Why Least-reached

Our Beginnings

Birthed in Prayer

In 1995, Global Disciples was birthed in a prayer cottage. Confession, brokenness, and prayer led to the foundation of our ministry–to equip people in their own cultural context to send out mission workers to reach the least-reached.

Our History

It was November 1995. Leaders from several discipleship and mission training programs had gathered for a day of prayer and fasting. They were drawn together by a common mission . . . a common desire: to ponder how to respond to churches worldwide asking for discipleship-mission training for young leaders in their nations.

The Holy Spirit moved the leaders to confession, brokenness, and prayer. They began to see how the barriers separating their ministries had fostered competition and pride . . . not collaboration and Global Disciples was born.

Initially, Global Disciples offered Global Disciple Training (GDT). Then training was added in small business development and leadership development. Today, Global Disciples partners with 1,619 clusters of churches. We are present in 71 countries, equipping people in their own cultural context to send out near-culture mission workers to reach the least-reached, multiply believers and plant locally-sustainable fellowships and churches.

1996

Global Disciples is launched by Galen Burkholder in partnership with 5 discipleship-mission programs in Canada, Ethiopia, and the U.S.

1998

Business development activity began.

1999

Global Disciples is launched by Galen Burkholder in partnership with 5 discipleship-mission programs in Canada, Ethiopia and the USA

2002

Leadership training launches to assist indigenous churches in training leaders in character, skills, and knowledge.

2005

15 training programs multiply to 57 training programs.

2006

Discipleship-mission and leadership training programs grow to 64 programs operating in 24 countries. Small Business Development training is implemented.

2008

16,681 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 1,108 churches are planted as a result of our Discipleship-Mission training programs.

2009

Our 1st National Foundation launches in Indonesia to provide leadership and funding for national ministry. 18,412 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 895 churches are planted.

2010

Our 2nd National Foundation launches in Ethiopia. 15,078 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 723 churches are planted.

2011

18,190 new believers come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 607 churches are planted.

2012

The Canadian national foundation and the Kenyan national foundation are launched.

2014

The India National Foundation launches.

2016

10,363 disciple-makers trained and now operate in 43 countries.

2017

Churches planted as a result of our discipleship-mission training programs. 13,021 disciple-makers trained.

2018

77,560 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 3,213 churches are planted.

2019

National foundations launch in Nigeria and Zambia. 83,515 people come to faith in Jesus Christ, and 3,507 churches are planted.

2020

Mexico launches its national foundation. Global Disciples training programs are active in 62 countries.

2021

Our 25th year anniversary of training leaders.

2023

We passed our 3,000 program mark, and added our North America President – Jeremy Campbell, to our team!