“My passion for sharing Jesus keeps increasing,” Josiah said.

A discipleship-mission trainer from Cameroon, Josiah reported on how his church cluster was making disciples and planting churches among the least-reached.

Josiah said, “Just a few years ago, I was the only one directing a discipleship training program in our region.

But I thank God that now we have 8 programs, and 2 more small business development trainings. Today, we can count at least 21 new churches planted through these trainings.”

Church planting, equipping disciples, and using small businesses to support these efforts accounted for only part of Josiah’s excitement.

“My greatest joy,” he said, “is that unreached people are receiving the Good News of Jesus.”

The disciple-makers he’s trained had gone into northern Cameroon where the people were “just pagans” and completely without Christ.

“It was a very hard place to reach,” he said. “But we went and 21 people received Christ through our door-to-door evangelism.” Another village never had a church before—but they now do, and they recently baptized 17 new believers!

Josiah also shares the Global Disciples vision with other church leaders. He met with one leader who was so thin and sickly, he could hardly walk. As Josiah explained the vision and how training would help, the man’s face lit up with excitement!

“At last, God has answered my prayer,” he said. For years, he had been praying for a way to train and equip his people.

Josiah trained a director from this leader’s church, and they started their own training. When Josiah went back to visit the church leader, he was a healthy and active man! Why?

The leader said, “Global Disciples training has given me hope. I didn’t have the means to take the Good News to the people who were unreached. Now I do—I have a reason to live and I am healed!”

No wonder Josiah’s passion for sharing Jesus continues to grow.

At Global Disciples, we’re so blessed to be a part of what God is doing through Josiah and others like him in Cameroon, across Africa, and around the world, as they fulfill their passion and vision to share Jesus with least-reached people.

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!

Discover the power of prayer in your local community. Join us in this mission to make our communities better places to live in!

How to Pray and What to Pray for in Your Local Community

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget about the needs of our local community. Indeed, some acts of care take time, effort, and money. These resources are not always available for every need in our community.

The good news is that prayer, which is the most important resource that you can share with your community, is free and can be applied anywhere and at any time. Even if you travel all over the world, you can still pray for your local community.

The wonderful thing about living in the freedom of Christ is that there are no rules about when, where, or how to pray.

We can pray in our hearts in a busy shopping center. We can pray with our voices while diving underwater. Wherever we are, God hears us and our prayers for our local community can make a difference.

When we pray for our community, we ask God to intervene and work in the lives of the people who live there. We are asking him to meet their needs, both physical and spiritual.

There are many things we can pray for our local community. Here are some suggestions for how to pray for your community:

When we pray for the Holy Spirit to reach the hearts of others, He sends people and situations their way that helps to awaken their spirits toward seeing the truth in God’s character. Our prayers stand in the gap for nonbelievers, asking God not to be silent towards their unbelief but continue sending markers their way to hopefully guide them toward the truth. It is a wonderful opportunity to be part of God’s evangelizing work!

True compassion goes beyond just feeling sympathy, as it also includes the desire to take action to alleviate the suffering of others. When we are compassionate towards others, we create a more caring and supportive community. When we live in a compassionate community, we all benefit.

Compassion is at God’s heart, as shown in Matthew 5:4. Another good example is Psalm 103:8.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.

There is no single answer to addressing social issues in our local communities. However, one important step we can all take is to pray for those who are struggling. Ask God to change the hearts of those who are causing the problems, as well.

Prayer is not a magic wand that will fix all of the social issues in your community overnight. However, it is a powerful tool that can help to make a difference. If you are concerned about social issues in your community, start by praying for them. Prayer also helps us focus on what God is calling us to do in any given situation.

It’s no secret that prejudice exists in our world. Whether it’s based on race, religion, gender, or any other factor, it’s something that we all must deal with on a daily basis. Some experience such discrimination more in our local communities.

Make it a point to pray for zero prejudice toward others. This doesn’t mean that we should ignore the reality of discrimination, but rather that we should focus on promoting love and understanding in our communities, seeing the worth and value in every person. When the Holy Spirit reaches out to the hearts of those who are being discriminative towards others, they have the opportunity to see their own desperate need for Christ which helps them to not see themselves as better than those they are persecuting. 

Recent years have been notably difficult for many communities. We’ve seen division and turmoil all around the world. It’s easy to feel like things are falling apart. But even in the midst of all this, we can still find hope (Psalm 46:1).

One of the things that give optimism toward restoration and peace is the power of prayer.

Prayer is a special way for us to connect with God and ask for His help. And when we pray for our local community, we can see His hand at work.

When the whole world feels like it’s simply crumbling around us, it’s easy to give into despair. But hope is a powerful force, and it’s one that we should never give up on. Hope can be found in the smallest of things – a kind word from a stranger, a sunny day after a long period of rain, or a whispered prayer.

And when we have hope, we can share it with others. When we share hope, it has a ripple effect and can help to create a more positive community. Psalm 91 shares hope with us.  

Complexity is a part of life, and it’s especially prevalent in our local communities. There are many moving parts, and it’s tough to understand what to do or where to turn. But when we pray for wisdom, we can be confident that God will guide us.

The Lord will give us the wisdom we need to face the complexities of our community. That wisdom will enable us to know how to best love and serve our neighbors to ensure clarity among everyone.

When we think about the future, we often think about our children. We want them to have all the opportunities in the world, and we wish them to be healthy and happy. As parents, it’s our job to do everything we can to help our children succeed.

One good thing we can do for our children is to pray for them. When we pray for the development and health of our children, we ask God to bless and give them everything they need to thrive. It is very possible that our prayers lead God to set plans into place that will cause people to cross paths with our children later in life that will help them focus on Christ.

Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring about positive change in our communities. When we pray for fairness from local leaders and officials, we ask for God’s guidance and wisdom to help them make decisions in the best interests of everyone involved.

We live in a world that is often filled with conflict and injustice, but the Lord is a God of justice and righteousness. When we pray for fairness, we ask God to intervene on behalf of those who are being treated unfairly.

When a community as a whole turns to Jesus and dedicates every aspect of life to Him, we say that that community is experiencing revival. During revival, crime rates drop, suicides become basically nonexistent, and gross domestic product flourishes. People enjoy living together in the same community and actively care for each others’ needs. Pray for revival in your community!

There have been times when communities have actively prayed for the Lord’s blessing and the result has been huge increases in soil fertility and crops. The prayers of hearts broken for Jesus can literally bless the land! 

Prayer is an incredible tool that can help us to improve our local community. By praying for our community, we can ask for guidance and wisdom from God, and we can also intercede on behalf of others.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach 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!

Did you know there is no age limit to carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ?

We don’t get to leave the mission to the younger generation just because you reach a certain age! And the youth don’t get to leave the responsibility of sharing the Good News of Jesus to the older generation.

The pages of world missions include the accounts of many men and women who actively served all their lives—even into their very old age.

As Global Disciples, our approach to training is appropriate for just about any age group.

Those who participate in our partner training programs are often younger people…but not always. In fact, in some places and cultures, a person with more life experience is better heard and has a level of influence the younger adults don’t have.

Age is certainly not a factor in God’s eyes as a report from a training program in North India reminds us.

The Program Director talked about Gowri, a woman in her mid-50s who participated in the discipleship training. While that doesn’t sound very old, you do stand out when you’re training a bunch of 20-somethings! And there was some concern about her going on outreach, and whether it would be too hard for her.

But when Gowri went into her time of outreach, God used her powerfully!

She was bold in her witness, going up and down the street, door to door, starting conversations, and sharing the Gospel with many people.

In her region, most people are Hindus or Sikhs, and often resistant to Christianity.

But the Holy Spirit moved in Gowri’s testimony and she introduced quite a number of people to Jesus.

The program director reflected, “These participants saw a great move of the Holy Spirit.

They were motivated and received the vision to reach others. And we have seen a great change in the community wherever the Gospel was given. About 20 people came to Christ, and 5 have already been baptized. And new house fellowships have started.”

Young or middle or older—your age doesn’t matter.

What matters is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. And that happens through disciple-makers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God, in North India or anywhere in the world…including right where God has placed you, in your home and community.

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!

The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). The Gospel is also the message we are to proclaim to the world (Matthew 28:19-20).

And, there are many ways to share the Gospel in today’s modern world. We can use technology, social media, and other platforms to reach people with the good news. We can also share the gospel through personal relationships and one-on-one conversations.

The most important thing is to be clear about the Gospel message and to be bold in sharing it. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is our responsibility to share it with others.

The way Christians communicate God’s truth has changed greatly over the centuries, even as the message has never changed and remains as life-changing as it was for Peter, Paul, and Lydia.

Christians have always been creative in finding ways to share the good news. In the early church, Christians often communicated through stories. Jesus used parables to communicate his message, and the early Christians continued this tradition.

Jesus Christ preached the Gospel throughout his ministry on earth. He did this through his words and his actions. Jesus taught the Gospel in his sermons, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). He also showed the Gospel through his miracles. And He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the sorrowful.

Jesus also preached the Gospel through his death on the cross. He died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve. His death shows us the great love of God.

As the church grew and became more institutionalized, sermons became the primary way to communicate God’s truth. This was partly due to the fact that the church became more formalized and partly because the average literacy rate was quite low. Sermons were a way to reach a large number of people with the message of the Gospel.

In the modern era, Christians have a wide variety of ways to communicate, including through books, movies, and the Internet. This has allowed Christians to reach a much wider audience with the message of the Gospel. Christians are no longer limited to communicating through sermons or stories; they can now use any medium that they think will be effective.

It’s been said that the Gospel is “good news in bad times.” And there’s no doubt that we live in some pretty bad times right now. We’re faced with a global health crisis, an economic downturn, and a lot of uncertainty about the future.

In the midst of all this, the Gospel is still good news. It’s still the message of hope that we need to hear. Jesus said that when we hear of bad things happening, we do not need to fear because he is with us (Luke 21:13-15).

So how can we share the Gospel in these times? Here are a few ideas.

Would you pray that God would open doors for you to share the Gospel? And for boldness and wisdom too. Pray that people would be receptive to the message of hope that you have to offer.

The Gospel is not something that we force on people. It’s something that we share in the context of natural conversations.

So look for opportunities to bring up spiritual topics in casual conversation. Ask questions about what people believe and why they believe it. Listen more than you talk. And be prepared to share your own faith story when the time is right.

Your testimony is a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel. It’s a way of showing how the Gospel has changed your life and how it can change the lives of others.

So don’t be afraid to share your testimony with others. It’s a great way to start a conversation about faith.

Technology can be an excellent tool for sharing the Gospel. There are all sorts of ways to use technology to reach people with the good news.

You can use social media to share your faith story or the testimonies of others. Or, you can create gospel-centered content to share on your blog or website. Maybe you can even use technology to connect with people one-on-one and have gospel conversations?

Technology has an incredible ability to reach a huge amount of people of many different cultures all around the world. A word of caution though: While modern technology allows for even more personal, interactive discussions than older technologies, it will never be able to replace the rewarding experience of having a friend in the same room with you. We can have a deep, meaningful conversation with someone on the other side of the world, but that person will not be able to put a hand on your shoulder or share your meal with you. Technology can greatly enhance evangelism; however it cannot replace life on life discipleship.

Sharing the Gospel is not a quick or easy process. It takes time, patience, and perseverance.

So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Trust that God is at work, even when it’s not always apparent. And keep praying, keep sharing, and keep trusting that God will use your efforts for his glory.

The Christian Gospel message is an eternal message relevant to today’s world.

It is a message of hope, love, and forgiveness. It is a message that can change lives. And it is evident that to share God’s Gospel in today’s modern world; we need to be creative and use various platforms and mediums.

We also need to be diligent in our efforts as Christ Ambassadors and willing to put in the extra work to ensure that our message reaches as many people as possible.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach 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 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!

You’ve probably heard about “divine appointments”—those times when it’s clear that God set up a meeting or a conversation that will further the work of His Kingdom, or maybe change the trajectory of someone’s life for eternity.

Albert knows about divine appointments.

He directs a Global Disciples partner program in Zambia, so he sets up the training for a group of disciple-makers.

Not only does he lead the teaching sessions—training and bringing others along to provide additional instruction or share their experiences—but Albert also sets up where they will meet, and he makes sure the meals and materials are provided.

For a recent training, Albert recruited three local women to take on the cooking and feeding of the participants. And they did the job well.

A key lesson from the Global Disciples discipleship curriculum is about Making Disciples in the way of Jesus. And after classroom time, one of the participants decided to put what he learned into practice right away. So he started to talk with Muga, one of the cooks.

Albert said, “The disciple-maker asked her if she had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But she was not a believer.” However, she was open with the disciple-maker about her life.

Muga was in her late 30s, once married but now divorced. And she had seven men in her life. They were each given a day to visit her, and she managed it so that they didn’t know they were all dating the same woman. She had help too—she used charms from the local witch doctor to trap and keep their attention.

But when Muga heard about Jesus, who loved her and died for her, and wanted to give her abundant and eternal life, she made a choice.

She gave her life to the Lord!

She gave up the charms to be destroyed and is seeing her life transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the mighty name of Jesus.

A divine appointment—a conversation engineered by God to bring one more person into His Kingdom.

As His disciples, our job is to be ready to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit and participate in God’s work.

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 is often said, Christianity starts at home.

Of all the people that you come into contact with, your own children and spouse are those that you have the closest connection with and have the potential to have the greatest impact on.

Living with people who you call family gives you one of the best ministry opportunities to live out your authentic faith, showing them God’s love and care in a profound way.

Here are some ways to encourage your family to stay close to God.

God hears every prayer, even those prayers prayed silently in the depths of our hearts. He hears us when we walk and pray. He hears us when we pray to him in the middle of a busy crowd, or a business meeting. There is nowhere that we can go that God is not able to hear our prayers. 

Having individual prayer time is crucial for maintaining a healthy prayer life. However, praying corporately with our family can also be a wonderful experience that builds deep, lasting memories for our children and other loved ones that can encourage them throughout their lives.

Praying together can be a great way to model our faith to our children. By praying together as a family, we can show our kids that faith is an important part of our lives and that it is something that we take seriously.

Praying together as a family can help to foster a sense of unity in a shared love for the Lord. This unity can also be nurtured through going as a family to church.

When it comes to corporate worship, there is no substitute for going to church together. Church provides a community of believers who support and encourage us in our faith journey. Additionally, the church allows us to hear God’s Word preached and taught and to share in communion.

There is something special about worshiping God together with other believers. It is an opportunity to lay our burdens down at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 11:28) and to receive his strength and peace. As we sing praises to God and hear his Word, our hearts are filled with hope and joy.

Going to church together is also a great way to grow closer to each other as a family. It can be a time to pray, learn, and serve together. When we make church a priority in our relationship, it can help to keep our relationship focused on God.

Mealtimes are an excellent opportunity to connect with God as a family. By spending mealtimes together, we can create an environment where we can talk about our day, share our joys and concerns, and pray together. This time spent together can help us to feel closer to God and to each other.

When we’re sharing a meal, we’re naturally more present with each other. We’re not distracted by work, technology, or other things that can often pull our attention away from the people we’re with. This can create a deeper connection with the people we’re sharing the meal with and help us be more present with God.

Sharing meals also allows us to slow down and enjoy the moment. This can help us to appreciate the food we’re eating, the company we’re with, and the blessings we have in our lives.

Consider setting an extra place at the table at every meal you enjoy with your family, just as a reminder that Jesus is with you at that meal too. This empty chair will not be for Jesus to occupy, but will rather simply be a constant visual reminder for you and your family that he is right there with you, in your hearts and, since you are eating together in his name, he is there amongst you (Matthew 18:20).

One of the best ways to become closer to God is to read the Bible together as a family. By reading the Bible together, you and your family can learn about God’s love for us, His plans for our lives, and how to follow His will.

Reading the Bible together can also help to strengthen your family bonds. As you discuss what you have read and learned together, you will be able to understand each other’s perspectives better and build a deeper level of trust and communication.

If you are unsure where to start, many resources are available to help you. You can find Bible reading plans online, in Christian bookstores, or in the back of many Bibles. Start by picking a plan that fits your family’s schedule and interests, then stick to it. You may also consider using a devotional guide to help you discuss the Bible passage for that day.

When we serve others, we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and model our behavior after His. When we serve others, we also open our hearts to God and allow Him to work through us.

There are many ways to serve others as a family. You can volunteer at a local soup kitchen or food bank. Or collect items for a local shelter. You can visit people in the hospital or nursing home. You can write letters to soldiers or veterans. Or you can participate in a local service project. You can get involved with the life of your neighbors. The possibilities are endless!

When you serve others together as a family, you will become closer to God and to each other. You will learn more about God’s love for all people and be inspired to live out your faith in your daily life.

Serving others as a family creates happy memories for all of you, as you can spend many times talking with each other about the amazing experiences you had as you were God’s hands and feet to those who need it most. This can help you feel closer to each other and closer to God

Organizing a weekly family night can be a great way to become closer to God as a family. It can be a time for you to gather together and pray, read the Bible, or just spend time talking about your faith. It can also be a time to have some fun together and bond as a family.

To start, choose a day and time that works for everyone in the family. You may want to pick a day that everyone is typically free, such as a Friday or Saturday night. Then, choose an activity that everyone will enjoy. This could be simple: playing games together, watching a movie, or going out for ice cream.

If you’re looking for ways to bring your family closer together and become closer to God, consider creating new traditions as a family.

One tradition you might want to start is attending a weekly Bible study or prayer group together. This can help you learn more about your faith and grow closer to God as a family. You can also use this time to bond with your children and teach them about your beliefs.

Whatever traditions you decide to start, make sure they are something that your whole family can enjoy and that will help you grow closer to God.

While individual time with God is very important, meeting with God as a family is also essential. As family members, you can help each other remain focused on Christ.

Helping your family become closer to God is a wonderful experience. It can help improve communication and deepen your relationship with your loved ones. Additionally, it can provide opportunities for personal growth, spiritual enrichment, and compassionate discipleship.

By taking the time to pray together, read the Bible, and serve others together, you can help your family grow closer to God and experience all the benefits that come with it.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach 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!

Imagine with me. What would you think if someone announced that, your congregation would see 5,000 people come to faith in Christ…each year? For three consecutive years!!!

Maybe your church dreams and plans at that scale. But, I would guess that most of us wouldn’t quite know what to do with that vision!

It would be exciting, wouldn’t it?

To see that many people find new and eternal life in Jesus Christ. And that they were being discipled to be effective disciple-makers too.

Samuel lives in Ethiopia. He was trained by Global Disciples to equip and multiply disciples.

For three years now, he and his church network have been training and sending out disciple-makers and church planters.

Samuel came to Christ as a teenager. He saw his whole family—including 7 brothers and 1 sister—put their faith in Jesus. Since age 19, he has served in the church.

He said, “We had a good ministry going. But it was not as strong as it is now with our Global Disciples training. In fact, in only 3 years, we have sent out 52 disciple-makers and church planters. In our network, almost all our leaders were trained by Global Disciples. And as a result, we’re reaching out to more.”

One strategy they use is to send teams from the discipleship training out to help and support the church planters in their new communities.

As part of their outreach, they join the church planter in sharing the Good News, discipling new believers, helping with baptism, and serving in any other activities to equip and build up that newly-planted fellowship. It’s a great way to encourage a church planter—and be about the business of multiplying disciples at the same time.

In fact, Samuel reported that in just three years, “About 16,070 people have been reached with the Gospel and come to know Jesus. We’ve started 8 new churches.” That’s over 5,000 people a year making decisions to follow Jesus Christ!

What God is doing in Ethiopia, He can do anywhere. And He uses wholehearted disciples of Jesus who share the Good News of the Savior. You can do it—and so can I!

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 a parent, you have to deal with a lot of stress, overwhelming emotions, and difficult callings. But this is what can make parenting exciting and beautiful.

Every child is unique, carefully put together by God in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-18). Raising them is a blessing in itself. God has given parents the responsibility to nurture their children to the best of their abilities. And disciple them in the ways of Jesus.

Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
– Proverbs 22:6

It is important to remember that when you disciple your family, God is with you every step of the way.

“All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.”
– Isaiah 54:13

He helps us to know what to say to our children, how to say it, and how to treat them. In reality, He knows them better than any of us ever will.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
– 3 John 1:4

Whether you are a new parent or you have older kids, here are 10 things you should know about family discipleship.

Standing on top of a mountain after being resurrected, Jesus Christ tells his followers to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19). 

This scripture in Matthew 28 is referred to as the Great Commission.

In the call to make disciples everywhere and to teach Christ’s commandments entirely, we are sure that this obligation also applies to those disciples we will make in our homes. To lead your household on this spiritual journey is a job commissioned by God, and it would be negligence to forsake it.

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.”
– Proverbs 29:17

As a Christian parent, family discipleship is a vital component of your role when it comes to parenting responsibilities. From housing, clothing, and feeding to affection, play, and education you have to look after many aspects of your family. But what benefit will it be if your children do not have the knowledge of their Savior?

Discipling your family is important in every aspect. Spiritual growth will help them move forward. With a foundation that provides them with moral discipline and reasoning to understand life. 

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”
– Proverbs 1:8-9

The best family discipleship practice is to include it constantly in your regular activities. You can do so by aligning your talks and guidance with your family’s normal rhythm. The moments in which your family already interacts during the day can be used to talk about God’s Word and to live it out.

It is the need of the hour to raise children who can question the motives of secular culture. Today’s children need to not only be taught what is true but how to distinguish it from what is false. They need to know how to boldly stand up against a torrent of opinions to the contrary.

As a parent, you might want to raise a child that is admired by everyone. But the command of God is to raise a family that remains true to the message and is ready to be hated for following Christ and upholding the truth.

If you have fulfilled your responsibility to disciple your children and preached to them the message of following Christ, you are no longer responsible for their salvation. It is just as true for your child as it is for you that “by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). 

Remember that coming on the righteous path is a blessing that can only be granted by God.

Although parents are the most influential figures in a child’s life and the home is the principal place for discipleship, parents are not the only entity to disciple a child. The church can play an important part in supporting a family’s discipleship. 

The best version of family discipleship involves an entire community of believers working in concert with the parents in spiritually raising children.

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
– Proverbs 17:6

It is also important to remember that teaching your family about the commandments of Christ includes the importance of sticking to the pure truth of the gospel, not letting false interpretations distort the truth for your family. For indeed, the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You are equipping your family with a lens by which to see the world as it truly is, broken and in desperate need of a Savior.

By portraying God as angry at your children when they commit wrongdoings and happy when they accomplish what you want, you deprive them of the beauty of true grace that always loves us better than we deserve and calls us to obey out of love and joy rather than fear or coercion.

Discipleship should never be used to intimidate or threaten your family into obeying what you want. Family discipleship pleads with the Lord for heart transformation, and that will lead, consequently, to a heart that delights in obedience to the Lord.

Family discipleship is an important and significant endeavor, but no one can promise that it will be simple.

There are times when children of all ages will resist instructions from their parents. Therefore proper spiritual leadership of a family requires righteously stubborn persistence and gentle patience. 

It is inevitable that we will make mistakes as parents, but may it never be the biggest mistake that we make giving up on God’s call to lead our families simply because it is not easy.

If you are reading this, it is assumed you follow the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ.

If He is for you, tell me, who can possibly be against you? (Romans 8:31). No one wins against your God. This family and children he has entrusted to you with are his, and it is no accident that he has put them in your care. 

Even though we work on our salvation with great caution and sobriety, we are sure and confident that the Lord who began faith in our hearts can do the same in the lives of our dearest children.

Even with all the resistance, flaws, and failures along the way, there is no lack of hope for what the one true God who made the universe can do in the hearts of those who share his word.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach 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!

Committing your entire life to Christ is the most liberating experience you could have on Earth. It can be unsettling when you first consider doing it because you realize that it means not putting any worldly pleasure above God. It’s about submitting everything in your life to Him. 

This does not mean you cannot have any fun in life. What it does mean, however, is that you start working at dedicating every moment of your life to His will. This is why some people find it scary at first because we are giving over control to Him. Many people don’t like not being in control. They want to decide how their lives play out. However, a big part of reaching the moment of total submission is the realization that we were never in control of our lives in the first place. We lie to ourselves when we think we can dictate how the world around us treats us. Unexpected changes to our routine can happen at any time.

A much more stable approach is to acknowledge our helplessness in this unpredictable world and submit to Christ for His guidance. Of course, discipleship is not always easy. There will be times when you are called to step out in faith, even when you are afraid. There will be times when you are challenged and stretched beyond your comfort zone. But that’s all part of the journey! So if you’re ready to take the plunge, here are a few things you should know about discipleship.

“He sleeps and rises night and day; the seed sprouts and grows, although he doesn’t know how” (Mark 4:27).

Like a seed that grows, the verse perfectly encapsulates what it means to be a disciple of God. First and foremost, it means being dedicated to following Jesus Christ and His teachings. It means being willing to grow in your faith and to help others do the same. Being part of discipleship also means being part of a community of believers who can support and encourage one another.

It’s a place where you can grow together, and where you can be held accountable. Being part of discipleship means being willing to serve. It means using your gifts and talents to bless others and to build up the body of Christ.

Love is the foundation of being a disciple. Without love, we have nothing. Love is what motivates us to follow Christ and to serve others. It is what enables us to put others first and sacrifice our own desires for the sake of the gospel.

The first condition of being a disciple is that we must love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). This means that our whole lives must be centered on him. We must love him more than anything else in the world.

The second condition of being a disciple is that we must love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). This means that we must care for others as we would want them to care for us. We must put their needs above our own.

When we love God and others, we are fulfilling the two greatest commandments. And when we do this, we are living as disciples of Christ.

A disciple is a follower of Christ who is committed to learning His teachings and living according to His ways. Discipleship is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey of growth and learning. This means that the disciple endures difficult times and does not reject Christ at the first sign of trouble. 

Even if this does happen, the good news is that God forgives us multiple times each day and invites us to get back on course and continue living a life of discipleship. Being steadfast in our faith does not only apply to those who never falter in their faith—it also applies to those who do slip in their faith but get up with stronger determination to keep going in the Christian life.

Obedience and accountability are also important conditions of being a disciple. As a disciple of Christ, we are called to obey His commands and to be accountable to Him for our actions.

Obedience is a key part of our relationship with God. Sin in us steers us towards disobedience, but the eternally powerful Holy Spirit in us helps us to reject sin and pursue God’s will. A very important part of obedience is hating sin. Even if we struggle with sin in our lives, we need to be careful to not become comfortable with that sin and see it as no big deal. No, sin stops us from living the way God calls us to live and we need to identify all sin in our lives, reject it, and cry out to Christ Jesus for help in not letting it have any hold on us.

Accountability is also essential for discipleship. We must be willing to answer for our actions and to take responsibility for our choices. We cannot simply blame others for our mistakes or our failures.

We must be accountable to God and to those around us. Only when we are willing to obey God and to be accountable for our actions can we truly follow Him.

The conditions of being a disciple are not easy. To be true followers of Christ, we must be willing to deny ourselves. This means that we must be willing to put Christ first in our lives, and to live according to His teachings. We must also be willing to suffer for His sake and to be persecuted for our beliefs.

Self-denial is not easy, but it is essential if we want to be faithful disciples of Christ. When we deny ourselves, we are saying that we are willing to give up our own desires and plans to follow His will. This is a difficult thing to do, but it is what Christ calls us to do. It is a life that is worth living because we are living for Christ and his kingdom.

What does it mean to truly be a disciple of Christ? It means having the willingness to leave everything behind to follow Him (Matthew 19:27-30). It means putting Him first in our lives and making Him the center of our focus. It means obeying His commands and living our lives according to His Word. It means being willing to sacrifice our own desires and plans to serve Him and further His kingdom. In short, being a disciple of Christ requires a willingness to put Him above all else in our lives.

Being part of discipleship means committing to grow in your faith alongside other believers. This can involve attending regular meetings or Bible studies, praying and worshipping together, and accountability to one another.

Being a disciple of Christ is the most rewarding experience you can ever have. He fills you with joy, peace, and life beyond what you could have ever imagined possible. Just like any truly rewarding experience, it does come with a challenge. The challenge is not about working hard to earn the right to be a disciple; no, Christ offers us discipleship freely. Rather, the challenge is to set down more of our lives every day by committing everything that we have, do, and are to Him and His will.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach 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!

Corrie ten Boom once said, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

People who don’t know Jesus, who have never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel and find the hope and life He offers…well, they often live in very deep, dark spiritual pits.

Yet they’re not beyond God’s reach, they are not beyond redemption.

Luc, a Global Disciples’ Discipleship Program Director from the Democratic of Congo shares what God did when their disciple-makers went on outreach into their communities.

“After winning many souls to Christ,” he wrote, “our church planters entered the jail. They met Mr S who was a big leader of a gang of robbers.”

According to Luc, these were no small-time petty thieves, but a gang notorious for violence and criminal activity.

Mr S was their chief—he was in jail because he’d been arrested for rape.

Two of his right-hand men had come to visit him that day. Then in came these newly-trained disciple-makers!

God gave the disciple-makers grace in the eyes of these notorious criminals, and the three men all heard the message of the Gospel that day.

Not only that, but each one of them received Jesus Christ as his Savior!

Mr. S, the gang leader, testified about his life—his journey into crime, confessing his sins and all the terrible things he had done. It was a long story to tell, but he praised God for saving him, for reaching into his dark and sinful pit and pulling him out with the love and salvation of Jesus.

What a glorious story of redemption that took place in that jail that day!

Corrie ten Boom was right—God’s love is deeper than any pit we fall in or make for ourselves out of our sin and rebellion. His reach is long, and His arm is strong to save each person who calls on His name. And He calls us to share that message with anyone we meet, wherever we are 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!