“God has not called us just to sit and wait,” Sempala said. “As God’s servants, we’re called to move out and get involved in business, while sharing the Good News and building relationships.”
Sempala is from Uganda. And he leads a Global Disciples partner program that equips disciple-makers and church planters in small business training.
A small business can be a key to a sustainable ministry, as we’ve seen with Global Disciples. A business gives a church planter a means of support.
It also provides an identity in a community—and answers some of the initial questions about why you’re here. That’s crucial in places with restrictions or where there’s opposition to an evangelist or someone hoping to plant a church. A person with a business can be viewed with less suspicion and connect more easily.
In Sempala’s training program, he trained 15 people to consider what God has placed in their hands that could be used for a business. And then he helped them create a business plan, develop a budget, understand the marketplace, and work through other key issues.
More importantly, they looked at how they can use their business to reach people with the Gospel by building relationships and opening up conversations about Jesus.
Sempala took a more direct approach with those he trained. He spent time developing their businesses, but he also engaged in focused outreach.
He reported, “We went to two different locations—15 people gave their lives to Christ in one place. And 10 at second place, and a new fellowship was started. Our men and women are now sharing the Good News through their businesses. God is being glorified through the work of their hands.”
This combination of outreach with business is having a broader impact too, Sempala said. “The community sees that God can use what you have in your hands. We’re not called to just sit and wait! We have the desire to see Uganda come to Jesus Christ, and this is what we can do.”
May God raise up more people like Sempala to equip others and share the Gospel in the isolated and least-reached areas of Uganda…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!
Remember Moses? The man God called to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt?
Well, God is still calling men and women to serve as Moses did. To lead people out of bondage to sin, and addiction, and evil spirits, and false religions.
Kintu is a modern-day Moses in Uganda.
While he’s not leading a nation or a movement of people, God is using him to help others find freedom in Christ.
It all began last year when Kintu participated in a discipleship-mission training through a local church cluster in partnership with Global Disciples. For his outreach, Kintu went to a specific district to share the Gospel.
In that community, a local man has declared himself as god and king—just as the ancient Pharoahs did.
He controls people—they worship him and believe all that he says, trying to please him as their only hope. Sadly, it’s made life miserable; they don’t work, and drunkenness and ignorance hold them in bondage.
When Kintu arrived, he met Otem who was caught up in this mess.
Otem was an alcoholic; he didn’t take care of himself; he was always dirty and foul.
Yet, Kintu saw a man in bondage who needed to be set free by Jesus, the true God, and King.
Kintu took the lessons and skills he’d gained from the Global Disciple training and began to share the Gospel with Otem.
Otem said, “No, just buy me a liter of alcohol and I will be saved.” Kintu refused his request but he didn’t give up on this man.
Over and over Kintu shared the message of Jesus, that He’s the One to be worshiped and served. Otem resisted but he was drawn to his new friend and his message, until one day he finally accepted Jesus as His Savior.
Today, Otem is a strong, committed follower of Jesus, and actively seeking to serve in the new local church they planted.
Like Moses, Kintu led someone out of bondage and into a new life of freedom in Christ.
Is God asking you to be a Moses to someone today? Then be faithful to your mission—it could change a life.
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!
“Before I came to the Global Disciples Directors training, my personal relationship with God was not all that healthy,” Achi said, describing his spiritual state a few years ago.
“I was filled with questions about God and about myself. I was like a hunter, wondering where to go next after a lot of struggles.”
Achi, a church leader in Uganda, was struggling.
He said, “My life was full of emotions from family issues, frustrations, and the torture of trusting in myself. I rarely prayed, and when I did, I was not focused…I only prayed because everyone else was praying,”
As Achi attended the Global Disciples Directors Training, it struck a chord in his searching heart. “God changed my whole life to become a testimony for others to come and see,” he said.
The Directors Training equips believers like Achi in the core components of being a disciple of Jesus, so they can train others to be a disciple-making disciples. The Holy Spirit often works in these sessions to touch the directors first, empowering them to train from experience as well as study.
Achi found his life remade by the Holy Spirit. The session on Intimacy with God provided the foundation. He said, “My relationship with God has improved to be a beautiful thing. I have a reason to seek God and to hunger for more. He has made me a missionary and has become my purpose in life.”
Lessons on Holy Spirit Empowerment and Developing Christ-like Relationships also impacted Achi’s family relationships and his commitment to the mission of the Gospel. He relates, “God has given me the ability to stay in harder places, far from home, and to be comfortable there on mission.”
It’s meant a radical change for his family. Last year God directed them to move to a new community for further outreach. His children changed schools, and his family is adapting to a new culture and language, but Achi says, “We are happy to see God directing our lives each day.”
Achi’s renewed relationship with the Lord is bearing fruit in those he has trained as disciple-makers—they’ve already planted six churches! Phineas, one young trainee, is a great help, actively involved in outreach, and has assisted in planting another four churches.
Achi reports another transformation as he shares the core components with local churches. “We are seeing unity in the churches in our area. The teachings on Intimacy with God, Holy Spirit empowerment, and Christ-like Relationships have helped us to resolve conflict in the church and in the community since they call for peace and reconciliation between man and God.”
Change in one heart is spilling into the lives of others and in churches and the community. No wonder Achi rejoices, “I want to thank God for calling me to serve through teaching others His Word. And we will use these components to build and restore God’s people back to 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 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 northern Tanzania’s remote bush, the Hadzabi people hold to their traditional ways as hunters and gatherers.
They live in movable camps, seeking water and food from game or other natural sources. They consider the food of the land as God’s gift to them. While they are one of Tanzania’s least-reached people groups, their traditional beliefs include a Creator God, one they know by name. They also know he has a son.
Now, for the first time, the Hadzabi are hearing that Jesus is the name of the Son.
Pastor Leo, a local church planter, is reaching out to the Hadzabi in the name of Jesus. He’s introducing them to the Son of the Creator God and sharing the Good News.
Leo was trained through a Global Disciples partner program whose goal is to reach several least-reached people groups in their region. He is among the first to complete the training and he’s already deep into the ministry he prepared for.
In just a few months, his small church has added two Hadzabi believers, and a family from another unreached people group in the region.
These Hadzabi believers are introducing him to the rest of their small community, building relationships, and sharing the Gospel.
Further west, another training program affiliated with Global Disciples also completed its first training. The program director, Pastor Umbu, believes that to reach the least- reached, he needs to be where they are! So, he strategically set up the training close to a people group considered least-reached.
The first fifteen church planters he trained are focused on sharing the Gospel with these mountain people that has a minimal Christian presence.
When one of our Global staff visited these leaders in their training and met the new Hadzabi believers in their camp, she said, “It was so meaningful because I saw our mission to the least- reached is being fulfilled!”
And it is. People like Pastor Leo and Pastor Umbu have embraced the vision to see every person have an opportunity to choose and follow Jesus. They know that includes the Hadzabi and other groups in their region, and they’re doing all they can to equip believers and fulfill the assignment to reach the least-reached.
As Global Disciples, we share their joy to see the Hadzabi and other unreached people groups in northern Tanzania come to know God’s Son Jesus as their Savior.
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!
Serving others sets a Christ-like leader apart from those who lead by the model of the world. It’s not easy; our natural bent is to say “I’m in charge,” not to ask “How may I serve you?”
Anne is a Global Disciples Facilitator in Uganda who practices servant-leadership. For some time, she prayed about planting a church in a needy community.
Anne led an outreach team with 21 men, to go for several weeks of preaching and prayer, to lay the groundwork for a church. Anne organized intercessors to cover her team in prayer during ministry time. She set up rotations to handle the practical needs of the team, including meals.
Everything was in order and the Holy Spirit was clearly anointing them for this outreach.
When Anne and her team arrived at the host home, she went over arrangements with her hostess…and hit a snag. The woman refused to have the men in her kitchen. Instead of sharing the load with her team, the responsibility for feeding them now fell solely on Anne’s shoulders.
Anne wrestled with God over this. “I’m the leader,” she prayed. “You asked all this of me, but now I have to work in the kitchen instead.” The Lord’s response? “Anne, I need you to do this; to honor this woman’s authority in her own home.”
So Anne obeyed. She participated as much as she could in the outreach and preaching but spent most of her time preparing daily meals for 20-plus people—a laborious task, without pizza deliveries, take-out meals, or instant anything heated up in a microwave.
Over several weeks, Anne’s team saw a great response to the preaching, prayer, and evangelism, and they established the nucleus of a new church. When they gathered to evaluate their experience, one comment came up immediately and was echoed by each person on the team. “Anne served us,” they said. “Even though she is the leader, she chose to serve.”
Through Anne’s example, these young leaders learned to live out leadership according to the model of Christ and to serve others in humble obedience.
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!
Being a church planter is hard work. And if you’re planting a new church where people are unfamiliar with the Gospel and there’s little support, it gets even harder.
Sanyu trained church planters through a discipleship-mission training in Uganda. He’s seen the struggles and the challenges these men and women face as they seek to reach others with the Good News of Jesus. So he’s incorporated our Global Disciples small business training to help them use business to support their ministry and their families.
Sanyu said, “Some church planters confessed that they actually considered leaving the ministry because they couldn’t support their families. As we talk now, God has opened their eyes to doing business to support their families and many are now happy to continue in the ministry.”
Initially, Sanyu trained 15 church planters to look at what God had placed in their hands that could enable them to do some kind of income-generating business. Several started shops or salons, another has a bakery, and one started a small pharmacy.
One church planter thought he had nothing at all. Sanyu said, “He studied what’s in your hands. He realized there were brickmakers in his community. He saw an opportunity to start a brickmaking business on his piece of land. He now makes and lays bricks, and his business has enabled him to meet his family expenses.”
Many of these church planters are reaching rural areas in Uganda, and they’re seeing God glorified through the new churches and the impact of these small businesses. It’s just the beginning. Sanyu said, “We need more small business training. Businesses open many avenues to share the Gospel, and help sustain our ministry and outreach efforts.”
Will you join us in praying for and supporting the efforts of Sanyu and many more disciples of Jesus around the world, who are training and equipping the Body of Christ to reach the least-reached with the Good News?
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!
“We thank God for the work He is doing through our discipleship-mission training,” Mukisa wrote from Uganda where he leads one of Global Disciples’ partner programs. He was excited to report on what he’s seen God do through the first disciple-makers they trained and sent out.
For the outreach part of the training, the nine disciple-makers went in several directions. Mukisa took three with him. He said, “The Lord led us to do outreach among an unreached people group over the border in Tanzania. In that place, they are mostly Muslim.”
While Mukisa and his team followed the Lord’s direction, they had a small problem. When they reached their destination they had no place to stay!
Within the context, visitors usually stay with someone they know—even if it’s only a vague connection. But they knew no one! So Mukisa found a guest house for a few nights but they didn’t have money to pay for rooms for an extended stay.
“We believed God would provide,” he said. “The second day as we went to witness about Jesus to people in the community, we met a woman who raised chickens. She was upset because a wild cat was disturbing and eating her chickens.”
Mukisa and his disciple-makers prayed with the woman, asking God to help her and take care of the problem. Within a short time, the wild cat was gone! The chickens were left in peace. And grateful for God’s help, the woman helped the outreach team with support and provided a place for them to stay.
And God blessed their evangelism—they saw over thirty people come to faith in Jesus Christ in that little Muslim village!
Mukisa rejoiced, “God has saved them. And now our church understands the need to reach unreached people. Before it was outside our thinking but now we know we can do it! And we will continue!”
We rejoice with Mukisa—to see these disciple-makers and this church in Uganda embrace the mission to reach the least-reached with the Good News of Jesus 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 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!