Ishan attended a Global Disciples training in India to equip his church to make disciples. He heard seed funds would help launch his program, so he planned to train while seed funds lasted, then quit. 

After three years, Ishan couldn’t stop. Demand for discipleship-mission training increased, and his church cluster found ways to support it. As people came to faith in Jesus, churches were planted in this primarily Hindu community. Fifteen years later, Ishan’s church cluster now uses Global Disciples’ discipleship-mission, leadership, and small business development training, all sustained by local resources.

This success in sustainability is unfolding around the world. What makes the Global Disciples model for sustainability a success? As we asked key leaders, these themes emerged.

First, this model taps into an existing vision. Churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have a vision for reaching least-reached people. In fact, that’s required to partner with Global Disciples. Global Disciples provides training and start-up help to accomplish their vision.

Second, it encourages ownership and creativity. Training programs belong to a group or cluster of three or more churches. They carry the plan: budget, location, participants, outreach, follow-up, etc. Global Disciples equips their director to build the plan, and the local churches creatively choose how to train in their setting with their resources. Resources can be simple—sleeping mats, rice and chickens to feed participants, or a room in an empty school.

Global Disciples provides seed funds for three years, covering a percentage of the training costs, but in decreasing amounts and never more than the church provides. If training costs $300 over three years, the church contributes $210, and seed funds cover $90. By year four, it’s all sustained by local resources. One trend is churches using a small business—thanks to our Small Business Development training—to support training. They invest in their own mission!

This creates belief in success; it changes a mindset from dependence to confidence. A history of poverty and international aid often reinforces the idea that outside money makes things happen. A young leader in India wanted to plant churches but struggled without resources to support himself or launch a fellowship. He decided he needed a sponsor to support him. Then he met Jai, who directs a partner program.

“You don’t need a sponsor,” Jai said. “You need to connect with Global Disciples!” Jai eagerly shared his success in using our model, giving hope to the church planter.

This new mindset is confident: “We can do Kingdom work with what God has given to us.”   

Lastly, this model multiplies generosity and growth. It invites people to participate. As they see the results—new believers, churches planted, businesses and families thriving, communities influenced by Jesus Christ—excitement grows and draws more people to generously invest in what God is doing.

Sustainability is an opportunity for people like Ishan and his fellowship to thrive. Our sustainable model cultivates a passion for mission, generosity, a sense of value, and lasting impact for the Kingdom.

One African leader said, “We wanted to get in the water, but we didn’t know how to swim. Global Disciples pushed us in, and now we can swim!”