Complimentary Story
Since March when COVID-19 hit the world, Wise Intentional Leadership Development (WILD) has focused training and development through the mentoring discipling process. This strategy was always encouraged by the WILD International Office as a training strategy but WILD international teams preferred larger group training opportunities until the pandemic hit.After concentrating on this strategy for over six months, our WILD teams are indicating that they love the discipling process primarily because a discipler can see actual spiritual growth in those they are working with. These disciplees are sharing what they are learning with others. WILD provides discipleship material from the large array of material WILD has produced, thus allowing disciplers to utilize biblically based material at no cost.
The following is just a small sample of testimonies received by the WILD office.
From Uganda, “Today we had a self-reflection on how and why we have been failing to influence and change more others that we lead. One obstacle to our leadership influence is CHARACTER. We have realized that our CHARACTER has not yet reflected JESUS’ character. We have decided to continue recommitting ourselves to Christ for Him to break my human character and in that I will reflect Him and manifest CHRIST-like character which then will help me influence and change others I am leading.”
From Malawi, “The lesson on defining who a leader is and who is a spiritual leader started the discussion about the importance of a spiritual leader to the church. WILD had never officially been to this new city so the first thing that I did was to meet with pastors. I received their permission to train their youth. If I needed more youths, the pastors would arrange for youth from other churches to attend. There is need for more hardcopy materials because of the number attending and not many youths have smart phones where they could access the material. I make sure that all COVID-19 measures are followed by providing masks which I asked from the hospital where I am doing my clinical training. Churches provide buckets for hand washing and I provide hand sanitizer that I purchased with my money.”
From Zimbabwe, “I thank God for WILD Discipleship training. It has really changed my life. Before I joined the training, I knew that once I'm saved that's it. I had never witnessed to anyone about the love of Jesus but after the training on Monday this week, I went back home and I preached to my neighbor friends and one got saved. I led her to Christ and now I'm teaching her how to pray and we are reading the Bible together. I feel so great that I have started discipling someone.”
Regarding a unique situation where one discipler began discipling siblings from a Muslim family, “It is a challenge for them to come for Christian discipleship fearing their parents but they have taken the risk and will be coming back.” These five have consistently returned to meet on a regular basis for a few month.
From Benin, “Regarding the impact of the discipling program, team members did not hesitate to testify to the positive impact on their ministry and God’s people. One brother testified the discipling program brought him much closer to his young people and to his church workers. They started to confide in him, telling about the bad habits they struggle with. Another brother testified he had observed a spiritual maturity and a sense of responsibility in his disciples as he has been mentoring them since May.
“Each WILD team member is required to encourage 20 to 25 pastors (with a church) in their area to train their church leaders with WILD’s spiritual leadership material. Each beneficiary is required to send us each month a report of how the material was use and who did they disciple with the material.”
From Togo, “Discipleship with hidden God’s words in our heart is like dropping water one drop by one drop into an opened bottle and filling it. Preaching many people is like throwing water onto opened bottles where it will be difficult to have even one drop get inside the bottles. This face to face works as it breaks people’s hearts and gives them opportunities to confess their weaknesses. Parents and youth acknowledged the danger churches will run into if discipleship is forgotten. Let us not stop discipling and developing as it is a lifeline for the Church.”
CONTACT:
Mike Prom, International Director,
Wise Intentional Leadership Development
P.O. Box 662
Rhinelander, WI. 54501
715-367-9453
www.WildLeadership.org
