MULTIPLICATION
As communicated in previous ministry updates, our Global Training Network (GTN) Divine Expedition Training (DET) is multiplying. Space doesn’t allow me to cover all the trainings going on and the lives being impacted, but I want to highlight a few.
BRAZIL (SOUTH TEAM)
A team of 6 of our DET Master Trainers from Bom Retiro (where we started our training in Brazil) conducted our Phase 2, “Aligning Your Heart with Father God’s Heart,” in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Angra dos Reis.
The first night they invited people to come forward and write a word to describe their mother and their father. A woman named Aline wasn’t able to do this… she was crying with such anguish. She was so impacted and transformed by what she heard, however, that she invited the whole team for lunch at her house, where she expressed how much she and her husband (photo below) had come to love the Divine Expedition. Here’s a photo from one of the trainings:
BRAZIL (NORTH TEAM)
After attending our Phase 4 training, Pastor Gustavo asked all of his ministry leaders to take part in the 4×4 small group training (one of our ministry outcomes).
After doing so, each leader is to start his or her own 4×4 small group (4 people, for 4 weeks) and invite at least one not-yet Christian to join them. Pr Gustavo is excited to see how this will transform his church as deeper relationships are built.
MEXICO (NEW COUNTRY FOR OUR DET)
Phil Graf and Pr Carlos (one of our Master Trainers from El Salvador) drove to Caborca, Mexico where they facilitated Phase 1: “Romans as a Map of Life Transformation and Missional Impact.” 65 pastors and leaders from nine different churches attended.
Three pastors traveled from the US to sponsor some of the Mexican pastors attending. Just after crossing the border, they were held up four times by narcos/drug traffickers.
After having their belongings, money and passports taken, they told the cartel members that they were pastors who were there to help train other pastors, so they could improve the country of Mexico. At that point the “Bandidos” returned everything, even their money, and wished them well on their mission.
SIERRE LEONE
GTN member Richard Wallace has been spearheading the DET in Sierra Leone. Richard and his team taught Phase #1 of the DET about Romans and the Gospel. Those attending were new believers in a brand new church made of palm branches, in a Muslim village with the local Imam sitting the training.
In three visits to Sierra Leone, Richard has seen a small group of young, dedicated leaders progress from being participants (first time through) to being Lead Trainers and able to fully lead our Phase #1 training to others in a regional network of 65 church pastors and leaders. Richard also helped baptize 65 young people who had come to Christ in this West Africa Muslim country.
ADD ME TO THE LIST OF THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL
God is doing great things in these and other countries. I will save the stories from Uganda, Ethiopia, Nepal, QBA, Mozambique and elsewhere.
We have a Divine Expedition team in GUATEMALA right now. They just completed the first three phases of our training and are about to start the fourth. Here is a photo the team just sent me:
All the people in the photos above are grateful for you, even though you have never met.
I have met you and am grateful for your friendship and partnership making all of this possible.
Because His grace is great and His love endures forever,
Linus for the GTN Divine Expedition team.
On Expedition + 