International (MNN) — Local churches in countries around the world are uniquely equipped to reach the least-reached communities near them with the Gospel. After all, they share the same language and cultural context, and they can relate on a level that outside missionaries cannot.
However, these churches often need training and support – things they find with Global Disciples.
Global Disciples’ mission is “to make it possible for clusters of churches to multiply Christ-like disciples and locally-sustainable fellowships among least-reached people.” They do this by training local Christians to share Jesus, make disciples, and plant churches among least-reached communities. Their model includes discipleship-mission training, small business training, and leadership training.
(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples)
But in a pandemic year, these critical trainings with Global Disciples look a little different.
“A lot of it is happening virtually,” says Barbara Gerhart with Global Disciples. Especially when facilitators and program directors are connecting from remote areas, “maintaining good internet connections is always an issue.”
While Global Disciples has adapted their discipleship training for social distancing, it’s also expanding.
“We’re working at really upgrading that training so that any and all of them are able to train directors who can go out and train others in discipleship-mission [and] small business leadership, preparing for the time that when things become more open, we can actually multiply our training in a way that previously we’ve probably been a little more limited,” Gerhart says.
“I just praise God that we have seen so many creative, excited people who are looking at this difficult time not as a setback, but as an opportunity. The vision of our leadership is to see opportunity in this and to be ready as God moves and opens doors. We’re seeing that nothing has stopped Him.”
(Photo courtesy of Global Disciples)
This year’s grim pandemic has not stopped the Great Commission. As Global Disciples continues to press forward with their staff and program directors in ministry, they need support from the global Body of Christ now more than ever to reach the least-reached.
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Gerhart also asks for your prayers. “Pray for the safety and health of our national workers, obviously. We have had several that have lost family members recently – one or two related to COVID[-19] and a couple for other reasons. That’s just very difficult in these times of isolation. Many of them are often working alone anyway, so it adds to the sense of limitation.
“Continue to be praying for those who are working on the ground, those who are living with limitations. We feel like we’re limited here in the U.S., but in many places, it’s far more restrictive and with a lot fewer resources to cope with it.”
Finally, she asks, “Pray against that sense of fear and anxiety. Pray instead for the peace of God and the opportunities to see what God is doing and to step into those.”
Header photo courtesy of Global Disciples.
