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!

Dawit is a young man in Ethiopia with a heart for sharing the Gospel with people who need to hear it. He was trained as a disciple-maker through a Global Disciples partner program. When it came time to do the outreach portion of the training, Dawit prayed about where he should go. The Holy Spirit directed him to a small village where most of the people are Muslims.

Soon after he arrived, Dawit met Ahmad, another young man and a dedicated follower of Islam. As they talked, the Holy Spirit was working in Ahmad’s heart. When he heard about Jesus Christ, his heart and mind were opened and he received Jesus as his personal Savior.

Overjoyed with his new life, Ahmad went home to his family and shared the news. But his father refused to let him in the house. His brothers beat him and kicked him. Every time he tried to talk with them, his family would abuse him, and they even burned his Bible!

Ahmad went back to his new friend Dawit for help, and soon found a place with live with a family who were disciples of Jesus. He stayed with them as he was being discipled and preparing for baptism.

However, the Holy Spirit was still at work on his behalf. One day, a messenger came to tell Ahmad that his parents and siblings were sick—they wanted him, Ahmad to come and pray for them. He and Dawit went and prayed, and soon his family members were restored to health!

On the day of his baptism, Ahmad’s parents, brothers, and sisters came to watch. They listened to the Gospel, they heard his testimony, and by the end of the day, Ahmad’s entire family—all 16 people—had received Jesus as their Savior too!

Today, Ahmad boldly preaches the Good News of Jesus as Savior! And Dawit continues to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance as he nurtures the growing church in this village.

Praise God for the way He leads his people and draws others into new life in Christ!

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!

As disciple-makers travel to unreached areas sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, they often encounter opposition from those who worship other gods, idols, or evil spirits.

It is difficult for these people to change their beliefs without the ability to read God’s truth for themselves.

Our disciple-makers must share with them God’s love, faithfulness, and salvation. However, when the evil one has penetrated the hearts of the unreached with doubts and questioning, the Holy Spirit often steps in to prove his strength and existence, while denouncing corruptive spirits. Here are some stories where the Lord has used physical miracles in the wake of doubt to demonstrate His power:

A group of disciple-makers were sent on outreach to an unreached area where they encountered a sick child. Although they had successfully shared the Word with some of the villagers, they faced significant opposition. A young boy had been sick with a fever for three years, and his family had spent lots of money on healthcare. When the villagers encountered the disciples, they traveled to the house of the boy and said, “Let the Christians pray for him, and we will see if their God is real.” Although challenged, the disciple-makers decided to pray. By evening the fever was down, and the next morning it was gone completely. A week later the boy had returned to normal. The family asked the disciple-makers to start a church in their home, and a small fellowship was planted. This church has continued to grow, and spread into neighboring villages.

Another group of church-planters encountered a village controlled by Muslims and animists. One man accepted the Lord’s salvation and the church-planter began to teach him the Word of God. The Muslims became upset when they heard the Gospel being shared in their village, and outraged to learn a man had been converted. To test the church-planter, they brought him to one of their brothers who had recently died, “If your God is able to raise the dead, you can pray for Him.” The new believer became afraid, for he knew persecution would follow if a miracle didn’t happen. He and the church-planter retreated from the village out of fear, but the church-planter continuously prayed for the dead man. Soon after, the man who had been dead returned to life! Within a week his relatives accepted salvation, and now there are 67 people in that village serving Christ, and a new church has been planted.

The trust exhibited by these church-planters among those who wish to see them fail is commendable. Surrounded by doubt and plagued by fear, they faithfully prayed the Lord would exemplify His physical power and might. Miracles such as these create an avenue for church-planters to spread the Good News of Jesus, and they remain faithful to the work of the Lord, He does not fail to be physically present in their ministry.

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

When it comes to reaching the least-reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ, each country and every region presents its own unique challenges.

Take Indonesia for example. This nation is made up of over 13 thousand islands—and over 7 hundred languages used among its 2 hundred 55 million people. Close to 80 percent of them are Muslims. Evangelical Christians make up only about 3 percent.

Lately, we’ve seen a renewed passion, purpose, and vision among the churches and leaders we partner with as Global Disciples. At a recent gathering of Indonesia’s training directors, they shared stories of growth and multiplication. And how they’re working to reach other Indonesians with the Gospel of Jesus.

Dawa leads a training program that started just a few years ago. He said, “Our training participants do some of their outreach through Bible clubs in the schools. From one, we have almost 40 people who are being discipled. We did a prayer walk to bless our region for Christ and to pray for a breakthrough, that more disciples would come and follow Christ.”

He went on to explain, “These disciples are active in evangelism to their friends who follow a tribal religion. And this year, we will multiply new fellowships in this tribal group.”

When Wibi led his first discipleship training, he was excited by the transformation he saw in the participants. He said, “One of the best moments was when the disciple-makers experienced God through the teaching. We saw that God restored and touched their hearts before they went out to minister to others.”

After the lesson on “Evangelism and Compassion,” the team went out and right way put it to practice. Wibi said, “One person came to Christ and received Him as his Savior immediately! And in this village, there are now seven people who are baptized, all by God’s grace!”

This is just a snapshot of what God is doing in Indonesia. And we’re so grateful He’s given us the opportunity to walk alongside these leaders, to help them raise up a new generation of disciple-makers, eager to share the Good News with those who are waiting to hear it!

What’s in your hands? This question has been the title of our Small Business Development (SBD) curriculum for more than 15 years. SBD training has helped disciple-makers and church planters launch several thousand small businesses in the last five years.

These small businesses give disciple-makers an identity that makes sense in a Muslim village or a Hindu neighborhood and provide support for their family. Through their businesses, at least 43,667 people have come to Christ in 1,407 newly churches planted.

Starting a business based on what’s in their hands has borne much fruit. This strategy makes sense. And the small business/church planting stories that have emerged are fascinating and inspiring.

“What’s in your hands?” is a good question for each of us to consider. Recently one of our Global Disciples Facilitators from Ecuador was sharing the perspective his church has on reaching least-reached people.

He said, “We tell the people of our church that everyone works in the mission: the knees of those who pray, the hands of those who give, and the feet of those who go. No matter what area of the mission you are involved in, either praying on your knees, opening your hands to give or moving your feet to go, it must be done sacrificially. Sacrificially pray, sacrificially go, and sacrificially give to reach the unreached people.”

What is your role in reaching the one-third of our world that has never had the opportunity to respond to the Good News of Jesus? What is in your hands? The Bible reminds us that God our Savior “wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

It is inspiring to read stories of the early Church after Pentecost. “They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:45). Their engagement in God’s mission began with what they had in their hands. It’s a great place for each of us to start making God’s glory known in the nations.

“Bringing one Muslim to faith in Christ is not easy,” Mamo, an Ethiopian church leader explained. “But nothing is impossible for the Lord!”

Mamo lives and ministers among the communities bordering Somalia, a region that is staunchly Muslim. He has witnessed God doing amazing things to bring people to the light and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Much of the outreach he’s involved with takes place “underground,” carefully and often in secret to reduce the risks. God has opened a door to meet with the sheiks, leaders of the mosques at the center of the community.

“After they give their lives to Christ,” Mamo said, “we take them to another place for discipleship and baptism. When they come back, they teach what the Koran says about Christ.” And as the people hear this, they also believe!

In a community of five or six thousand people, many are now followers of Christ, because the head leader—from the mosque—has shown them the way of Jesus!

It’s not all smooth sailing. Mamo reported that they planted two churches and within a day or two, both were destroyed. Other Muslim leaders came to a converted sheik, threatened and abused him, then tried to bribe him to come back to the mosque. He replied, “Do whatever you want with me, but I will not go back.”

Another time, local government authorities tried to blame these Christ-following sheiks for chaos and trouble in the community. Boldly, one leader spoke up, “This is what the Koran says about Jesus. I am a follower of al-Masih (Jesus). I will not leave Jesus because I know what He did for me.”

Yes, some have been beaten or thrown in prison because of their faith, Mamo was quick to report, but he sees God working mightily. What seemed impossible has become a wave of new disciples and new churches, even in the shadows of the mosque. Pray for these new believers as they seek to take the Good News of Jesus to those still waiting to hear it in Somalia and beyond.