍

Want to hear what God is doing around the world through local discipleship and church planting? Our monthly newsletter is full of stories from the field, prayer updates, and ways you can be part of what God is doing among the least-reached. 

Subscribe now and don’t miss a thing! Follow the link in our bio.

#GlobalDisciplesCanada #MissionsUpdate #FaithInAction #MakeDisciples #Newsletter
You don’t have to cross an ocean to live on mission—just cross the street.

At Global Disciples Canada, we believe every follower of Jesus is called to multiply disciples, wherever they are.

What does being a disciple-maker look like in your context? Drop a comment and tag someone who inspires you to live on mission!

#GlobalDisciplesCanada #DiscipleMaking #LiveOnMission #EverywhereMatters #FaithInAction #KingdomLiving #MultiplicationMovement
We’re so thankful for the incredible team serving in the region of Central East Africa. Some of our team members consist of: Micah, the Regional Coordinator, Dinah who is the Admin Assistant & Data Manager, and Simeon, a Volunteer Prayer Leader. Other team members include 9 dedicated facilitators: Wetu, Shengo, Luc, Mutara, Mugisha, Kwizera, Marc, Thabiti.

They serve 101 groups of churches and oversee 280 active training programs—equipping disciple-makers, planting churches, and seeing lives transformed.

This month, as you pray, remember these names. Your prayers fuel their mission.

#GlobalDisciples #TeamHighlight #MissionPartners #PrayerMatters
Because you gave, prayed, and shared—we’re moving forward with joy and momentum! Your generosity this past month—especially during our fiscal year-end—has made a real difference. Together, we’re equipping leaders, sending workers, and reaching some of the hardest places on earth with the Good News of Jesus. 🌍💛

Every dollar, every prayer, every share matters. And we are so grateful. From all of us at Global Disciples—and those being impacted around the world—thank you.

Let’s keep going, together.

#GlobalDisciples #ThankYou #MissionMomentum #ReachTheNations
When a church sends one trained believer into an unreached village, lives change.

Sometimes it’s one conversation. Sometimes it’s one prayer. And sometimes—it’s the start of a new church. You can be part of the story.

Visit globaldisciples.ca to learn how.
This month, we invite you to lift up the people and the work of Global Disciples in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo—home to nearly 140 million people.

While many identify as Christian, few are committed disciples. The harvest is plentiful, and the need for true Gospel transformation is urgent.

🙏 Pray for peace in DR Congo, where over 100 armed groups battle for control of resource-rich land. Pray for hope to rise where blood has been shed for decades.

Let’s intercede for healing, breakthrough, and the spread of God’s kingdom in this vital region.

#GlobalDisciples #PrayerFocus #CentralEastAfrica #PrayForPeace
This month, we invited you to pray with us for the 10/40 Window—a region stretching from North Africa through the Middle East to Asia, home to the majority of the world’s least-reached people.

➡️ We prayed for boldness and strength for local believers.
➡️ We prayed for open hearts and spiritual hunger in unreached communities.
➡️ We prayed for more disciple-makers to be trained and sent.

Together, we lifted up the nations and believed for breakthroughs. Thank you for praying with us!

#GlobalDisciplesCanada #PrayerFocus #1040Window #Unreached #Missions #PrayForTheNations #DiscipleMakers #FaithInAction
Despite decades of conflict and deep challenges, God is raising up committed disciple-makers and church planters. Our local team is equipping believers through leadership training, small business development, and practical tools for outreach.

The results? Churches planted in the hardest places. New businesses supporting local ministry. And lives changed by the Gospel.

This is multiplication at work. Your support and prayers help empower leaders to reach their own people with lasting impact. Transformation is possible—even in the most difficult places.

#GlobalDisciples #DiscipleMaking #AfricaMinistry #ChurchPlanting #MissionInMotion
🌱 Growth is happening. Will you be part of it?
Around the world, leaders are rising up. Churches are asking for help.
The harvest is ready—but the workers need equipping.

Global Disciples is receiving more requests than ever before, even from the most difficult-to-reach places. But growth takes more than vision—it takes resources, tools, and YOU.

Now is the time. The door is open.
Help fuel the movement. Give today.

Give today at globaldisciples.ca/give
Our Team

The global nature of our ministry is reflected in the 26 nationalities represented in our facilitators, trainers and support staff.

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Prayer

Thank you for your interest in Global Disciples. If you’re passionate about ministering in least-reached areas, we want to hear from you!

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Church Resources

Contact us today to learn how Global Disciples can serve your church communities’ missional vision and give people an opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ.

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Give monthly, reach the world.

Join our community of monthly donors bringing the hope of Jesus to least-reached people groups around the world.