Opportunities not to be Missed

 by Galen Burkholder, International Director of Global Disciples

Life is filled with opportunities.

Some we miss and live with the regret. Others, in time, we’re glad we passed by. But, sometimes we seize an opportunity—and are we ever glad we did! We made a profit, built great friendships, met our spouse, or something wonderful resulted.

The missed opportunities that I find hardest to put behind me are the ones with eternal consequences. Like the day the Holy Spirit prompted me to share Christ with a non-Christian neighbor. I made some excuse—only to see him taken away in an ambulance that same evening with a fatal heart attack.

Through Global Disciples we are faced with a steady stream of opportunities. Most come in the form of invitations from clusters of churches in Africa, Asia or Latin America. Some are more like the vision the Apostle Paul saw with a plea to come over to Macedonia and help.

Our criterion to determine which opportunities we pursue and which ones we pass up is clear: Will this opportunity make it possible for a cluster of churches to multiply disciples and plant reproducing fellowships of believers in a least reached area—in locally sustainable ways?

If the answer is “yes,” it’s time for prayer and conversation with the inviting party. If the Lord gives us a green light and we discern the leaders inviting us have integrity, pure motives and a common vision—we pursue the opportunity.

Sometimes it would be easy to make excuses. We’re already busy. This is a very difficult area. It could cost  someone their life. Our finances are already being stretched thin.

Then we remember that every day about 47,000 people die—without ever having an opportunity to receive the Good News of Jesus. Will saying “no” to our opportunities deny them the greatest opportunity ever?

The Joys and Challenges of Growth

by Galen Burkholder, International Director of Global Disciples

I love this time of year. New life is bursting forth everywhere. Springtime in Pennsylvania brings a brilliant array of colors as the flowers blossom, trees shoot out new growth, and the grass turns green.

We know that all this new growth will create more work, but we still celebrate and

enjoy springtime.

Springtime draws us to worship our Creator. And so has the prolonged springtime

which Global Disciples is experiencing. New growth seems to be shooting out everywhere. We celebrate and enjoy it, even though it brings more work.

The work of this season for Global Disciples includes pruning some of the leafy growth to bear even more, healthier fruit. Our recently sharpened mission statement has provided the focus and courage to prune harder in some areas.

At the same time, we are taking bold new steps to better resource the hundreds of clusters of churches around the world we are privileged to serve. It’s not about our convenience, but loving and serving others more fully in the way of Jesus.

Our new Multiplying Churches Strategy provides a seamless pattern of serving churches focused on multiplying Christ-like disciples who are equipped with a business and prepared to plant/lead locally sustainable, reproducing fellowships of believers in least-reached parts of the world.

As we grow, we’re realizing more and more that it’s not about our convenience, safety or comfort, but about laying down our lives for our friends—and for those who consider us their enemies.

Springtime is great. But the true test of healthy growth—individually and organizationally—is whether we are just as passionate for Jesus and focused on serving others in the stifling heat of the summer, in the intensity of the harvest, and in the dead of winter.

I enjoy springtime, but my heart is for the harvest. Today as Global Disciples we’re experiencing both.

Greatly Distressed and Hopeful

 by Galen Burkholder, International Director of Global Disciples

The air was thick with the scent of death, smoke and burning flesh. I stood on the stone platform at the edge of the shallow river littered with brightly colored decaying pieces of clothes and charred human limbs. On the other side, four big stacks of burning logs were topped with human bodies in various stages of cremation.

In front of a fifth pile of logs two adult sons, about my age, cut their father’s robes from his lifeless body and threw them into the river. As the smoke from his body would ascend to the gods they believed he would be born again into the next of his eighty-four reincarnations.

Surrounded by Hindu temples and idols I was reminded of the Apostle Paul who arrived in Athens, looked around and was “greatly distressed by all the idols.”(Acts 17:16)  That’s what I was feeling – greatly distressed, mixed with anger at the enemy’s deception, a profound sadness and deep compassion. 

I remembered my distress by the river during a time of jubilant worship at our Annual Equipping Week in New Delhi. We were meeting with discipleship-mission directors that Global Disciples serves from all across India, Nepal and Myanmar.

The banner across the front of the room proclaimed our theme for the week, “For the Healing of the Nations.” The atmosphere in the room was light and sweet as we celebrated the life, joy, freedom and hope we have in Christ!

The walls reverberated with the words bellowing from the depth of our beings, “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine...”

I looked around at the dozens of passionate, simple leaders who are daily pouring out their lives for Jesus – and seeing amazing results – in some of the hardest places. I watched them worship through the tears that flooded my eyes. “Jesus, hope of the nations…”

... But Deliver Us From Evil

by Galen Burkholder, international director of Global Disciples

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are engaged in a spiritual conflict with evil. The enemy of our souls pursues us to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8).   

In many parts of the world, we see spiritual battles raging in ways unfamiliar to most in the western church. Stories of demons, evil spirits and martyrdom may only be familiar to some of us in historical and biblical accounts.

You may even question some stories we report. But let me assure you that on the ground, face to face with demonic forces, doubts vanish and prayer becomes the lifeline.

Evil forces we encounter in the west are often more subtle. Our call to holy living is attacked with self-centered living, entertainment-stimulated lust and unforgiveness. But, if we justify these “small sins” as harmless and only human, they rob us of spiritual vitality and transforming power.

We will never bring healing to the nations and be true agents of God’s hope and reconciliation without personal holiness. For it is the Holy Spirit who longs to work in and through us – feeding the hungry, fighting human trafficking of all kinds and reaching 2 billion people who are still unreached!  

Jesus taught us to pray, “…deliver us from evil.” This is not a prayer simply to prepare us for action. Prayer, as Jesus taught us, is in itself action – a weapon for spiritual warfare able to subdue the most powerful forces in the world.

“Prayer is not undertaken instead of other actions,” Jim Wallis declares, “but as a foundation for all the rest of the actions we take.”

So, What Does Prayer Accomplish?

by Galen Burkholder, international director of Global Disciples

Prayer is primarily about our relationship with God.  But, I love to celebrate the results and outcomes of our prayers.

Both intimacy with Jesus and prayer are core values of Global Disciples. Pursuing these foundational standards challenges us, shapes our lives and often convicts us – driving me to my knees in repentance.

Sure, prayer comes naturally when we’re in a crisis. But, keeping prayer priority is hard work. We state, “Wisdom, direction, power and joy are released through communication with God – so we want all we do to be conceived, birthed and carried out in prayer.” That’s a discipline.

And, by God’s grace, it’s bringing some amazing results. We don’t take credit for the following things. They are simple evidences of God’s faithfulness and the power of prayer.

Prayer keeps us God dependent. I like the way members of our staff team give the Lord credit – in genuine ways – for what’s happening. We’re honored to be involved, but it’s not about us.

I can’t explain why we experience such joyful unity and cooperation among the 175 plus denominations and indigenous groups of churches we serve. Except that the unity of the Holy Spirit is preserved through prayer.

God has given us favor with so many church and business leaders around the world. I marvel at the trust we often experience so quickly – having spent limited personal time together.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, but I’m also amazed by all the miraculous healings experienced by those with whom we partner. Their reports remind me of stories recorded in the book of Acts. They don’t let us forget; through prayer, we have access to God’s unlimited power.

Will you drop us a note and let us know what God is accomplishing through prayer in your life?

Keeping it all in Perspective

by Galen Burkholder, international director of Global Disciples

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when I think about the 342 clusters of churches in 43 countries that look to us as their partner. Who are we that we have the honor of serving them as they train and send out their workers to hard, least-reached places?

My heart was stirred deeply as I signed hundreds of thank you letters for contributions at the end of our fiscal year. Who are we that God has brought so many of you as partners to join hands with us in this work?

But, this all comes into perspective as I pray, read and mediate on God’s Word. This morning, sitting on our little patio as the sun rises I am reminded again, this time through Apostle Paul.

“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers … For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 3:7-9, 11)

None of us deserve all we have received. The joy of life in Christ, now and forever, is simply a gift!  The delight of seeing things grow – trees and flowers, children and friendships, disciples and leaders, businesses and ministries, and the Body of Christ around the world – is a gift.

What a privilege to be stewards of whatever gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. There are no attitudes of entitlement when we live with this perspective – just simple gratitude.

Life on Life Brings Transformation

by Galen Burkholder, international director of Global Disciples

Most of the educational activities in schools and churches are focused on gaining knowledge and developing skills. After all, that’s what education is all about, right?

In my travels to China last month, I took in a workshop led by a prominent Chinese Malaysian scholar who trains and equips house church leaders in China. He built a strong case, based on considerable research, why most education and training does not transform lives. It’s because it fails to follow the approach of Jesus.

Jesus was with his disciples. He modeled the behavior he wanted to see reproduced in their lives. They learned by observing his approach with people, his compassion, and his priorities – as he taught them. And in the end they were tested, not on their knowledge or skills, but on their behavior. Jesus made it clear, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (Jn 15:14)

This is the approach of Global Disciples: life-on–life training that brings transformation.  Sure, knowledge is important and skills are essential if we are to serve others in the way of Jesus.  But, are we meeting the standard Jesus set? Are we doing what he tells us to do? Are we persons of integrity whose behavior reflects the character of Jesus?

Today, many ministries are enamored with technology. They talk about all that can accomplished in world evangelization, discipleship and mission through the internet and technology. I thank God for these amazing tools, and we as Global Disciples use them extensively.

But, life-on-life discipleship, training and modeling cannot be replaced by technology.  Cell phones and Skype are great tools for long distance coaching.  Ultimately, God works through the Word, the Spirit, and lives transformed by Jesus to transform other followers of Christ who, in turn, are used to transform others… (2 Tm 2:2)