In simple terms, local sustainability refers to a venture-funded or supported by local means and not dependent on external sources. For example, a restaurant generates income from its customers or closes. At your church, the annual budget is supplied by those who attend.

Global Disciples believes local sustainability means indigenous churches around the world can fulfill their part in the Great Commission. They may need assistance to launch (and we help) but the goal is to see a discipleship-mission program, a church planter, an indigenous movement, thrive and multiply through the resources they have or develop.

In Nepal, local sustainability is the backbone of the growing church movement. From the outset, Pravir,* the Nepali facilitator, wanted the church to fund as much of the discipleship training as possible. He started by asking his own congregation for support. One woman, the only believer in her village, traveled 1½ hours to attend services. Her village needed a church and the discipleship training would make that possible.

Out of the little she had, she made the first gift—two tiny bags of salt. Her generosity inspired the rest of the congregation to also give, mostly donations of rice or other produce.

In this case, Global Disciples assisted the launch with a special gift of $137—the dollar equivalent of what the church raised in rice donations. While $137 may seem like very little to us, it’s nearly 3 months’ salary for a Nepali family! The cash bought paper and pens, a pot to cook the rice, and straw floor mats for the participants to sleep on. With that, they held their first discipleship training!

From this humble beginning, trainings in Nepal have multiplied into a movement supported by local sources. Some church planters use their small business to fund trainings; others plant vegetables to feed trainees. The village where the woman gave the first donation remains the most generous in the region. As Pravir says, “It multiplies a generation of generous disciples who will go to least-reached areas.”

That’s the beauty of local sustainability—generous groups of churches empowered to accomplish their God-given mission!

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!

In Acts 18, the Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth and went to work, making tents side-by-side with new friends Aquila and Priscilla. The business supported him while he preached the Gospel to the Jews and Greeks of the city.

This model—using business to give access and support ministry—is one that Global Disciples uses in training disciple-makers and church planters. It’s key to local sustainability for those who seek to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to least-reached peoples and regions.

Like Paul, church planters often enter new unreached territories. A business provides an identity or reason for being there. Instead of arriving with their hands out, asking for help, they come with their hands full, providing a service or product while they preach the Gospel. This is a novel approach in cultures that believe “holy men don’t work”—they can be seen as glorified beggars, exchanging a message or prayer for money or food.

For many, the biblical permission to combine ministry with business enables them to continue serving God while providing for their families. One Nepali church planter shared how he and others considered leaving the ministry because there was no money to support them or feed their children. In India, several pastors from untouchable or ‘dalit’ castes reflect on how they can now provide a daughter’s dowry, a gifted son’s education, or help a daughter learn useful accounting skills as she assists the business.

Some Christians view using business to support ministry as a lack of faith in God’s provision. A young evangelist at a training in Uganda argued that ministry and business were incompatible and should not be allowed. However, after studying the Bible and Paul’s methodology, the young man said, “Why didn’t anyone tell us this before?” God’s Word had changed his mind. When he returned to the refugee camps where he ministered, he used a small business strategy and trained refugees to use business in ministry.

The biblical model for local sustainability worked for Paul and it’s still working to support God’s people as they seek to fulfill the mission He gives.

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 give thanks to God and Global Disciples,” Chetan reported. “Since we started our leadership training in 2011, we’ve trained 675 leaders, pastors, and church planters.”

Chetan directs leadership training and discipleship-mission training near his home in Nepal.

He’s seen tremendous growth as they reach out and share the Good News of Jesus. Through the discipleship-mission training, he’s trained 6 groups of disciple-makers, averaging about 15 participants per group, and so far, they’ve planted 32 churches in nine different areas of Nepal. The leadership program has multiplied too – planting another 27 churches.

Chetan said, “In our district, there are one hundred fifty churches; our vision is to have a church in every village. In one place we preached, 11 people came to Christ. Another group wanted to have a church there so we gladly handed the new believers over to them. In another village, 40 people believed. It’s very far from our base and so the follow-up was going to be difficult. But a nearby church offered to help and they are now looking after these believers.”

But it’s not been easy. Chetan reflected on the challenges they face. “When one person believes, there is persecution,” he said, “When one family believes, there’s opposition. At one place we planted a church, and a local police officer gave us land on a lease to establish a church. Our prayer is to purchase the plot. But the community is circulating a petition to keep us from building a church there.”

At times, those participating in the training were difficult to deal with, Chetan says, “With spiritual training, we must humble ourselves and serve. We spent much of our time in prayer. I have 11 prayer warriors who prayed for 72 hours, and God blessed and worked in this area. The Holy Spirit has helped us develop workers for the ministry.”

With prayer, persistence, and a God-given vision to reach those still waiting for the Gospel, Chetan and those he serves are seeing the Lord do great things in their area of Nepal.

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 training and coaching strategy, 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 we hear the Good News stories about how God is at work, we’re reminded over and over again that we can never underestimate who or what He may use to accomplish His mission.

Kiran works in Nepal and part of his job is to train and mentor the leaders who direct discipleship-mission training programs.

When he went to visit a church that wanted to start a training, he was surprised to see who they had chosen as a director. Kiran said, “I saw a young man—only 22 years old—and I was disappointed. I expected someone mature, like the pastor!” The young man comes from a group of 35 churches and they decided he was the man for the job!

Since the young man started their training program, he’s trained five groups of disciple-makers—that’s about 75 people! And they’ve planted 8 churches, with between 60 to 90 members.

During one training, some people in the village heard about it and brought a paralyzed woman to them for prayer. When their prayers were answered, the woman was healed, and her family accepted Christ and became hosts for one of the new churches!

Evidently, God was not worried about the age of this young leader, even if Kiran was!

Kiran also told of a woman who came for small business training to provide support as she helped to plant a church. However, she was shy and felt awkward talking to people in Nepali, which was her second language. But her tailoring business required her to talk to people!

A year later, Kiran said, “I was amazed to hear she had started two new fellowships with about 16 to 18 people attending. And 13 are getting ready for baptism!”

You know, it doesn’t matter if you think you’re too young, too old, too shy, or afraid…never underestimate what God can do with you! Who knows what He may empower you to accomplish? And who you may surprise along the way.

What excuses have you been making about your inability to be used by God?

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 training and coaching strategy, 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!