Brian is a non-resident missionary (NRM) to Africa. Alongside his Zambian friend Iwell, Brian has seen over 50,000 baptisms in the past four years. I recently sat down with him to hear the story of what God has been doing.

What followed was over a decade of labor built on the decades of others in prayer, patient relationship building, language and culture learning, painful setbacks, fierce opposition, and the slow work of catalytic discipleship. This journey would cost the lives of martyrs. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t rapid. But it was the necessary groundwork for what God would later do.

A person who would actually state that they are a Christian said they weren’t ready to be a disciple. It was almost as if they were saying that being a disciple is different from being a Christian. It left me confused.

At this time in history, more people are on the move in the global diaspora than ever before. The recent changes to immigration funding and processes in America have caused many people to think deeply about the movement of people.

The Gospel spreads like wildfire, igniting hearts and transforming communities. Church-planting movements embody this Spirit-led dynamism, bringing the Gospel rapidly and broadly to a generation. Yet the long-term health of these movements depends on something deeper: roots.

This post explores how sending churches and sending agencies complement church-planting movements, drawing lessons from Scripture and church history to envision a fruitful partnership between these vital expressions of God’s mission.

Jesus is coming back by 2025, y’all!

Gathered outside in the parking lot of the nearby public school’s gymnasium, we would always pray before going two-by-two to knock on doors to share the good news.

We lived in one of the world’s largest cities, bustling with noise and commotion, and yet we could not avoid this silence. It was a Christmas silence.

This nation was over 99% Muslim, and as we went about the routines of life, there were no discernible signs that the Christmas season was upon us: no Christmas music in stores, no lights, no Christmas trees, no manger scenes – nothing.

Mission drift is one of the biggest things you will encounter in the long haul of multiplying disciples. For one reason or another, your initial drive, focus, and trajectory toward the vision God has given you will get derailed. You will find yourself off track and not making any progress.

The Vital Role of Women in The Great Commission

Recently, I was reflecting on the real meaning of being a disciple of Jesus and was reminded of the childhood game Follow the Leader. You probably remember it—the leader sets the pace and everyone else mimics their actions. If they step over a rock, you step over the rock; if they wave their arms, you wave your arms. The objective is simple: follow the leader as precisely as possible.