Bible College in Kenya
Pastor Daniel Chai and the Kombe family have initiated a Bible college in Kakoneni, Kenya, dedicated to equipping future leaders for ministry.
Medical Mission Trip Info Night
If you have any questions – or have friends who’d benefit from learning more – join us this Wednesday to learn about upcoming Mobilize Medical trips and the details surrounding them.
Intercede: Prayer Zoom, Poland, & Malawi
You are a treasured partner in the work we do, and we believe we are most effective through the prayer support of the saints! Join us to pray corporately.
Reacting to Human Trafficking
When considering the gravity of human trafficking and how prolific it is, do you ever feel like you want to make an impact but aren’t sure where to start?
You can have an impact!
Building Up Leaders Locally
Through the 3 arms of ministry at Developing Workers, our common aim is to equip leaders for discipleship. Recently, our team had the opportunity to serve together toward the goal of building up local ministry leaders. Hundreds from in and around the greater Phoenix area – as well as several from outside the region – came to be equipped through the teachings of Curt Thompson, MD. Hear testimonies and celebrate with us what the Lord began and accomplished during this time! On applying what was learned to leadership: On discipleship in parenting:
Equipping for Deepened Connections
It truly takes a village, a community, a tribe to make a thing worthwhile. Last weekend’s events in Phoenix, AZ were no exception to that rule. Developing Workers is so grateful for the prayers, the volunteer hours, the financial gifts, and the partnering churches and organizations that contributed to 4 successful equipping events in the East Valley. Hear more about the enrichment that took place, and check below for another local opportunity for equipping. Through a substantial gift of friends of the ministry, Developing Workers was able to bring Curt Thompson, MD to teach and facilitate time with 4 different audiences, reaching more than 500 leaders and families in the greater Phoenix area and beyond. Curt came to Phoenix to cover the overarching theme of deepening connections, and he engaged each audience for their unique means of discipleship. Ministry leaders and Christian clinicians who want to grow in their leadership filled the sanctuary tables on Friday morning. Trauma-informed care providers and educators in need of refreshment and/or seeking to help renew their trauma-impacted communities joined us Saturday morning. Parents, foster parents, grandparents, hopeful future parents, and others who interact with the next generation joined us at either Friday night or Saturday night’s sessions. Though none of the attending families walked away with 5 formulaic steps to better their parenting, everyone in attendance was blessed to consider how God’s pursuit of our hearts and our connection with Him is just as important as the pursuit of connection with our children. We praise God for the work He began over this past weekend and the input He provided the city of Phoenix through these events. May the fruit of its impact be increasingly evident through transformed lives and relationships! Have you witnessed the impact of Developing Workers’ CSI program on the field? Are you eager to move beyond knowledge of the problem of trafficking and interested in receiving real training? This course will equip you to actually get involved. You will gain knowledge and skills to combat sex trafficking effectively in the areas of prevention, intervention, rescue, advocacy, or direct services to victims/survivors. This course is not run by Developing Workers, but we highly recommend it and believe in its efficacy for those ready to engage the problem further.WHEN: March 27 – April 1, 2023 WHERE: Grace Community Church, Tempe, AZ HOW: Register today for a fee of $650, and let us know if you sign up! This time and training offers you:
Upcoming Trips
Our Mobilize Medical teams are preparing for trips in April, June, August and October of this year. The April trip to Zambia is in partnership with Cornerstone Church and is currently full. However, if you or someone you know would like to serve with us on another trip, we would love to have you join us! The Mobilize Medical team looks at the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of every person that comes through our clinics. Therefore, all types of volunteers are needed – medical and non-medical. Mexico: June 16-25, 2023 Mexico is a new location for DW Mobilize Medical teams to serve, however, our Foundations Global teams have done many pastoral training workshops there over the years. We will be serving in remote and rural areas, caring for those who have very limited access to medical care and medicines. Malawi: August 11-21, 2023 We can’t wait to serve the unique community of Malawi! Christianity is the most prevalent religion in Malawi, though most inhabitants follow a mix of Christianity and traditional tribal belief systems. As we meet some of the basic medical needs of the community, our focus will be discipleship. Zanzibar: October 5-15, 2023 Developing Workers is partnering with Grace Community Church and returning to the beautiful island of Zanzibar. Applications for non-Grace members will open June 15. Roughly 98 percent of the population in Zanzibar is Muslim. We can’t wait to meet some of their basic unmet needs, show them the love of Jesus and connect them with our church partners in that area. Go, Send, Pray! If God’s calling for you is not to go on a trip, but to send someone on a trip – consider giving to our Medical Trip Scholarship Fund. Or if you want to join us in covering these trips in prayer, Join Our Prayer Team. Whether you go, send or pray, you can transform the lives of people around the world. Our teams offer medical care to the places where help is needed most and connect people to their local church. Stay tuned for more updates on how God is still using our Tanzania medical trip to transform the lives of people we met in January!
You’re invited!
Developing Worker is hosting a conference and you’re invited! After months of planning and preparing, we are excited to host Curt Thompson, MD in just a few weeks – February 24 – 25! Stepping back, we asked Michael Parker (the founder and president of Developing Workers) a few questions about how we got here: Question: What first prompted Developing Workers to hold a conference with Curt Thompson? Michael: Thompson‘s work has been transformational in what I do. All three of his published books have to do with spiritual formation and discipleship. They are some of my most used discipleship materials. We want to share this discipleship training with others so they can grow in their personal walk to disciple others. Question: Why are we hosting an event for parents and how does this relate to what DW does? Michael: Developing Workers’ mission is to equip leaders for discipleship. We want to encourage parents and family leaders to see their role in spiritually leading their family. If parents help their kids feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure, that actually brings them to a greater level of growth. Romans 12:1-2 encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. But science has discovered that when we don’t feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure, we’re not in a place that fosters growth. Question: Who would you like to see attend this event? Michael: I would love to see everyone attend this event. Not just parents. This event will help parents and foster parents disciple their kids in their homes, but I also see this event encouraging leaders everywhere to grow in discipleship. Our interactions with others can really spur one another towards Christ likeness. Curt tells us in his work that each one of us came into this world looking for someone who’s looking for us. Imagine a baby coming into this world needing to feel seen, soothed, safe and secure, looking to connect, looking for comfort, looking to be fed, nurtured and cared for. We never leave that state. Spiritually, we are always looking for others to come along side us, to encourage us spiritually, help us feel safe, help us feel comforted, and help us grow. Join us as we learn and grow together!
Discipleship for Parents
Are you an Arizona-based parent or connected to someone who is? Odds are, you certainly are! Developing Workers has a valuable opportunity for you. Deepening Connections: An Evening for Learning Parents of every age, stage, and background face the same challenge of orienting their parenting in a way that connects to their childrens’ hearts. In a post-pandemic society, we might also declare that there are added challenges and a changed culture that contribute to the struggle: isolation, stress, trauma, confusing gender ideologies, the competing lure of technology and a materialistic world. As believers, even as we know our ultimate hope and best source for wisdom is all found in Christ Jesus, we are especially in need of resources that will direct us in a God-honoring, sound manner for parenting. With all this in mind, Developing Workers aims to serve our community by bringing Curt Thompson, MD to teach. Whether you know of the Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson, MD from his books or BeingKnown podcast, we think you’ll agree that his insight into relationships, neuroscience, and healing trauma could play an invaluable role in informing our parenting. Join us at one of two opportunities to learn how to deepen our connections as parents in February! Parenting in a Broken World Friday, February 24 in Tempe, AZ -OR- Saturday, February 25 in Mesa, AZ Added bonus: If you are a fostering or adoptive family, thanks to our partnership with AZ1.27, training hours can be completed by attending this time. Thanks to faithful supporters like you, Developing Workers is able to impact our region and culture – and ultimately, the world – with the Gospel message and the empowerment for discipleship. These parenting events are just one of many avenues we are involved in to support multiplying disciples. Read more about opportunities to serve or donate to Developing Workers today!
