Global DISCPLE Training Alliance

2011 Eighth Edition

Written by Galen Burkholder and Tefera Bekere

Illustrated by Angie Breneman

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE ............................................................. 5 INTRODUCTION Born Out of Prayer and Brokenness…………..6

How is Globalization Affecting the Church? ... 7 What is a Discipleship-Mission Program? ....... 7 What is a Strategic Alliance?........................... 8 Explanation of Terms ...................................... 9

GET TO KNOW THE GDT ALLIANCE

Who is the GDT Alliance?.............................13 GDT Alliance Vision, Mission and Purpose…14

Biblical Basis and Core Values ................. .. 15 Essential Components of Discipleship Training ................................................... 16 Growing in Christian Discipleship ................ 18

Benefits of Joining the GDT Alliance ........... 18 A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GDT ALLIANCE

Membership Criteria and Commitments...... 20 Global Disciples: The Organization ............ 22 The GDT Alliance Fund .............................. 22 Mentors for New Program Directors .......... 24 Staffing of Programs .................................... 25 The Annual Directors Equipping Event........ 25

IS THE GDT ALLIANCE RIGHT FOR YOU?

A Checklist for Prospective New Programs ... 26 Next Steps ..................................................... 27 Becoming a Member Program ...................... 30 Contact Us .................................................... 30 APPENDIX I am a global disciple of Jesus ....................... 31 The Great Commission ................................. 32

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PREFACE

Can discipleship-mission training programs from various backgrounds and cultures cooperate to accomplish common goals?

The answer is yes and the Global DISCIPLE Training (GDT) Alliance has the vision and strategy to foster this coopera-tion.

The GDT Alliance provides a way for like-minded discipleship-mission training pro-grams around the world to work together and benefit from a broad network of relationships and resources. This network can, in turn, provide assistance to new or developing programs in areas with limited resources. Unlike some other alliances, the GDT Alliance seeks to preserve the identity and relationships of each individual program in its network.

This booklet explains the objectives of the GDT Alliance and how it achieves them. If, after reading it, you still have questions you would like to discuss, you are welcome to contact us. Email: gdtalliance@globaldisciples.net Website: www.globaldisciples.net

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INTRODUCTION

Born out of Prayer and Brokenness

Are you a church leader? A mission worker? A teacher who wants to train young adults in discipleship -mission service? Are you hoping to develop a pattern of training that transforms lives and multiplies disciples? If so, the GDT Alliance offers valuable re-sources that will help you reach your goals.

In November 1995, leaders of several discipleship and mission training programs met for a day of prayer and fasting. Drawn together by a common mission, each also shared a common desire: to respond to church groups worldwide in their need to provide discipleship-mission training for their own young people.

As the Holy Spirit moved, these leaders began to see the barriers that separated them and their ministries from

each other, fostered competition and pride instead of collaboration. Through confes-sion, brokenness and prayer, God birthed the GDT Alliance.

Early in 1996, these leaders and their programs became charter members of a new strategic network, the Global DISCIPLE Training (GDT) Alliance. Starting first by forming working relationships with groups

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of churches in Canada, Ethiopia and the United States, the GDT Alliance then set out to link new training programs with established ones. The vision – to provide emerging programs with the practical support needed to grow and become effective – began to take form.

Today, the GDT Alliance relates to emerg-ing and existing programs in more than thirty-six countries. Because these programs are independently operated, each is unique. And yet, as these programs identify common goals and then work together to achieve them, each gains strength and increases effectiveness, individually and collectively, locally and globally.

How is Globalization Affecting the Church?

Globalization affects the communities of our world both positively and negatively. For the church, a benefit of the increased global inter-connectedness is the

greater potential for working together to fulfill the mission of Christ: making disciples of all peoples (Matt.28:18-20).

What is a Discipleship-Mission Program?

Jesus tells us, ‚It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.‛ (Matt. 10:25a, NIV) Disciples are followers of Jesus Christ, people who study and obey his teachings, who seek his will and presence in their lives, who follow his

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example in their behavior and attitudes.

Understanding the importance of this discipling process, GDT Alliance programs encourage participants to become more like Jesus by pursuing a committed relation-ship with the Father; understanding and recognizing God’s purposes in the world; growing in Christ-like character; fostering godly relationships; and developing a life-style of prayer, Bible study, witness, and service. These disciplines, which form the basis of program content, are first incorpo-rated in a period of full-time instruction and training (discipleship), followed by a full-time outreach assignment (mission).

What is a Strategic Alliance?

A strategic alliance is an active and inten-tional step that moves beyond networking.

Discipleship-mission programs often begin in a local setting, growing as a response to a specific need. Some of these programs have little or no contact with other similar

programs. Over time, however, as program leaders become aware of similar ministries, infor-mal networks develop to ex-change infor-

mation, insight, and encouragement.

This interaction often opens doors for work-ing together on common problems, needs or goals.

Cooperation such as this not only fosters understanding and respect, it also generates

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a sense of shared accomplishment. These benefits, mutually experienced, reinforce the value of working side by side.

This intentional step beyond networking is the beginning of a strategic alliance. Part-ners in a strategic alliance do not give up their individual organizational identities. They remain independent entities while still enjoying the benefits of cooperation.

Explanation of Terms

Certain terms are used throughout our descriptions of the GDT Alliance. These terms are explained below.

Groups of Congregations - All discipleship-mission programs that wish to relate with the GDT Alliance must be owned and operated by a group of churches. These groups may range from a formal association of congregations (i.e. synod, conference, diocese, denomination) to an informal regional group of Christian fellowships with various affiliations, or a network of house churches. By working with groups of churches as small as three to over three-thousand congrega-tions, we uphold the GDT Alliance val-ues of cooperation and unity within the Body of Christ and enhance the poten-tial for multiplication.

GDT Alliance Facilitator – A GDT Alliance Facilitator is a staff member of Global Disciples who assists the leaders from a group of congregations who want to develop a discipleship-mission program. The Facilitator links the new program with similar programs for learning, encouragement and counsel.

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Facilitators offer guidance in selecting the ‚director‛ for the program, provide training for the selected leader, and seek to assist the program in becoming fruitful and locally sustainable.

Proposed Program - If the leaders of a group of congregations want to begin a discipleship-mission program they are asked to communicate with the GDT Alliance Facilitator for their re-gion or to write an e-mail to the GDT Alliance. Information will be re-quested about their group of congre-gations, along with a preliminary written letter of intent for their new discipleship-mission program. When the letter of intent is received by the GDT Alliance, it will be reviewed to determine its consistency with the GDT Alliance criteria and vision. If accepted, it is considered a Proposed Program.

Developing Program - A Proposed Pro-gram has several steps to take before moving on to the next stage of being a Developing Program. 1) The leader selected to serve as the ‚director‛ of the proposed discipleship-mission program must receive the GDT Alli-ance Directors Training. 2) a Program Proposal, along with a Program Budget must be submitted to the GDT Alliance Facilitator and approved. 3) A Mentor, with experience as a pro-gram director is discerned to relate with the developing program director.

Mentor – An experienced GDT Alliance program director who successfully completed Mentor’s Training and was certified, will be discerned to become

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a Mentor for a Developing or Candi-date Program director, to pray and offer counsel, to encourage and give insight as a fellow leader within the GDT Alliance.

Candidate Program - When a Developing Program launches its first discipleship-mission training, it is then known as a Candidate Program. All the Candidate Programs are preparing for member-ship in the GDT Alliance. Candidate Programs are: 1) operating a disciple-ship-mission program that is consis-tent with GDT Alliance vision and cri-teria, 2) working toward the standards of local accountability, sustainability and reproducibility, and 3) operating according to the 10 Member Program Commitments. Candidate Program status continues for two to three years before membership in the Alliance is considered.

Member Programs - Discipleship-mission programs that meet the Membership Criteria and Commitments of the GDT Alliance (See p. 20-21) are accepted as Members. These Members are united in pursuing the vision and in helping to fulfill mission of this strate-gic global alliance. Once approved as a Member, program directors have the opportunity and responsibility to mentor new pro-gram directors and to participate in decisions about GDT Alliance direc-tion.

Members Council - The GDT Alliance is a

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member-governed strategic alliance. The representative Members Council is elected by Alliance members by region and meets once a year in con-junction with one of the GDT Alliance Annual Directors Equipping Events. Members Council representatives serve two-year terms and carry the responsibility for decisions about GDT Alliance policies and membership.

Associate Programs - Existing discipleship-mission programs not yet affiliated with the GDT Alliance, but with a similar vision, value and model, may apply to become Associate Members of the Alliance. If granted this status, the leaders of the sponsoring churches and director of the program may ex-plore membership in the GDT Alli-ance for a two or three year ‚trial pe-riod.‛ During this time the Associate programs will contribute 2% of their program budget to the GDT Alliance Fund, but are not eligible for seed funds. The Associate program leader will be invited to the GDT Alliance Annual Directors Equipping Event, using the same payment policy of other program leaders (See p. 25).

GDT Alliance Fund – The GDT Alliance Fund is supported through contribu-tions from participating programs and donations from interested groups, in-dividuals and churches. This fund pro-vides limited seed money to assist with the development and establish-ment of discipleship-mission pro-grams. (See also p. 22).

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GET TO KNOW THE GDT ALLIANCE

Who is the GDT Alliance? The GDT Alliance is a growing association of Christ-centered training programs around the world, each initiated and operated by a group of local churches or their mission entity. All GDT Alliance pro-grams equip young adults to be disci-ples and witnesses of Jesus beyond their home commu-nities.

GDT Alliance mem-bers share a vision for multiplying dis-ciples, who will go and make disciples, so the world will know Jesus. This vision grows from a longing for everyone to have an opportunity to discover a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The directors of GDT Alliance programs are passionate about helping new and developing programs grow and multiply. With limited resources of time, money and staff, locally op-erated discipleship-mission programs around the world are not able – on their own – to sup-port the multiplication of similar programs.

To maximize available resources, cooperation is essential. Program leaders see the GDT Alli-ance as a practical way to do this, working side by side to achieve common goals, to share valuable resources that may be in short supply, and to see disciples of Jesus multiplied world-wide.

New program initiatives have their start in a

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local setting – anywhere in the world – where leaders recognize a need for disciple-ship-mission training for their young adults. Through the GDT Alliance, these leaders – many with neither the background nor the resources for such a task – have access to the support of experienced program direc-tors and facilitators. With this support, new start-ups grow to be healthy, self-sustaining programs that, in turn, help other develop-ing programs around the world.

The GDT Alliance Vision, Mission and Purpose

The Vision of the GDT Alliance is: To see every person have an opportunity

to choose and follow Jesus Christ.

The Mission of the GDT Alliance is: To make it possible for clusters of churches to multiply locally sustainable fellowships of disciples among least-reached peoples.

The Purpose of the GDT Alliance is: Connecting and multiplying locally sustain-

able discipleship-mission trainings that equip and mobilize Christ-like disciples for

the harvest.

To fulfill this vision, mission, and purpose, the GDT Alliance links new programs with existing discipleship-mission programs around the world by:

providing a network of support and en-couragement.

assisting program development through mentoring, limited seed funds, and staff training.

enhancing overall effectiveness by

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working and praying together and by sharing knowledge, insight and re-sources.

Biblical Basis & Core Values The Biblical Basis for the vision, mission and strategies of the GDT Alliance:

1. God longs for a close, personal relationship with people of every lan-guage, culture, and ethnic group.

2. Jesus is the only Lord and Savior. He is both the reason and the model for life and ministry.

3. The Holy Spirit empowers each believer to live a life of discipleship, witness, mission and service.

4. The Bible is the inspired, authorita-tive Word of God; it is the basis for equipping disciples of Jesus Christ.

5. Disciple making in the way of Je-sus. In a cycle of teaching, applying and reflecting we multiply Christ-like disciples as Jesus did.

The Core Values of the GDT Alliance:

1. Intimacy with Jesus. We were created for relationship in Christ by the Holy Spirit, to bring glory to God through worship, prayer, obedience, service, fellowship, etc.

2. The Right to Know. Every person should have at least one opportunity to

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hear the Good News of Jesus in a way they understand and to decide if they will believe.

3. Church as a Body. Church is God’s strategy to multiply disciples who meet, grow and serve as local fellowships; together forming the Body of Christ with one mission.

4. Authentic Cooperation. The Body of Christ is called to unity, collaboration and dignity for all – so we serve side-by-side, beyond walls, seeking synergy in mission.

5. Local Sustainability. Churches have in their hands what is needed to fulfill their God-given mission with faith, integrity, creativity, hard work and interdepend-ence.

6. Prayer. In communication with God, wisdom, direction, power and joy are released – so we will conceive, birth, and implement all that we do in prayer.

Essential Components of Discipleship Training

The GDT Alliance members have identified eight essential components for effective discipleship-mission training programs. All programs that are affiliated with the GDT Alliance must include the following compo-nents in their training:

1. Intimacy with God Solitude-time alone with God Prayer, fasting and interces-sion

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Worship and confession Hearing from God

2. Holy Spirit Empowerment

The deity of the Holy Spirit Gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit The fruit of the Spirit in daily living Spiritual conflict/warfare

3. Right Relationships

Right relationship with God Forgiveness and inner healing Christ-like relationships with others Being ambassadors of reconciliation

4. Biblical Truth

The authority of Scripture Biblical interpretation & application Discipline of Bible study and meditation Centrality of Jesus Christ

5. Dying to Self and Living for Christ

The cost of discipleship Dying to self Whole life stewardship Obedience to Christ Transformation and fullness of life

6. The Church and the Kingdom

Fellowship and accountability Kingdom citizenship Our place and identity in Christ Functions within the Body

7. Evangelism and Compassion

Evangelism and witness Compassion for those in need Christ’s commission Church planting

8. World Missions

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God as a missionary God Reaching across cultures World religions and cults Uniqueness of Jesus Christ

Growing in Christian Discipleship

At the heart of Christian discipleship is a per-sonal relationship with Jesus Christ. That rela-tionship grows and is nurtured through:

Knowing God, as revealed most fully in Jesus Christ, through the Scripture, by the Holy Spirit, and through fellow believers in the Body of Christ. (Phil. 3:7-12)

Seeing as Jesus sees the world, the people around us, those who are unreached, and our own situations. By faith we see and can be sure of what we do not see. (Heb. 11:1)

Doing the will of God, as confirmed by the Scripture, the Spirit, and the counsel of fel-low believers. We are called to do what-ever we do in the name of Jesus (Col. 3:17)

Being in Christ daily, learning to rest and remain in Him, and to draw life from Him. Jesus tells us that we will be his friends if we do what He has commanded (Jn.15:1-17).

Bearing fruit that will last; we make friends for Jesus Christ from many nations around the world by loving as He loved (John 15:16-17).

Benefits of joining the GDT Alliance

The GDT Alliance offers many benefits to new and developing programs. The value of joining the alliance extends beyond the development

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stage, however, offering resources and rela-tionships that benefit established programs as well.

GDT Alliance Programs have access to:

1. Practical advice and insight, gained through the experience of other disciple-ship-mission program leaders around the world.

2. Supportive relationships with other pro-gram directors and leaders who share the common passion for discipling young people.

3. Internationally proven methods for discipleship training, and the flexibility to adapt them to your specific set-ting.

4. Resources and instructional ma-terials being used effectively by other programs.

5. Global network of prayer support, coun-sel and encouragement from similar min-istries.

6. Supplemental seed funds to help launch and develop a new program.

7. A pool of shared human resources, in-cluding experienced leaders, mentors, and teachers.

8. International and/or regional exchange opportunities with other discipleship-mission programs.

9. Improved ability to assist other churches around the world to develop their own

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discipleship-mission programs.

10. Cooperative alliances within the Body of Christ, uniting together to achieve our common mission.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE

GDT ALLIANCE

Membership Criteria and Commitments

GDT Alliance Members . . .

1. Embrace and clearly reflect the vision, mission, purpose, core values and Biblical commitments of the GDT Alliance in our discipleship-mission training program.

2. Provide discipleship-mission training that is full time for at least 10 days or up to 4 months. (Maximum one year program - training and outreach).

3. Send those who have been trained to be full-time witnesses beyond their home communities for at least 20 days or up to 11 months. (Maximum one year program).

4. Integrate the GDT Alliance “Essential Components of Christian Disciple-ship” into the discipleship-mission training that is provided.

5. Have a director who was selected with the Recommended Directors Qualifi-

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cations in mind, who satisfactorily completed the GDT Alliance Direc-tor’s Training and prepared to mentor the directors of Candidate programs within the Alliance.

6. Send their program director to repre-sent their discipleship-mission training program at each Annual Directors Equipping Event of the GDT Alliance.

7. Willingly receive and offer counsel with other GDT Alliance programs and partici-pate as a member.

8. Participate in the monthly day of prayer and fasting through shar-ing prayer re-quests and interceding for others in the GDT Alliance.

9. Give 2% or more of our annual pro-gram budget to support the develop-ment of similar programs in other parts of the world through the GDT Alliance Fund.

10. Share curriculum and training re-sources freely, without copyright re-strictions, with other programs in the GDT Alliance. Materials received may not be reproduced or distributed for financial benefit or profit.

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Global Disciples: The Organization

Global Disciples provides the finances for the Facilitators who serve the GDT Alliance. But, Global Disciples does not own or operate any of the discipleship-mission programs; instead, it exists solely to develop and support global strategic alliances among those doing the training and sending.

The goal of Global Disciples is to multiply the number of disciples who are equipped and sent to work effectively in the harvest. This goal is accomplished through cooperative ef-forts in discipleship, mission and leadership development around the world.

Global Disciples is incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America as a tax-exempt charitable ministry, accountable to a global board of directors.

The GDT Alliance Fund

Supported through member contributions, the GDT Alliance Fund provides financial assis-tance – ‚seed funds‛ – for specific new pro-gram initiatives and related training for lead-ers. The leaders of Member Programs corpo-rately decide how these funds are distributed. No portion of this fund is used for Global Disciples or GDT Alliance operating expenses.

Contributions to the GDT Alliance Fund come from these sources:

Member Programs, Associate Programs,

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and Candidate Programs in the GDT Alliance, each contributes an amount representing two percent (2%) or more of their program’s annual budget.

Global Disciples, who facilitates the GDT Alliance, gives 10% of its annual budget related to discipleship training.

Contributions given by individuals, churches, businesses, other supportive organizations or foundations.

Distributions from the GDT Alliance Fund are given as:

Seed Funds to Candidate Programs of the GDT Alliance. Funds for program development must be approved through an application process. These funds are seed funds, not loans.

The total amount of the seed fund may not exceed forty-nine percent (49%) of the applicant’s total annual program budget. Seed funds assist with the start-up phase of program development, dur-ing the first to third year of a program’s existence.

The receiving Program must conform to established GDT Alliance vision, values, and criteria. The applicant must have a Mentor within the GDT Alliance.

Seed funds may also be available to as-sist with the travel costs for directors of Member, Candidate, and Associate Pro-grams to attend the GDT Alliance An-nual Directors Equipping Event.

Any other distributions from the GDT Alliance Fund must be approved by the Members Council of the GDT Alliance.

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Mentors for New Program Directors

Each Developing Program works with an Alliance Facilitator to identify a Mentor to serve them.

Once selected the mentor, who will be a current or former director/leader of a GDT Alliance program, serves to offer en-couragement, counsel and prayer support for the director of the Candi-date Program. This support continues as the new program develops and moves toward becoming a Member Program of the GDT Alliance.

Mentoring relationships rarely take the same form. They are influenced by the personali-ties, needs and defined goals of the people and programs involved. Once a year, Candidate Program directors and their men-tors meet with a GDT Alliance Facilitator to review their experience and their respective expectations for this relationship. This meeting provides an opportunity to clarify, redefine, and renew the mentoring relation-ship. (See also Explanation of Terms, p. 9)

A mentoring relationship helps directors of new programs in a variety of ways, including:

Enabling them to learn from procedures, plans and structures that have already been proven effective.

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Providing the valuable, practical insight that comes from experience, that helps them avoid common mistakes.

Offering the perspective of someone outside their immediate situation, someone who is available to listen, to discuss and respond to questions, problems, or concerns.

Supporting their program development efforts with prayer and encouragement.

Reinforcing healthy patterns of local accountability and program support.

Staffing of Programs

Each program in the GDT Alliance hires and supports its own staff. The cluster of churches or mission entity overseeing the local program is responsible for providing the personal and financial support that en-ables staff members to fulfill assigned roles.

The Annual Directors Equip-ping Event

The GDT Alliance Annual Directors Equip-ping Events are hosted regionally or conti-nentally/sub-continentally in a different geo-graphic location each year, as determined by the Members Council, in dialogue with Facilitators. The primary director of each Member Program and each Candidate Pro-gram, along with the GDT Alliance Facilita-tor Team, are expected to attend the Annual Directors Equipping Event.

The cluster of congregations or their mission entity that owns and operates the Member and Candidate programs will pay as much of the travel cost for their program director as possible. The remaining travel costs and the meeting expenses for these directors will

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be paid from the GDT Alliance Fund. Proposed and Developing Program directors will not be invited to the GDT Alliance An-nual Directors Equipping Event.

The GDT Alliance Fund will not pay the cost for visas or the cost of travel to and from the airport in the director’s home country. Each program must be current on their 2% commitment and in good standing with the Alliance in order to attend the An-nual Directors Equipping.

IS THE GDT ALLIANCE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Of course, only you can answer this question. The following self-assessment checklist highlights areas and issues you will want to address as you consider partici-pating in the GDT Alliance.

A Checklist for Prospective New Programs

1. Do we recognize the need for and benefits of this kind of global cooperation?

2. Are we prepared to contact and work with a GDT Alliance Facilita-tor and Members of the Alliance to achieve common goals?

3. Are our vision, core values and biblical commitments consistent with those of the GDT Alliance?

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� 4. Do we understand and accept the commitments of GDT Alliance membership?

� 5. Are we prepared to appoint a director for our program who shares the GDT Alliance vision, core values and biblical basis and send the director to participate in a GDT Alliance Directors Training?

� 6. Are we prepared to designate a local council or board to oversee our program and its director?

� 7. Are we willing to assist new discipleship-mission initiatives by giving at least two percent (2%) of the total annual budget of our pro- gram to the GDT Alliance Fund?

8. Are we willing to send our program director to the GDT Alli-ance Annual Directors Equipping Event each year?

� 9. Are we willing to respect and trust the Alliance Facilitators and Member Program directors, openly sharing with them our program information and experiences?

� 10. Are we willing to participate in periodic assessments of the GDT Alliance and its affiliated programs?

Next Steps

Three stages of program development char-acterize each new program initiative. As your cluster of churches or related mission entity considers the possibility of developing a new discipleship-mission program, it is

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important to pray and seek direction from God in each stage. The Alliance Facilitators offer the following suggestions to help you as you move through this process:

Exploring:

Get acquainted with the GDT Alliance by re-reading and studying this intro-ductory booklet. Does this approach match your vision and the needs of your cluster of churches or mission entity?

Engage your church leaders in review-ing and discussing what the GDT Alli-ance has to offer. Are they ready to ex-plore developing a training program with the GDT Alliance approach?

Contact a GDT Alliance Facilitator or a Member Program director you know. What questions do you have? How and where could you learn more about the GDT Alliance?

Make a decision. If your cluster of churches or their mission entity decides to develop a discipleship-mission pro-gram within the GDT Alliance, is it ready and able to invest the required time and resources for this to occur? If so, write a letter of intention to the GDT Alliance Facilitator in your region.

Discern who will direct the proposed program. Has this person had some ex-perience in leading similar programs in your cluster of churches?

Developing:

Send your new program director to Di-rectors Training. Is your new program director available to take 2 weeks for

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the GDT Alliance Directors Training?

Identify a possible ‚Mentor‛ from among GDT Alliance members, and discuss this with your Alliance Facilita-tor. Which Member Program is most similar to the one you envision?

Prepare to develop your program plan, with input from your GDT Alliance Facilitator. How might you modify the program design to better fit your specific situation?

Launching:

Hold your first discipleship-mission training and outreach according to GDT Alliance criteria. As a Candidate Program, how might you be learning from others?

Invite your GDT Alliance Facilitator or Mentor to visit and participate in your first few training sessions. Is your program on track to become a “Member Program” in the GDT Alliance?

Attend the GDT Alliance Annual Direc-tors Equipping Events and build relation-ships with other leaders. How can you continue to learn and benefit from the experiences of these other directors and their programs?

Discover the joy of working with others in the GDT Alliance. What resources in the GDT Alliance might help you or your program become more effective?

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Becoming a Member Program All recommendations for membership are initiated and submitted by your GDT Alliance Facilitators and Mentor. Decisions regarding membership or program eligibility are made by the Members Council, which generally meets in conjunction with one of the GDT Alliance Annual Directors Equip-ping Events. Consensus on decisions about new program membership is preferred. If consensus is not attained, a two-thirds ma-jority vote may be used to finalize the deci-sion.

Contact Us

Being part of the GDT Alliance is an excit-ing, enriching, and productive adventure, one based on relationship and cooperation, one that is a direct response to the Great Commission call of Jesus Christ, to go and make disciples.

To learn more about becoming a partner with the GDT Alliance, or to find out which Member Programs are available in your region, write us today at:

Email: gdtalliance@globaldisciples.net Website: www.globaldisciples.net

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APPENDIX We believe that God wants to use the simple declaration, “I’m a global disciple of Jesus,” to call people around the world together to be ‚whole-life disciples‛ of Jesus. Do you share the vision that everyone in the world have at least one opportunity to receive the Good News of Jesus and decide if they will believe and fol-low him? We welcome you to request a copy of this pledge from a GDT Alliance office, sign it and inform us.

I am a global disciple of Jesus

My allegiance is to Jesus Christ. He is the Living Word of God, as revealed by the Holy Spirit and through the Bible. My desire is to see all people experience the transforming love of Jesus, live in the fullness of the Spirit, and enjoy God forever.

I want to do my part so everyone has the oppor-tunity to hear and understand the Good News of Jesus and to choose if they will believe and fol-low Him.

As a participant in a local fellowship of the global Body of Christ, I want to unite with broth-ers and sisters of many nations, ethnic groups, languages and churches to glorify God and make Him known.

Together with other global disciples I will:

Pursue intimacy with God, our loving Crea-tor, through Jesus Christ. Love others as Jesus loves them, even my enemies. Pray persistently for people who do not yet know Christ, especially those unreached with the Good News. Live generously as a steward of all God has entrusted to me. Rely on the Word of God and Holy Spirit to live my life for God’s glory.

The Great Commission

‚Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name

of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.‛

(Matthew 28:18-19, New International Version)

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