Everyday interactions with passionate disciple-makers lie at the heart of a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). They take the lessons and apply them in their daily lives.
Recently, our team had the privilege of traveling to Mindanao, Philippines. The purpose of this trip was to conduct a Level 1 Onsite Field Training. We hold onsite trainings to equip local leaders to become self-reproducing trainers of trainers for making disciples.
The “Why Mindanao” Strategy: A Foundation of Faithfulness
People often ask us how we choose specific locations for international onsite training how we choose specific locations for international onsite training. The answer is simple: we look for faithful, available and trainable people. We look for those who are already multiplying groups and using the principles they learned in the DMM course.
About three years ago, a local pastor from Mindanao took our online Getting Started in Disciple Making Movements (GSDMM) course. Rather than just learning the information, he immediately put it into practice. With consistent remote coaching, he successfully started 42 Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups. Some of those groups have reproduced to the 3rd generation.
Because he and his network proved so effective at making disciples, we knew it was time to transition from online screens to face-to-face encouragement.
We made an initial trip to the Philippines in 2025 to meet the leaders in person. While we were there we were able to see a bit of their work, and get to know their community. We did some coaching and informal training with the leaders on that trip. From there we planned for the Onsite training.
Our Three-Phase Strategy for Sustainability
We do not only train someone once and move on. True movements require deep roots. Our strategy relies on a three-phase onsite approach:
- Onsite Training 1 & 2: Model the principles, practice key skills, build momentum, and start training leaders who will multiply the training.
- Onsite Training 3: Identify and raise up local leaders to take over the training completely.
- The Goal: Full local ownership where indigenous leaders train other people in their communities. Disciple Makers Increase will continue to support and expand the network through our online coaching.
Inside a Level 1 Training: Skills Over Knowledge
We use a key principle: It is better to teach less content and ensure the trainees learn it well enough to pass it on to others.
Our curriculum targets three distinct areas: Knowledge, Skills, and Action Steps.
Day 1: Identity and the Mechanics of Multiplication
Trainees discover the 3 vital identities of a disciple-maker: being a Royal Priest (1 Peter 2:9), chosen to bear fruit (John 15:5), and acting as a trainer of trainers (Matthew 28:18-20). We also break down the stark difference between addition and multiplication using the Rabbit vs. Elephant analogy. Leaders take years to plant elephant churches, which require heavy infrastructure. By contrast, disciple-makers quickly and simply plant rabbit churches using local resources. Trainees practice storytelling so they can naturally share the gospel in their own communities.
Day 2: Extraordinary Prayer and Going “Out”
This is not just a classroom experience, we go to the streets and apply the principles together. Trainees learn how to build a lifestyle of extraordinary prayer, mapping out a list of people in their lives to pray for. The highlight of Day 2 is the Prayer Walk. We teach trainees how to find a Person of Peace (Luke 10) someone who welcomes the message and opens the door to an entire network of relationships (their oikos).
Day 3: Practical Tools and SMART Goals
The final half-day is dedicated to launching Discovery Bible Studies. They will use simple tools like the Discovery App. The event wraps up with attendees crafting specific, measurable SMART goals detailing exactly who they will teach. They will also set a goal of how many new groups they aim to start.
Lightbulb Moments: Frontline Testimonies
The training brought together two coaches, eight local facilitators, and dozens of eager participants. By the end of the training the participants were ready to apply what they learned.
The Power of Simplicity
“For many participants, the breakthrough came when they realized that discipleship didn’t require a theology degree. They saw that the Discovery Bible Study format is incredibly simple and perfectly reproducible. They went back to their communities and immediately started multiplying their groups, training others to do the exact same.”
Youth Mobilization in Action
“One of the most inspiring developments came from the leader of a local youth ministry. He witnessed the young people in attendance instantly grasping the concepts. By the end of the weekend, they committed to forming a core youth leadership team to take these exact DMM principles and train young people in other entirely different locations across Mindanao.”
Our teams did not just sit in a classroom. They went out into the neighborhood, did prayer walks, told Bible stories, and prayed over the people they met along the way. On the way back from lunch one day, one of our young participants decided to share Bible stories with a woman selling mangoes on the side of the street. Seeing him apply his classroom training right on the street was a powerful moment..
Where Do We Go From Here?
The closing of a physical training event is actually just the beginning. Immediate next steps are already in motion to further support our new community in Mindanao:
- Continuous Digital Touchpoints: We established a dedicated WhatsApp group for immediate peer accountability, progress reporting, and encouragement.
- Alumni Support: GSDMM graduates joined an Alumni Peer Group (APG) monthly video call network.
- Ongoing Coaching: We scheduled regular digital coaching sessions with Mindanao’s primary pastoral network to track leadership growth.
We are incredibly grateful for your prayers and financial support. God is raising up disciple-makers in the Philippines.
Are you ready to take the next step in your own discipleship journey? Learn more about our online GSDMM courses or find out how you can support our upcoming onsite training fields.