Overwhelming.
That may be the perfect word to describe the launch of Foundations Discipleship training in Nigeria this January.
In order to understand the reason for this, it is important to understand the journey to Developing Workers launching in Nigeria.
In late 2021, Michael Parker and Kelly Ramsland connected Matt Swartz with Victor Jakpor – the founder of a non-profit in Nigeria called “Mission Africa.”
Victor is a native Nigerian who has been living in the United States. God began working in Victor’s heart about how he could respond to needs facing the community he grew up in Nigeria. This lead to the founding of Mission Africa with an initial focus on developing education programs in Delta State, Nigeria.
But Victor began to realize that there was another concern that needed addressing: training for pastors. These leaders in communities where Mission Africa was working needed help to see their role in the community as one of a community leader and not only a Sunday preacher.
In late Spring of 2021, Matt Swartz met with Victor Jakpor and Kim Steele of Mission Africa to see if a partnership could take place to help equip Nigerian pastors on utilizing a disciple making model to impact the communities Mission Africa is working in.
The amazing fact about Nigeria is that English is a national language, making such work all the more simple for our team. There was no translation of material required to launch in Nigeria!
After much prayer and preparation, 45 pastors were trained in how to multiply disciple making in their communities, how to care for their souls while leading, and how to study the Bible.
In addition to the training, they were introduced to the free Foundations Discipleship material Developing Workers offers to help them launch a discipleship movement in their churches.
What’s more, pastors have already begun creating trainings for other local pastors in their communities all over Delta State in how to multiply disciple making in their own communities! We account for something like this to happen over time, but to see it happen
immediately after launch is a testament to the Holy Spirit at work in this partnership!
Your generosity continues to expand this movement to End Discipleship Poverty! When you pray and give you are a part of this global effort to help pastors and church leaders become a prevailing movement of change in their communities. Thank you!
As you pray for these pastors, please pray specifically that they will implement what they learned and also invest their energy into helping other pastors join them in this journey of multiplying discipleship as a result!
