“Thanks to God, I trained 41 church leaders. We focused on intimacy with Jesus, right relationships, and prayer. Today, their intimacy with Jesus is advancing. We see them being fruitful as they have learned their responsibility in the mission.”

Costa trains leaders in the Central African Republic. His testimony reflects what we often hear about Global Disciples Leadership Equipping and Development (LEAD) training—that it is transformational. God uses it to change the lives of leaders, their families, churches, and communities.

LEAD, one of three phases in our Global Disciples training, equips local church leaders like Costa to grow in their relationship with the Lord and in their desire and ability to share the Gospel, using principles that help multiply disciples and plant churches. Jesus is our model, and the Word of God is our textbook.

The goal is transformed leaders—whose lives are changed by God’s Word and the work of the Spirit so they can lead and equip disciples, influencing further life change, and multiplying healthy mission-minded fellowships.

Many church leaders have limited leadership training—or it is leadership focused on power, control, and administration. Lessons on brokenness, forgiveness, intimacy with Jesus, and the family counter that mindset as touchpoints for changing lives. Teaching about vision, teamwork, shepherding, relational skills, even finances and time management, helps to ensure the Body of Christ has the humble, passionate, capable, and Christ-like servant leaders it needs. 

This leadership training is mission-minded. God has used Global Disciples Leadership Equipping and Development (LEAD) to expand vision and renewed energy to outreach in local churches. In Kenya, Peter’s first LEAD training had 19 participants. They’ve already planted four new churches and are sending the next pastors back to Peter for leadership training.

In Bolivia, Maria came to a LEAD training with little interest in reaching people with the Gospel. But as each lesson touched her heart, her desire to share the Good News grew. Now she leads an outreach to children in a struggling, nearby community. And the changes in her life have prompted her parents to ask more about Jesus! 

God also uses the LEAD training to renew leaders who wanted to quit or even damage His Church. David, in Cameroon, reflected, “Some key leaders and pastors were on the verge of abandoning the work; they had resolved to bring confusion to the people and scatter the church before leaving. But after these lessons, they wept and repented of their heart attitudes. I encouraged and ministered to them. They were restored to the Lord and to His ministry. The leadership training has brought much transformation, not only in my personal life, but in many leaders in my community and I give God all the glory.”

As LEAD training equips God’s people to grow and strengthen the Church around the world, we rejoice in the transformed lives of leaders—in big and small ways. For Minani, a new program director in Burundi, transformation began at the Directors Training.

“Even my wife says that I have changed,” Minani said. “I am working closer with her in our family, doing jobs I thought only she was supposed to do. I can clean our house, prepare food for my family—without thinking it is shameful for me. I thank Global Disciples for the good lessons they teach that lead to transformation.”