Incredible Impact in Zambia & Mexico
Spring has been exciting and full of ministry for Developing Workers! Most recently, we welcomed teams back from Zambia and Mexico.
3 Easy Steps to Invest in Discipleship
We know you faithfully follow us here by email, and many engage with us at Facebook, Instagram, and on Linked-In. Thank you for staying connected to Developing Workers and for partnering with us along the way! Your support directly equips leaders for discipleship here and abroad. As you continue to consider your involvement with DW, we encourage you to prayerfully answer a question: Am I a sender? Am I a goer? Can I participate in both capacities? We’d love to help you discover what ways the Lord might call you to get involved even more! For this edition, here are 3 simple but impactful ideas to remain plugged-in as our ministry friends and senders: How to Double Donations through Employers Did you know that hundreds of companies match their employee’s donations to Developing Workers? These matching gifts help raise even more support so we can end discipleship poverty! Take part by… Partnering: If you haven’t done so yet, make a financial contribution to Developing Workers. Searching: To find out if your employer has a matching gift policy, enter your company’s name in the search box online. Filling In: If your employer has a matching gift policy, complete your employer’s form(s) either electronically or by paper and denote that your contributions were to Developing Workers. Be sure to check deadlines for your employer in case these forms must be submitted by specific dates in the year following your contribution. Your employer will then send details to Developing Workers after your application is reviewed to complete a matched gift. Your Individualized Donor Portal Did you know you can manage all your financial support of Developing Workers at-a-glance? Visit your Donor Portal (or register today if you haven’t previously), and utilize the features that allow you to review and adjust your giving as well as your personal details like contact information and credit card details. Join our Prayer Efforts Prayer is the lifeline that sustains our efforts and is an integral part of everything we do. If you have a passion for prayer, we would be so grateful to add you to our team! Also, watch for opportunities to join us by Zoom when we periodically meet for group prayer through the web. Developing Workers exists to equip leaders locally and globally for the work of discipleship. This work is both fueled and funded by friends of our ministry. Thanks to our community of partners like you, all financial contributions quickly transform into pastoral training, service opportunities, coaching and mentorship, special projects in underserved communities, and impactful resources that all bring us one step closer to ending discipleship poverty. We’re so grateful for you!
Worldwide Updates
This spring is a wonderfully active season for Developing Workers globally. Your generosity continues to expand our mission to end discipleship poverty here, near, and around the globe. Thank you for partnering with us! Follow along for some updates from around the world: Egypt Matt Swartz, Director of Foundations Training, just returned from Egypt where he connected with leaders of the largest Evangelical church not only in Cairo, but in the entire Muslim world! This time together served as an opportunity to get to know one another’s ministry goals and to learn from each other. We will continue connecting and intend to be together again next February in Egypt, attending their annual conference in April to connect with leaders from all over the Muslim world. We are excited at the common goal we share for discipleship and look forward to seeing where God takes this relationship. Mexico Foundations Trainers Matt Swartz and Bruce Ciotta return to Tabasco, Mexico this month to continue our work with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico. They will be complete 9 training workshops in 3 cities, spanning 6 days. These workshops continue to expand the shared vision between Developing Workers and our ministry partners to see local churches in Mexico multiply disciples. Our key partner in Mexico, Pastor Juan Marcos, has expressed that this movement of implementing discipleship in the churches continues to aggressively expand into new states of Mexico. Praise the Lord! In May, trainers Matt Swartz and Mike Fike plan to launch new training centers in the North of Mexico. Please pray for God to give us both wisdom and trainers as we seek to seize this unique opportunity we have in Mexico. In June, our Mobilize team under the leadership of Kelly Ramsland will venture for the first ever Mobilize Medical trip to southeastern Mexico. Please pray for good fruit in disciple-making to spring forth in the lives and communities of the ministry leaders that are trained. Pray for the continued preparation and connections for the team and our ministry partners there as we seek to engage both remote and rural parts that are currently underserved and in need. Zambia This month, Michael Parker will launch Foundations Training in Lusaka, Zambia with Pastor Mulenga Chella and Christ Life Church. Christ Life Church is committed to making an impact in Sub-Saharan Africa by meeting physical needs and also planting churches throughout Zambia to impact people’s lives spiritually. This training will impact many Zambian leaders and set the stage for future partnership and training. The time in Zambia will include a Mobilize Medical clinic lead by a team through Kelly Ramsland. Together with our ministry partners, Developing Workers will work to bring healing and share the Gospel in underserved villages there. Matt Swartz will return and continue with Workshop 2 in June as he leads a training team with Rock Point Church. Please pray that God will open hearts and minds to receive these trainings and also a spirit of willingness to implement what is learned. Pray for the engagement of the many physical needs as our team utilizes medicine in the impoverished areas to serve and bring the good news of salvation in Jesus. Learn more about the 3 arms of ministry at Developing Workers: Leader Coaching and Development Foundations Training Mobilize Medical
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:
Join us in Israel – February 2024
We invite you to embark on a trip to Israel with us early next year! Join us as we see and serve the land where Jesus walked! Dates: February 9, 2024 – February 18, 2024 Trip Cost: $4,800 During this spectacular trip, you will have the opportunity to see the Bible come to life as we visit the main areas of the life and ministry of Jesus. Throughout the trip, you will experience Bible teaching that will nurture and grow your walk with Jesus. Every day, you will also have the opportunity to put your faith into action and serve the people in Israel. Service projects will range from packing food for the needy to cleaning up beaches, and ministering to immigrants, single soldiers, and holocaust survivors. Serving others will allow you to experience and embrace Israel in a unique and deeper way. (Each interested participant must fill out a unique application.) The trip total covers costs for airfare from the departure airport (Phoenix) to the arrival airport (Tel Aviv), ground transportation, double-occupancy hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, all tourist sites, tour guides, insurance, and gratuities. Air travel can be customized to depart from your selected airport; however, that added cost will be the traveler’s responsibility. Breakfast and dinner will be provided in trip costs. Lunch each day is NOT included as the options for lunch will vary daily. Space is limited, and a $500 non-refundable deposit will be due after your application is approved to secure your spot. Final trip costs will be due in full by December 1, 2023. This trip will require a great deal of walking each day and a certain level of physical activity as we serve in the communities. It is important that you can tolerate a full day of activities, being on your feet, walking, and doing stairs. Learn more about all of the places we will visit by looking at our anticipated itinerary. Currently, COVID vaccinations are preferred but not required (3/6/23).
The Good News for Tanzania & Nigeria
Developing Workers exists to mobilize ministry for discipleship – both locally and globally. This month, we’ve sent teams to actively serve abroad with Mobilize Medical and Foundations Training. Hear more about the impact Mobilize had in Tanzania, and pray with us for the Foundations Training in Nigeria. Pray as Nigeria is Engaged for Discipleship Trainers Matt Swartz and Greg Jones are on the field in Nigeria, ready to train pastors in the Foundations discipleship workshops from January 23-27. During their time there, our team will have 2 days with the leaders who DW trained last year, working through the Story of God workshop with them, also coaching them in their faith and development as leaders. Additionally, our trainers will be working through the first 3 Foundations workshops with a new group of pastors. Pray with us for great fruit from this time – that ministry leaders would walk away encouraged and empowered for discipleship; that our team would be strengthened and effective for their days of ministry in training sessions and ministry with national leadership. Returning from Tanzania Thank you for praying for our team headed to Tanzania! God has done great things. As the team traveled overseas, we sought your prayers for a safe arrival to where the team needed to be in the midst of many potential flight delays and complications. Praise the Lord – the team all arrived with every piece of luggage they set out with! The results are astounding: of the 723 patients this short-term team saw and met with, 165 came to faith in Jesus as their Savior! Dozens were treated for pneumonia, and some were treated for malnutrition. Through the Community Safety Initiative, 17 Tanzanians who were identified as at-risk for abuse or trafficking are now able to connect with a trained local HERO that will walk closely with them. While the days of medical clinics are complete, our Mobilize team is still on-the-ground, continuing their connections with our ministry partners there and preparing to leave. Pray for their last couple days in nation and for a safe departure and arrival home. Thank you for joining us in prayer! Mobilize Medical is the medical outreach component of Developing Workers. We partner with churches around the world providing much needed medical care in impoverished areas. As we host medical clinics, we are drawing in the community so the church can connect with people in the area and share the gospel. Read more about opportunities with upcoming trips or donate to Mobilize Medical today!
Celebrating and Preparing
Happy New Year to you and yours! Developing Workers is off to a full-speed start this year with ready hearts and hands. Thanks to the continued faithful giving of our community of supporters, we will continue the work of discipleship locally and globally in 2023. Celebrate with us: through our matching gift and your generous donations, we raised over $100,000 at year-end! Off to Africa This week, our Mobilize team of staff and volunteers heads to Tanzania. They will offer 5 days of medical clinic to the underserved people in the area and connect them to their local church. Each day spent serving, our Mobilize Medical team will travel out to a community in the area, partnering with the local church leaders. The medical clinics they lead provide medical exams, nutritional assessments, de-worming, vitamins, dental hygiene instruction, medicine, and community safety (CSI) evaluations. Every patient is led through spiritual counseling and has the opportunity to be connected with the local church for follow up and discipleship. Through the tool of medicine, many will be blessed and impacted by sowing seeds of the Gospel! Pray with us! Thank you for joining us in prayer! Mobilize Medical is the medical outreach component of Developing Workers. We partner with churches around the world providing much needed medical care in impoverished areas. As we host medical clinics, we are drawing in the community so the church can connect with people in the area and share the gospel. Read more about opportunities with upcoming trips or donate to Mobilize Medical today!
The Power of Prayer
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:19-20 This year, Developing Workers can attest to the power of and need for prayer in the Body of believers in Christ. We have been blessed to pray separately with you as our ministry friends, and we’ve been especially blessed in the corporate prayer of one-on-one meetings, trips serving together, and Zoom prayer calls. Brothers and sisters, prayers have been answered by our Father in heaven who loves to commune with His children and move us to faith in prayer! Just a few of our answered prayers… In Kenya and Zanzibar, real-time prayers for our short-term teams whose critical luggage with medical supplies did not arrive with them. God brought every missing piece just in time, and the faith of our teams increased! Prayers for local pastors and churches who have needed wisdom in decisions about staff. The Lord is moving in the local church! 31 Foundations workshops (with 3 more to go!) have been held worldwide to further equip church leaders for discipleship that reproduces. By God’s grace, 1,649 pastors have been trained so far – many who are already reporting the fruit of implementing this new knowledge and methodology! Nearly 100 new believers are walking with Christ this year because of hearing the Gospel at a Mobilize Medical clinic or CSI training. 55 of these new brothers and sisters came to faith in a previously resistant, predominantly Muslim area of their nation. And many have followed through with baptism and are plugged in now to their local church! Pastors who were feeling a sense of burn-out and discouragement have been refreshed and renewed by the continued coaching and mentoring ministry at Developing Workers. Thank you for being a community that prays with us. Continue praying with us as the need for prayer is ever-present!
Volunteer Spotlight – Ron Behee, Foundations Trainer
By God’s grace, Developing Workers is run by a small but mighty number of staff and faithful volunteers whose love for the Lord and commitment to building up His Body drive the ministry. The Foundations Trainers are on the front-lines of discipleship, teaching and training church leaders worldwide on the biblical principles of making disciples who make disciples. This week, we highlight Ron Behee – a trainer and volunteer who has deeply impacted the work of Developing Workers and the empowerment of pastors around the globe. Ron Behee & his impact. Ron has been a part of the Developing Workers Foundations team for the past 7 years. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to discipleship have made him a dynamic member of the Foundations team. He has trained leaders in both Peru and Spain, and in more recent years, has worked extensively to update the legacy Foundations website. This task was monumental and was motivated by a vision Ron had to make the website easier to navigate and also more attractive as we explore more pastoral training opportunities in the United States. Ron invested hours in this complete rebuild of a website that aligns to the Developing Workers brand and also simplifies the means to utilize the Foundations ministry and free resources. This task was especially complex considering the variety of languages, locations, and devices people will be seeking to obtain our materials from. We thank God for amazing leaders like Ron who invest their time and talent to make the movement of Developing Workers more accessible to ministry leaders locally and around the world! Through Foundations Training, we provide free training workshops, free discipleship material, and ongoing coaching and mentoring to help pastors identify and equip leaders in their churches who will help multiply a disciple-making movement through their church. Read more about opportunities with Foundations Training or donate on behalf of volunteer trainers like Ron Behee today!
