Santu grew up Muslim in South Asia. His family is still Muslim. But when he came to understand the Gospel—that Jesus Christ loved him enough to die for his sins—Santu knew he had to put his faith in this Jesus.

“I faced many challenges,” Santu said. “My father threw me out of the house while I was still a student. But I was able to stand firm in my faith.”

Four years ago, Santu heard about Global Disciples. And with the support of local church leaders, we trained him to direct a discipleship-mission program for their churches. Santu shared, “We faced many challenges, and much opposition. It’s difficult to serve the living God in our region when more than 92 percent of people are Muslim. Pray that we will be able to reach them and win them for Jesus.”

At times, they’ve contended with floods and other problems in gathering participants for training and going out to witness and plant churches. But they have seen God’s hand at work, drawing people to Himself.

Santu said, “One day, during our outreach, I saw a group gathering in front of the house. There was a small child in the home who was very sick and close to death. We told them that if they believed in Jesus, when we prayed for the child, he would live. We prayed loudly and waited for the glory of God to be revealed. And after some time the child began moving, and we continued to pray in the name of Jesus.” And soon the child was healed! And for several people there, a new life of faith in Jesus began. Praise God!

Santu is just one of many who found new life in Christ, and now work tirelessly to share the same life-changing Good News with those who are still waiting to hear it. Pray for Santu and the disciple-makers in South Asia as they risk their lives daily to fulfill the mission Jesus gave to His disciples.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Can the Gospel of Jesus Christ reduce the murder and crime rate in an area?

Hawi knows firsthand what’s possible with God.

Hawi is a pastor in Ethiopia. He and his church thought they couldn’t do much for the Kingdom. Then he connected with Global Disciples and he began equipping and sending out disciple-makers to take the Gospel to least-reached people.

He said, “God called us from many nations and languages to serve Him. I have no story to tell other than the story of what God has done.” And it’s a remarkable story.

Hawi’s region of Ethiopia is largely Muslim and Ethiopian Orthodox. It’s known for its high murder rates, crime activity, and witchcraft. So sharing the Gospel there is risky and challenging.

Hawi said, “The first time we trained, we sent out 25 disciple-making church planters to the rugged mountain areas. They planted 5 churches.

In the second training, three more churches were planted. Now we have 15 growing churches, and five more emerging, new fellowships.”

And they’re seeing the Lord moving in a mighty way through this growing number of believers and churches.

“God is transforming our region totally,” Hawi declared. “Those who practiced witchcraft are now in the church; former criminals are now in the church. The local authorities are cooperating with us. They say what they could not control with a gun, is now being controlled by the love of Christ. And it is so good!”

Miracles of healing and demonstrations of God’s power also open eyes and hearts. Hawi said that one day a group brought a very sick man to the church. When Hawi and the believers called on the name of Jesus, the man was healed! He got up and started eating and drinking. About 17 of his friends—mostly Muslim—came to Christ.

In fact, Hawi reported that last year, nearly 400 Muslims came to faith in Jesus and were baptized. And now another 250 are preparing for baptism!

In this dark and difficult place, the light of Jesus is shining through. And God is at work in powerful ways, through people like Hawi.

Praise the Lord for His incredible work of transforming lives for His glory!

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Indonesia has the most Muslims of any country in the world. It also has disciples of Jesus Christ like Mumu.

Mumu did her discipleship training through Global Disciples and a partner program. During her outreach, she spent three months teaching English conversation at a Muslim boarding school. It was located in one of Indonesia’s many islands, among one of the hardest ethnic groups to reach with the Gospel.

But God opened a door. The school wanted the children to learn English, and Mumu and another girl took this unique opportunity.

Mumu said, “We longed to build relationships and share the Gospel with them, even though it’s difficult because they’re strong Muslims. They need the Gospel; they need the love of God.” Her goal was to introduce each student—and their teachers—to God’s love.

Sometimes other teachers challenged her. Especially the head English teacher, a strong local Muslim leader. He had many questions, questions about fasting and what it meant to be Christians.

Mumu said, “I was nervous, but I felt the Holy Spirit strengthen me. I told him fasting was one of the ways we build our relationship with Jesus, to experience Him in our lives. It’s not about rules or eating or drinking. He said Muslims only did it because their leaders told them to. It had no personal meaning or benefit.”

She lived in a dormitory with her students, and along with teaching responsibilities, Mumu and her teammate offered counsel and friendship. They made sure their conversations allowed them to share the love of God. Or they prayed for students who were sick or even demon-possessed.

Mumu said, “Some asked me how I had this great faith. I told them I did not, but Jesus can do anything because He is the Almighty God.”

While Mumu didn’t plant a church, she did see God at work through the many seeds she planted. And she learned to be a faithful disciple, speaking up and living out the love of Jesus among people who needed to see it and hear it.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

To be empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and mission, we need to have a proper understanding of the true personality of the One who empowers us.  (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; Romans 12:4-7)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit are special abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to disciples of Jesus for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ. They are divine abilities granted to followers of Jesus to accomplish what God has called them to do. As it is recorded in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 

Some of these gifts are called the manifestation of the Holy Spirit which He manifests at any time He wants in order to build up the Body of Christ for God’s glory.

There are nine manifestations of the Spirit recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, and other ministerial gifts of the Spirit are also recorded in Romans 12:8-12 and Ephesians 4:7-13. Let’s briefly look at some of these gifts.

The word of knowledge is supernatural knowledge and insight that the Holy Spirit gives that no one can understand by human power. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives us knowledge of something that is hidden or reveals a secret for the edification of the body.  

The word of wisdom is instant supernatural wisdom given by the Holy Spirit to apply the word of knowledge. This gift enables the church to handle complex problems or issues in a constructive, God-honoring way.  

The gift of faith is the manifestation of divine faith when it is needed so that we can believe and act accordingly. To reveal this gift, God may ask us to do something that seems crazy—for example, walking on water requires supernatural faith.

The gift of healing is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to someone of any kind of disease or illness or evil spirit.  There are two plural words—“gifts” and “healings”—which means that there are different kinds of healings from different kinds of diseases.     

The working of miracles is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that transcends the natural laws by which God reveals Himself to people. For example, the turning of water into wine, the feeding of the 5000 by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fishes, etc. Our God is a miracle-working God and He still loves miracles today.

The discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability to identify what is going on behind the spiritual scenes (1 John 4:1-4). This gift is needed to discern the source of any revelation or message because there are four sources (demonic, angelic, human, or divine). Missing this gift from the church of Jesus Christ brings confusion and division in the church.

The gift of prophesy is a divine ability to foretell the future and to explain the current situation. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul told us to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy. The prophesy Paul mentioned here is a forth-telling one, when someone gets a direct Word from the Lord to give to someone else or to the church so as to build up/restore.

Different kinds of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in another language to edify self and to build up the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:39-40). There are gifts of tongues for the edification of oneself and for edification of the Church. There are times when tongues are given as a sign of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6).

The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to interpret what is spoken in another tongue (1 Corinthians 14:13-14, 1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Sometimes the interpretation may be given to the one who is speaking in tongues or to another person.

There are also other ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip the Church of Jesus Christ for the unfinished task of the mission of Jesus. Some of these gifts are people, such as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, deacons, etc. These and other ministry gifts are given to every member of the body of Christ as the Spirit wills for the glory of God. Let us mention some of the ministry gifts.

The gift of serving is demonstrating the love of God by meeting practical needs. Those who have this gift have different eyes to see needs and respond promptly.

The gift of teaching is revealing the treasures in the Word of God. This gift discovers and validates truth for the edification of the Church of Jesus Christ.

The gift of giving is the sharing of resources in order to meet the needs of others.

The gift of exhortation is the supernatural ability to encourage others to help them reach their life and ministry goals by walking alongside them. 

The gift of administration is a supernatural ability to keep things organized and in accordance with God’s principles and priorities.

The gift of helping is the supernatural ability to help others to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. 

The gift of mercy is the supernatural ability to demonstrate God’s love and compassion by responding empathetically and graciously to another’s, or your own, hurt.

What is the purpose of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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 when 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Have you ever talked with someone who’s so excited about what Jesus is doing that their face is glowing?

One of our Global Disciples staff shared this story from a training he attended in India. He said, “Over lunch, I talked with Jevan, a director from near Kolkata. His face was glowing; he had just witnessed about Jesus to a boy working in the kitchen. A couple years ago, he shared with a lady who worked in the kitchen and today she is a follower of Christ. He talked and talked about what God is doing. I watched his face—it was absolutely glowing with joy as he described what God is doing.”

One of the stories Jevan shared was how God uses their small medical clinic to reach local Hindu families. They share the Good News of Jesus as people come and wait for their medicines.

One family brought a child who’d been sick from birth. His mouth and tongue were so swollen he couldn’t eat, so the disciple-makers prayed for him in the name of Jesus. Within a week the boy was eating normally! His family now is actively sharing Christ with anyone they meet!

In another community, a woman under the control of a demon poured kerosene all over her body and set herself on fire. Her entire body was burned, and she spent months in the hospital but there was no healing. Her husband was told to give her medications that would end her misery and her life.

Instead, he called Jevan and the disciple-makers prayed for her. Now she is healed, functioning normally, and back home with her family.

No wonder Jevan was filled with joy. It’s what we experience when God is at work. And when He invites us to be used by Him to share the Gospel, this joy will show in our lives—and on our faces!

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

To be empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and mission, we need to have a proper understanding of the true personality of the One who empowers us.  

A Holy Spirit empowered life results in victory over sin, joy and peace in heart, and submission towards the Lord and others. So, as disciples who live fruitful and victorious lives, we need to live and walk in total dependence on the Holy Spirit so that we can bear fruit that lasts.

The fruit of the Spirit is what the Holy Spirit produces and displays in the life of a disciple.

One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit’s coming into a Christian life is to change that life.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that conforms us to the image of Christ, making us more like Him. It is His presence within us that enables us to develop spiritual fruit in our lives. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5, John 15:16).

He has chosen and ordained us, that we should go and bring forth fruit, and that our fruit should remain. God’s divine purpose for our life is to bear fruit, but abundant fruit is possible only for those who live in intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, as a branch remains in the vine (John 15:1-8).

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit enables us to eliminate spiritual barrenness, to escape the corruption of the world, and to become partakers of the divine nature of God (2 Peter 1:4-8). It is our responsibility to walk in the Spirit so as to develop this fruit that is the character of Christ in our lives; not only will it cause us to grow spiritually, but it will be a powerful witness to unbelievers as well (2 Peter 1:8-9).

Love is caring for someone else as much as I care for myself. Love is something in which we grow (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 3:18-19). Paul writes in Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound [grow] yet more and more.” God wants our love to grow so big that His love can flow through us to call and win many to the Kingdom. Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts and other manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit, concluding that none of these gifts compare with the power of love (1 Corinthians 13). He does this to emphasize the importance, completeness, and supremacy of love over all other qualities we consider important to life and God’s purpose. Love will never end; it will always be of use. Such a supernatural love flows into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It causes us to make a decision to love even when we don’t feel like it. When we walk in the love of God, everything else falls into place (Song of Songs 8:7; John 13:34-35; John 15:13; John 16:27; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:7-8).

Joy, a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, is defined as happiness, cheerfulness, great pleasure, gladness, and delight. Biblical joy is inseparable from our relationship with God, and it springs from our knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life and the hope of living with God for eternity when there will be joy forevermore. If God is actually present in our lives, the joy He experiences can begin to flow in and through us (Psalm 16:11). Joy is the sign that life has found its purpose and its reason for being. When we are filled with this joy, we begin to rejoice in the Lord beyond the circumstances surrounding us (Philippians 4:4). There is fullness of joy in every situation in the presence of God (Acts 2:46; Acts 16:34). God Himself, and our relationship with Him, are the source and cause of any real joy we have (2 Chronicles 20:27; Nehemiah 12:43)—this is a supernatural joy that gives spiritual strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The Psalmist and the Prophet Isaiah both refer to it as the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12; Psalm 35:9; Psalm 89:15-16; Isaiah 12:3; John 15:11; Jeremiah 15:16; Acts 2:28; Romans 14:17). Our joys must arise from yielding our will so as to fulfill God’s purpose and see it accomplished (Matthew 25:21).

Peace is a gift from God to those reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ, and it is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in us as we grow in a continuing, trustful relationship with God through the daily affairs of our lives (John 14:27; Romans 5:1; Psalm 119:165). Such peace doesn’t come through any other means—not through drugs, alcohol, sex, wealth, or entertainment. The peace of God has a different source than that of the world. We cannot experience this peace without giving lordship to the Prince of Peace in our lives (Isaiah 9:6). His peace is a peace that surpasses all human understanding and keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7; Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6; James 3:18).

Patience is a characteristic of our Lord that fills us with gratitude. It makes us mild, gentle, and constant in all circumstances. God’s patience delays His wrath, allowing time for good to occur (Jonah 4:2). Do we have such patience? As we desire others, especially God, to be patient and forgiving toward us in our faults, do we have patience ourselves? Patience is a two-way street, and God clearly demands reciprocity. He expects us to pass His patience and forgiveness on to others as Christ did (Matthew 18:23-35). When we develop this character in our lives, we can learn to enjoy life where we are while we are waiting for what we desire (Ephesians 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Peter 3:9). The real test of patience is not in waiting but in how one acts while waiting. Patience is a vital part of the process that enables God to work over a long period of time, if necessary, to produce in us other important aspects of His image so that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Reaching this point is definitely a process which takes a lot of practice.

Kindness is simply putting others first. It is a quality that makes us great in God’s sight (James 3:17; 2 Samuel 22:36). Kindness is something that we must develop, and we can do it because the Holy Spirit has already enabled us. The mountains shall depart and the hills will be removed, but the Lord’s kindness shall not depart from us (Isaiah 54:10). In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Apostle Paul illustrates kindness by the example of a mother nourishing her children. Being Christ-like means being gentle, kind, loving, and compassionate as He is to us. We all have sinned and come short of His glory, yet God forgives and redeems us. Being like Jesus is having His kindness manifested in our lives (Luke 23:33-34). Imitating Christ, Stephen also showed kindness; even in the midst of being stoned to death, he asked the Lord to forgive the sin of those who were killing him (Acts 7:59-60); the parable of the Good Samaritan is also a good example of kindness (Luke 10:29-37); Joseph’s story is one of the many stories of kindness we find in the Old Testament (Genesis 45:4-15). How kind are we?

Goodness and generosity enable us to do good things to those who hate us (Luke 6:27). The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:5). He created us in His image and draws out of us His own goodness to witness that He is our God. It is the goodness of God that leads men and women to repentance. His goodness goes beyond what is legally right—it goes the extra mile and gives what is needed to benefit, build up, and bless others. He wants His goodness to flow in and through us to impact others’ lives. We are called to be lights in a dark world, and we must shine the goodness of our Father (Psalm 23:6; Psalm 52:1; Matthew 5:14-16). True goodness is inseparable from godliness; God is the source of all that can truly be called good. He does not just have it or do it, but He is goodness, and He greatly desires to give it to us (Exodus 34:6). He has recreated us in Jesus Christ for His good works (Ephesians 2:10). So we need to take every opportunity to yield to the Holy Spirit so as to develop this goodness in our lives.

Faithfulness is the quality of being faithful. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines faithfulas “maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal; marked by or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; accurate; reliable; exact.” Faithfulness enables us to walk and live by faith (Romans 5:2). Without this kind of faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Since God is faithful, it has become our responsibility to imitate Him in being faithful by committing our lives to the leading of the Spirit. There is never inconsistency in the life of Jesus. Our greatest obligation on earth is to imitate His faithfulness to a faithless world (Revelation 3:14; John 18:37; Matthew 24:45-47). Being faithful is not always easy—it requires making a decision and then sticking to it regardless of what our feelings tell us. However, when we are faithful and do what God tells us to do, we will be rewarded; the Bible says that if we’re faithful over little things, He will make us rulers of much (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:24; Romans 4:20-21; Ephesians 6:16).

Meekness is the quality of being free from pride and arrogance; it is a modest estimation of our own worth (Numbers 12:3). It is the meek who are blessed and share in Jesus’ inheritance of the earth (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11). People may relate meekness with weakness, but meekness is really power under control; it is a slave-like submission to God. Moses was a great example of meekness. While Moses had a high position, he did not try to defend himself with his social status (Numbers 12:3). Once we crucify our pride and self-will, we do not think or care about ourselves. Meek people do not measure the importance of events by their relation to their personal comfort or what they gain from them. They begin to see everything from God’s perspective, seeking only to serve His purposes in every situation of life. Meekness enables us to bear patiently those insults and injuries we receive at the hand of the enemies of the Gospel. Meek people seek no private revenge; they leave revenge to God while they seek to remain true in their calling and meet God’s standards (Zephaniah 2:3). It is the hidden heart of a person—a meek and a quiet spirit—which is greatly valued by God (1 Peter 3:4; Ephesians 4:1-2; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:1-2).

Self-Control is that control over the whole person (spirit, soul, and body) which enables us to live a victorious life. Paul illustrates self-control by showing what it produces along the way and, most importantly, in the end (1 Corinthians 9:25). A person who has self-control is mild and calm, avoids extreme behavior, and exercises self-restraint in both actions and speech. Self-control is keeping our passions and desires in check. “Whoever has no rule over his spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 16:32) Self-control is present in the one who is strong in the strength of the Lord having put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). If we lack this manifestation of the Spirit, we are like a car without brakes which has great potential to damage others as well as ourselves.

What is the best way you can encourage others to exercise the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

“I thank God for calling us to do missions,” Moses began. “My heart is filled with joy for the work God has used us to do.”

Moses directs a discipleship-mission training program in Democratic Republic of Congo—or DRC. He recently shared some of his story with other directors and leaders at a Global Disciples gathering. Like many of those directors, he has faced difficult challenges in conducting the training and the outreach. Years of civil war and conflict have left DRC’s economy in shambles. Infrastructure, highways, power—all things we take for granted—are either minimal or non-existent. They use the Congo River and other waterways to travel long and often dangerous distances.

Yet Moses and his fellow directors persevere. And as Global Disciples, it’s our privilege to come alongside and help them fulfill the vision and mission God’s entrusted to them. Moses said, “Working together with Global Disciples, God helped us plant many new churches. And they now work to reach other tribes and peoples.”

He gave the example of their outreach to one village where about 45 people came to faith in Christ, and started a new fellowship. It became a base for the disciple-makers he trains to continue reaching into the surrounding communities.

Moses is an advocate for our Global Disciples small business training. He said, “With our small business training we have opened a little shop in our village that helps support the ministry. And it gives us an opportunity to interact with people. We’ve also invested in a boat that we use for travel up and down the river for our outreach, and we generate some income as well.”

Other ventures—like a tailoring shop and a library—are contributing to both support the training program and to give them more opportunities to share the Gospel.

Despite the hardships and challenges, Moses knows the joy of mission as he carries on equipping a new wave of disciple-making church planters to share the Good News of Jesus.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

At Global Disciples, we understand that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the deepest core need we have as human beings.

Intimacy with God is the very source of life, strength, and fruitfulness and this intimacy is nurtured and encouraged by worship, prayer, and obedience to the Word of the Lord. Therefore, one of our core values reads, “Everything we do must be conceived, birthed, and carried out with prayer.”

Amit served with Global Leadership Equipping and Development (LEAD) as a leadership trainer. As part of the three-track Global Disciples training model, LEAD seeks to raise up believers who are capable, visionary leaders, serving in the global Body of Christ in all areas of society.

At a leadership training in Southeast Asia, Amit taught his trainees about the power of prayer. He trained them to use prayer in two ways: offensively and defensively.

Immediately following their training, Amit exposed his trainees to the power of prayer through practice.

People from all over the community brought prayer requests to Amit and his students. One teenage girl had been possessed by the evil spirit for almost 13 years. When she was brought forward for prayer, she began to shout, drawing attention to herself. All 70 people in attendance began to pray for her, and they were able to bind the evil spirit, liberating the young girl from possession.

The faith of these trainees was increased, as they experienced visual evidence of prayer’s power.

Next, a married couple came to Amit and his students for prayer. They had been married for almost 15 years, but had been unable to conceive a child. They’d spent lots of money on medical procedures and fertility treatments, to increase their chances of getting pregnant, but with no success. The trainees began to pray for this couple, and continued relentlessly for ten months. In the eleventh month of prayer, the woman conceived and became pregnant! By the power of prayer, they gave birth to a beautiful baby.

The intimate relationship we desire with Jesus is despised by the evil spirit. Therefore, in any attempt to build the Body of Christ, we will face a spiritual battle as described in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.” 

In Ephesians 6:13-18, Paul describes that one way to combat the schemes of the evil one is to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amit’s trainees experienced God’s power through prayer to heal and liberate, and their intimacy with the Lord was strengthened as a result.

How can you use the power of prayer in your life today?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

To be empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and mission, we need to have a proper understanding of the true personality of the One who empowers us.  

The Holy Spirit is not a wind, an oil, a power, or any impersonal metaphor that the Bible uses to explain His work.

The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a personal being with a mind, will, and emotions (1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 4:30). He is a divine person. The pronoun “He” is used frequently throughout the Scriptures to describe the Holy Spirit as a person (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:8-15). He speaks, teaches, testifies, convicts of sin, guides, intercedes, and sends (Acts 13:1-4; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:8, John 16:12; Acts 16:6-7; Romans 8:26; Acts 13:4).  

Jesus taught His disciples that another divine person would come who would take his place to comfort, strengthen, and guide (John 15:26; John 16:13). He would be eternal (Hebrews 9:14); He would be all-knowing (1 Corinthians 2:11); He would be everywhere (Psalm 139:7-8); He would be holy (Romans 1:4). The saints are called temples of God because “the Spirit of God dwells in [them]” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In 2 Corinthians 6:16, the Holy Spirit is called “the living God.” He is associated with the Father and Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Lying to the Holy Spirit is considered as great a sin as lying to God (Acts 5:3). Above all, from the very beginning, He has been involved in creating and sustaining life (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30). The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality from the Father and the Son (John 15:26; Acts 2:32-33; Matthew 28:19, Acts 20:28).  

In summary, the Holy Spirit is not just some vague power—He is the God who was and is with God the Father and the Son from the very beginning. He is sent by God the Father at the request of Jesus to be with us till the end of the world (John 14:26; John 16:7). 

In the following paragraphs, we observe how the Holy Spirit is manifested and known through His supernatural actions in the Old and New Testaments.     

Genesis chapter 1 indicates that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation and was moving on the waters (Genesis 1:2; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Psalm 33:6-9). 

1. Holy Spirit empowerment for the work of the tabernacle: The work of the Holy Spirit is vividly present throughout the entire Old Testament, particularly during the building of the Tabernacle. He empowers Bezalel and the others involved in the process with wisdom, skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craft works (Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11፡25-26; Numbers 27:18). This is a great reminder that the Holy Spirit empowers all of our work. 

2. Holy Spirit empowerment for deliverance: The Holy Spirit empowers Judges (deliverers), kings, and leaders of the people for a mission. When Israel is in danger of defeat or capture by the surrounding nations and the people cry out for deliverance, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon various leaders (Judges 3:9; Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 14:6, Judges 15:14). Here, the presence of the Spirit is seen in triumphant defeats.  

The work of the Holy Spirit is also tangible in the account of Samson’s life and leadership (Judges 13-16). He is a dedicated Nazarene, and the Holy Spirit is upon him on many different occasions (Judges 13:24). The text affirms that the Spirit of Yahweh begins to “move” Samson “at times” (Judges 13:25). This general statement teaches us that the work of the Spirit in Samson’s life is not only present, but is significant; the Spirit seems to come upon Samson according to the purposes of God. In Judges 14:6, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to give him strength to slay a lion; in Judges 14:19, the Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay thirty Philistines; in Judges 15:14-15, The Spirit of Yahweh comes upon him to help him slay a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone. The amazing strength and victory seen in the life of Samson is from the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that came upon King Saul and King David. 

3. Holy Spirit empowerment upon kings and prophets: When Saul is chosen to be the king of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him and he prophesizes (1 Samuel 10:10); the same Spirit later comes upon him to give him victory in battle (1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 11:13).  

This same Spirit empowers the Old Testament prophets to give them prophetic inspiration and guidance. The Spirit-filled prophets speak the truth and stand for justice in contrast to the false prophets who speak out of their own spirits. In Israel’s history, we also read about kings Saul and David experiencing prophecy as a result of the Spirit’s power (1 Samuel 10:1-7, 1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 11:1-11; 1 Samuel 19:19-24). 

David notes that “the Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). In 1 Kings 22:24-25, the Spirit of God is involved in the words of the prophets as shown by the argument between Zedekiah and Micah. Then, specifically in 1 and 2 Kings, the role of the Spirit centers mainly on the prophet Elijah, to whom the Word of the Lord frequently came (1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 17:8; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:7-12). 

The idea evident in these passages is that the Spirit can transport Himself from place to place, from person to person—Elijah is not simply being “led by the Spirit” subjectively or falsely. This reality is reinforced when the Spirit of God is mentioned in reference to Elijah’s life and ministry. In 2 Kings 2:16, the sons of the prophets tell Elisha that they want to look for Elijah in case the Spirit of Yahweh has caught Elijah up and placed him on some mountain or in some valley. 

Elisha, the servant of Elijah, who saw the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Elijah, asks for a double portion of Elijah’s “Spirit” when Elijah is taken up to heaven by the Lord (2 Kings 2:9-15). After Elijah is taken from Elisha, the prophets’ sons recognize that the Spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha (2 Kings 2:15). The work of the Holy Spirit was tangible in the lives of God’s people.  

Throughout the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes upon several individuals for different purposes (2 Chronicles 15:1-7; 2 Chronicles 20:1-23; 2 Chronicles 24:20). In Nehemiah 9:30, the Levites remind Israel that in Moses’ day, God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” In Ezekiel 11:5-12, the Spirit of the Lord falls upon the prophet to induce a prophetic utterance. In Ezekiel 2:2, the Spirit certainly enters into the prophet as an introduction to his prophetic ministry recorded in the book. 

In all these instances, it appears that the Holy Spirit came upon these people or filled them to give prophecy. The Holy Spirit enabled the prophets both in receiving and delivering the message effectively. The prophets received revelation, inspiration, direction, strength, and motivation for the ministry of promoting true allegiance to the most High God.  

Joel prophesized about the coming of the Day of Yahweh when the Lord would pour out His Spirit on His people and those who call upon Him would be saved (Joel 2:28-32). In the future, when the Lord heals the land, He will pour out His Spirit on His people, on all people, and miracles will occur in the sky as part of the coming Day of the Lord. The New Testament portrays the heart of this message—that the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh at the end time. This special section is cited in Peter’s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:17-21); Peter turns to the Old Testament for an explanation of what has happened on the day of Pentecost. 

Acts 2:17-21 becomes an invitation to humanity to recognize God’s power in the end times. We have such a great hope to participate in the new era in which the Holy Spirit equips the faith community for victorious life and a special task of ministry through His power. Though we live in a world full of evil and oppression, crises, disease, injustices, and disappointments, we have God, the Holy Spirit, who is present and brings restoration and transformation to the broken world in which we live.  

Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit because without the power of the Holy Spirit, it was impossible for them to carry out the great task that was given to them (Acts 1:5-8).  They waited in prayer, and when they received the power of the Holy Spirit, they became effective witnesses (Acts 2). Acts 2:17-21 is the fulfillment of the prophecy of God outpouring His Spirit as proclaimed in Joel 2:28-32. The message is about God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh. In the context of Acts 2:17, the word used for flesh is sarx and it denotes all of humanity (the outpouring of the Spirit upon all flesh, everyone who belongs to the restored community). It is all about the empowerment of the people of God to live lives of discipleship and serve His purpose with the power of the Holy Spirit. What was the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives and ministries of the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost? 

The apostles witnessed to others through demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit that worked in them. The Holy Spirit filled them with boldness in the midst of persecution and, as a result of the empowerment, their testimony was demonstrated with power (Acts 4:30-37). Like the early Church, we all need the same power that the Holy Spirit gave the apostles in order to have boldness in our ministry. The Holy Spirit united their hearts together to share a common purpose and possessions; the believers were unselfish and were willing to share all they had. 

As they continued to teach and proclaim the word of God with the power of the Holy Spirit, the number of disciples multiplied greatly. In Acts 1, there were 120; in Acts 2, their number grew to 3120; in Acts 4, to 5000. When persecution broke out in Jerusalem, Philip the evangelist took the Gospel to Samaria. The Samaritans listened to him, saw miracles (including healing and casting out of evil Spirits), had great joy, believed his message, and were baptized in the name of Jesus (Acts 8:6-17).  

When Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans, they also received the power of the Holy Spirit for ministry. The gift of the Spirit to believers at Samaria demonstrates that all, even a despised group like the Samaritans, are to engage in the missionary task and bear the shared responsibility given by the Spirit (Acts 1:8; Acts 8:12). 

When Peter preached to Cornelius and his family and friends, the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same way as He had on the first disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2; Acts 11:12-18). The most significant implications of the Roman Pentecost are the impartiality of the gift of the Spirit (coming on all flesh), the unity of the body of Christ (just as the Spirit gave gifts of language on the day of the Pentecost), the sign of global unity of the body of Christ (as a reversal of the story of Babel), and the witnessing of God’s saving activity through their tongues (Acts 2:17-21; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48). 

In Acts 19:2, when Paul met with the believers in Ephesus, he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Paul’s question implies something significant about the lives of these disciples. According to Luke’s narration, there is evidence indicating that these disciples lacked something critical—the outpouring of the Spirit for which Jesus commanded His own disciples to wait (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8). Indeed, the narration of Luke in Acts 1, 2, 4, 8, and 19 implies that the power of the Spirit for the disciples of Jesus was essential for the mission they were given. 

From Luke’s narration, it appears these disciples in Ephesus did not reach out to anyone until Paul himself came to teach and preach to them for three years. These disciples were not part of the new movement and the initial experience of the Spirit’s power. Paul’s coming to Ephesus marks another decisive moment in missionary history—Ephesus was to be a new center for the Gentile mission, next in importance to Antioch, and these twelve disciples were to be the nucleus of the Ephesian church. 

Indeed, Paul commanded the Ephesian church in his letter to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) with the sense that they should live under the power of the Spirit on a daily basis.  It is normative for Christians in the new era to be under the power of the Spirit. In his letter, Paul indicated that power and unity in the Christian life and mission comes through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is to bring full knowledge of God (Ephesians 3:18) because God’s power extends beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). Both Luke and Paul are not talking about a one-time experience—they expect the power of the Holy Spirit to be a normative experience for disciples of Christ in the new era. 

What is your knowledge of the Holy Spirit?

Who is the Holy Spirit to you?  

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

“We have experienced the Holy Spirit’s movement and power during our outreach this year,” Chiso said, joy beaming from his face. He directs a discipleship-mission program in Malawi, and was eager to report on how God had worked in and through the young disciple-makers he trained.

Chiso said, “The Lord helped us win a lot of souls to Christ. The number of people who were born again was 713! All these people came to Christ as we went door-to-door and talked with them.” But it hasn’t stopped there!

Chiso also reported how they saw God act in an extraordinary way. One miracle involved a 10 year old boy named Steven. He had been paralyzed since birth, and it affected what he could handle in terms of food or movement. Every night he cried from stomach pain. His parents had looked for help everywhere but no doctor ever found a solution for young Steven’s problems.

When his team met Steven and his family, Chiso said, “We shared the Word of God with them, and we assured them that even though the doctors had no solution for them, God can take care of Steven. He is Jehovah Shammah—the Lord is there. He is present whenever we call to Him. I told them it’s not just about mentioning the name of Jesus or God, but your connection to Him in faith.”

They prayed for Steven then. And instantly, God touched his body and he became strong! The stomach pains left him. He was totally healed! Praise God!”

What a miracle to witness! And it also opened the door for more people to put their faith in Christ.

Since then, this disciple-making team has planted three new and growing churches, and many are being discipled. Chiso said, “We praise the Lord for the multiplication of disciples!”

So do we—we want to people to be touched by the power of God, to see lives transformed by Christ, to see churches planted, and to see disciples of Jesus multiply in Malawi and around the world!

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. 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. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!