The work that God is doing in the world is beyond what we can ask or even imagine. DMI’s onsite training is an example of this! As Ephesians 3 says, His love is “wide and long and high and deep.” He is moving through this world and the heavenly realms in ways we do not know or understand. But, we can see a small part of it. As more learn of His love and the sacrifice of His Son for us, we see a growing passion to serve and share this love. The numbers are staggering, but more so are the stories of God’s pursuit of those He loves.
A Website URL in a Dream
In 2021, we heard the story of a woman who had a dream where God showed her the URL for DMI’s website. She shared about it with her husband. This couple took the dream seriously and sought out the website. From that dream, they took the next step to learn. They then were trained in how to make (and multiply) disciples in drinking establishments and other dark and unreached places in their region. Through a dream, God provided a website address! That is how this couple were able to share with so many people the love of Christ. God is in pursuit of His people. The stories all point to His love for us. Read more of that amazing story here.
Why the Personal Touch?
DMI is finding that the DMM online course trainees are reaching thousands of people. The coaching and action steps in the program inspire many. They now have the passion and confidence to share the gospel with those around them. The courses online reach many people through the power of technology. The team at DMI knows, though, that there is power in personal connection. This is how DMI’s Onsite Training was born. Our team identifies locations where online trainees are implementing and movements are beginning to grow. We look for places where signs and wonders are happening. Places where youth (and older people too) are going for regular outreach and seeing fruit. We then form a training team of experienced coaches to go to those locations and train them and those they are working with in person.
The Onsite Training aims to: 1) train in disciple-making skills 2) connect over meals, 3) build personal relationships, and 4) encourage the trainees. We want our students to be confident in sharing their testimonies, the gospel, and starting new groups. It’s working!
In a recent training, one man who joined the training was a new Muslim background believer (MBB). He learned how to share his testimony using a simple approach. That night he went and shared it with four people from his neighborhood. One of them decided to trust in Jesus. He was immediately baptized! Now this brother has started to disciple him. God is working through him! He is an obedient disciple, immediately practicing what he has learned. Jesus calls those kinds of people wise (Matt 7:24-27).
3 Trainings for 3 days Each – a Best Practice for Onsite Training
Each training is two and a half to three days long. We always have the goal of running three trainings in each location. We call it just-in-time training. We only teach what trainees need to know now. Then they go and do it! Later, they return to learn more.
Level 1 teaches them the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) method. It covers the three parts of how to tell your story or testimony. It also casts a vision for the location. We make sure that the trainees can share their testimony and do the DBS in their own languages. It is better that the trainees feel confident in a few skills than to have a general understanding of many skills or a lot of head knowledge. We want them to be able to apply what they learn with ease in their context. Not only apply what they learn but also train others how to do it too!
About six months after the initial onsite training, we return to conduct a level two training. Only those who have done their action steps and started groups are invited to the level 2 training. This focuses on how a healthy church grows and multiplies. There is teaching on the church, the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and the “spreading church”. The groups must not only be formed but begin to multiply. Where appropriate, they transition from a disciple-making group to a fully functioning house church.
Finally, some months or even up to a year later, we run the third training, level 3. This onsite training continues to train into several different aspects of the church. One subject in the level 3 training is finances and offerings. We study the New Testament church and how they functioned and what we can apply today. This third level training covers topics of leadership, eldership, moving in the gifts of the Spirit, and what it means to have a movement identity. We explore what it means to build the culture of movements within our church. We also talk about what it takes to multiply groups and leaders as well as how to appoint elders for the growing movement. This section of training explores what encourages multiplication and what hinders it. We call those things death factors. By the end of the third training, it is our goal to have seen at least one movement and raised up indigenous, local trainers who can carry on further level one training in their own nation.
Interactive Approaches in Onsite Training
Throughout the onsite training, we include stories, games, and drama. It is very interactive and engaging! Facilitators use small group discussions to promote participation and learning. Trainees create and discuss action steps. Trainers model skills like prayer walks, sharing the gospel, and the Discovery Bible Study method. We sometimes even practice how to baptize someone! It is important to us that there is a post-training follow-up after we leave as well. This is often done by the training hosts through Whatsapp groups, calls, and in person reviews.
It’s Making a Difference
Onsite training has been a crucial component in the work of DMI. From September 2023 to September 2024, DMI held onsite training at 18 locations in 10 nations. We trained 877 people in those nations in these in-person training events. Those taught are using the skills gained in their communities and beyond. We have seen six movements in the locations where we held onsite training. To learn more about one of these specific location onsite trainings https://www.disciplemakersincrease.org/grateful-ministry-leaders-share-exciting-report-from-first-onsite-training-in-malawi/.
Challenges to Onsite Training Efforts
The tremendous potential impact of DMI’s onsite training is unmistakable. There are also challenges. To travel to these locations, it can often take many days and modes of transportation. We must raise the finances to send a group of trainers to the locations. Often it is a financial difficulty for the students to reach the venue and find an affordable place to stay. Some trainers need a visa to cross a border to a neighboring country. They are sometimes denied. In some of the countries that we travel to, there are literal roadblocks in reaching the venue. The number of experienced trainers, coaches, and facilitators available to run these trainings is limited. Despite this, there is a strong desire for onsite training in the Global South. We are determined to overcome these difficulties and expand our onsite training locations each year.
Recent Onsite Training in Asia & More to Come in Africa
During the last few months, our team conducted onsite training in several restricted access nations of Southeast Asia and South Asia. Level one training is currently happening in Liberia. We are also planning a second-level training next month for Kenya. The vision is for many more onsite trainings to take place in the coming year. We need your prayers and partnership to make that happen! Find out more about how to partner with DMI on our home page. Join us to see many more trained to share the good news about Jesus in their areas!