FOUR GENERATIONS OF TRAINERS AND TRAININGS
Phil and Laina Graf, Pete and Jane Hawkins, and I leave in ten days for Brazil to celebrate.
In May of 2013, Phil Graf and I traveled to southern Brazil and began our Global Training Network (GTN) Divine Expedition Phase 1 training. My long time friend, Jason Spence, from Hope Chapel Maui connected us with the lead pastor of Hope Chapel Brasil, Sammy Diab, who invited us to begin our training in Brazil (Sammy, Phil, Jason, and I are pictured here).
Expecting 20-30 people, 160 Brazilians showed up (pictured below). Phil and I conducted all the training, so we were the first generation of trainers. Our vision was that the training would multiply and that one day there would be generations of Brazilian trainers to follow.
Along with others, Phil and I returned to Brazil twice a year in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Each time we returned, we rolled out the next phase of the training at Sammy and Marcia’s church and then traveled to new cities and churches, starting with the first phase and progressively adding the others until we had presented all four phases in four different locations (4×4).
The goal was to raise up Master Trainers who could train others to train others to train others (2 Timothy 2:2). A Master Trainer is someone who has repeated each Divine Expedition phase four times, each time taking on a greater share of the teaching until they become the lead trainer in that phase.
Complete all four phases four times (4×4) and you become a Master Trainer.
SECOND GENERATION
As we traveled to new cities, Sammy and Marcia (pictured here) and some of their leaders accompanied us, taking on an increasing share of the training as they progressed toward becoming Master Trainers. In this way, the Brazilians became the second generation of Divine Expedition Master Trainers.
THIRD GENERATION
These Brazilians became Master Trainers, and began leading Divine Expedition trainings locally, regionally, nationally (elsewhere in Brazil), and across borders. One of them was Litos (pictured here). He and his wife Karina started as Participants, then progressed to become Master Trainers themselves. Soon, the Brazilians like Litos were raising up an third generation of Master Trainers.
But that’s not all. Litos and a team of other second and third generation Master Trainers began trainings in Mozambique and Argentina. Here is a photo of a training in Argentina led by Litos.
But the story doesn’t end here…
FOURTH GENERATION
Litos and his Divine Expedition Master Trainers have raised up a fourth generation team of Argentinian Divine Expedition trainers (pictured here).
WHY WE ARE CELEBRATING
Because of the Divine Expedition team in Brazil, the Gospel is spreading, people are coming to know Christ, disciples are being made, and small groups and churches are being multiplied.
Through all of this, Jesus is being lifted up and lives are being changed.
Jesus gave the commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16–20), and by God’s grace we have been privileged to take part in that call—not only in Brazil, but also in Uganda, Nepal, Ethiopia, and beyond.
Thank you for celebrating with us,
Linus for the Divine Expedition team
