In this episode from the DMM Connect gathering in Northland, NZ, Keith and Joy share their journey from serving as missionaries in Thailand to how God called them to continue living on mission back home in New Zealand. They unpack how they have been able to live missionally in their own context using simple, reproducible tools.

A key turning point was learning how to have spiritual conversations using the Four Quadrants (casual → meaningful → spiritual → discovery). This changed how they connected with people in their local community.

Joy reflects on John 4—Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well—and how He took this Samaritan woman on a spiritual journey as a person of peace to her community. Likewise, Keith and Joy have seen everyday people (like ‘Ruth’, a young woman from a local market) discover Jesus and share Him with others.

Keith emphasises how engaging in the harvest as key to transformation—shifting from theory to practice, from “come” to “go.” We listen in as the room explores these 4 scriptures where Jesus sends His disciples out:

These passages show that Jesus had compassion on the lost and taught His followers to beseech (or beg) God for workers—not for the harvest itself (which is already plentiful), but for more harvesters. It’s a key strategy of prayer that Jesus gave twice in the gospels. We know the Lords Prayer but this is another prayer Jesus commanded his disciples to pray.

Keith reflects on Matthew 9:35-38…

“We’ve all prayed for the harvest. But in a way, this is the wrong way to pray. Jesus is telling us the harvest is already great. What we’re imploring Him for is the workers. It’s like Jesus is healing the sick and then steps back and looks at the large crowd and realises that a different approach is needed… Even Jesus realised that it couldn’t be a one-man show. He needed a team to do what He did.”

In the group discussion, we hear reflections on how traditional models often extract people from their communities to come to church. But Jesus modeled something different: staying with those who welcome you. Like the woman at the well, insiders can reach their whole communities more effectively than outsiders can.

“In a culture of ‘come,’ we’ve made the lost person into the missionary (they have to leave their comfort zone to come to church). But ‘come’ is the enemy of ‘go,’ and addition is the enemy of multiplication.” – Raj (quoting those like Jim Britts)

🎥 You can view this podcast as a video too:

Welcome to episode 166 of the podcast. In this episode, we take you into Northland, New Zealand, where leaders like Dave, Graham, Sam, and others are wrestling with one central question: How can Discovery Bible Study (DBS) become more than a method—and instead spark a movement of disciple-making in our own context?

You’ll hear stories of breakthrough, honest questions about challenges, and the shift from teaching to facilitating—from knowledge to revelation. Whether it’s with a Muslim family, a church congregation, or people in the harvest, DBS is opening hearts to the Word and multiplying impact.

Let’s move beyond theory and explore how DBS can be lived out—simply, reproducibly, and powerfully—wherever you are.

“This God is someone who wants to have relationship.”
– Muslim man expressing his first discovery of God through DBS on Genesis 1.

As you reflect on what you’ve heard—from internal wrestles to surprising fruit—ask yourself:

How might you tweak or implement DBS with those in your own context?
What shift—big or small—could you make this week to move from teaching to discovery, from addition to multiplication?

Check out the video of this podcast episode here:

In this episode:

Scott Crawley shares insights from his experience speaking at the Praxeis Hub in Melbourne. He reflects on what he’s learning through his “classroom”—his on-the-ground experiences with teams across various cities in Asia—and how these learnings inform disciple-making and movement building in complex urban environments.

Scott describes his team’s pursuit of a bold vision: to see disciple-making movements emerge in 15 cities across Asia. His “classroom” is formed through real-time learning alongside others serving in diverse and often challenging urban contexts.

What’s the one big thing God is whispering to you from this podcast?

Who can you share it with to help you take your next step in engaging your city or context?

In this episode, we listen in on a DMM (Disciple-Making Movement) training session in North Queensland with Steve and Mel Behrens. They share their journey into DMM and what drives them: a deep heart for the lost. The Behrens are practitioners and catalysts in Far North Queensland. They’ve seen fruit among Indigenous communities, everyday Aussies in various contexts, and returned soldiers. Enjoy listening as Steve and Mel share during their recent Cairns training. 

Steve shares how he was raised in the Western Province of PNG, later moving to Australia where he met and married Mel—who also carried a strong passion for the lost. They began as youth leaders and saw some fruit, but they were discontent when comparing it to what they read in the Book of Acts. Then something shifted.

Mel tells a story about searching for their lost dog in a crocodile-breeding mangrove area. In that moment, God spoke to them:

“You are willing to lay your lives down to find this lost dog but what about my lost children?”

That moment marked a turning point. The call of God was clear: to seek the lost. But they began asking, “What’s the best way to do this?”

They soon realised that the mission wasn’t just about making disciples, but making disciple-makers. This led them to movements. They began listening to what God was already doing and found themselves needing to let go of preconceived ideas and ‘baggage’ in order to embrace DMM.

Their vision now is to see movements birthed—lost people coming into the Kingdom across North Queensland, into PNG, and beyond to the nations.

Steve explains that God’s passion ignites passion in us. Often as Christians, we feel passionate but don’t know what to do with it—and we settle. But our hearts must remain fertile. He challenges us with a reflection from the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 28:16-20):

“Where is our heart at? Is it in good soil? Are we reproducing? We need to make sure the soil of our heart remains fertile…How do we make the soil [of our hearts] good again? We go to Jesus and surround ourselves with likeminded people. As a disciple-maker, this is our core.” (Steve)

Mel shares the paradigm shift she and Steve underwent: moving from addition to multiplication of disciples. They illustrate this through a simple ‘build-up tiggy’ tag game.

“There are people in our lives that even the best evangelists or preachers can’t reach. There are people in our networks who only we can ‘tag’.” (Mel)

Mel explains how starting with 30 people each reaching 30 more over 30 years results in 900 people—addition. But beginning with just two people who each multiply yearly over 30 years could reach over 1 billion—multiplication.

“So wherever you find yourself, maybe in a small country town or a big city, and you are lonely asking the question ‘where do I start?’… just grab someone else. Multiplication can start with two people.” (Mel)

In North Queensland, for every church that is planted, five are closing down. Steve and Mel highlight the urgency of recognising the spiritual climate. Yet Jesus didn’t just add—he multiplied. He modelled this for his disciples and commissioned them in Matthew 28:16–20. Once again they draw attention to the final soil in the Parable of the Sower—the one that multiplies. That’s the soil Jesus is calling us to be today.

Luke 10:6 shows how Jesus sent out his disciples to find ‘people of peace’. These people are the ones we are called to pour into. They are spiritually open, hungry, and ready to share. They often become gateways to entire communities.

Biblical examples of people of peace include:
• The Woman at the Well (John 4:1–42)
• The Demoniac (Mark 5:1–20)
• The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:16–36)
• Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10)
• Cornelius (Acts 10)
• Lydia (Acts 16:11–15, 40)
• Levi (Luke 5:27–32)
• Nathanael (John 1:45–51)
• Man with Leprosy (Mark 1:40–45) and many others…

People of peace come in all shapes and backgrounds—whether possessed by demons or commanding Roman soldiers.

Steve and Mel close by sharing many present-day examples of people of peace they’ve met across Northern Queensland—those discovering Jesus and eager to make disciples within their own networks.

“Examples of people of peace we have seen here in North Queensland include those down in Mackay who are seeing fourth generation disciples. We’re also seeing people of peace amongst New Age occult circles, home schooling communities and doctors. People in remote communities, those who own small businesses and immigrant workers. Returned soldiers struggling with PTSD who are making disciples with their own network. Those we could never reach ourselves!”

In this second part of conversation with Emanuel Prinz—movement practitioner, researcher, and author of What Actually Starts Movements—we go deeper into what truly fuels lasting spiritual movements. While many focus on methods and tools, Emanuel invites us to look upstream—to the hearts and lives of the leaders God uses to spark and sustain movements.

At the core of this episode are two key character traits Emanuel and his team have identified in effective movement catalysts: Hunger for God and Radical Learning. These two qualities, he argues, are not just common traits—they actually predict a leader’s growth trajectory and long-term fruitfulness.

This is more than emotion—it’s a daily, disciplined pursuit of knowing and loving God deeply, often expressed through rich spiritual practices. It’s the foundation from which expectant faith, love, intercession, and boldness flow.

This is a posture of humility and curiosity. Movement leaders actively seek feedback, embrace failure, and adapt. Their teachability enables continual growth in ministry competence and spiritual maturity—even through seasons of disappointment.

Together, these traits mark a sharp contrast between catalytic leaders who continue to grow—and others who, though initially gifted, plateau or decline over time.

We also explore:

Emanuel reflects on the internal battles many leaders face and the need to give greater attention to the heart of the practitioner.

Looking ahead: Emanuel shares his vision to equip 50,000 catalytic leaders to reach unreached people groups and his hope for the future—rooted in the patience of the Father and the promise that the Kingdom will reach all nations.

🎧 Whether you’re a pioneer, leader, or simply someone longing to see God move in new ways—this episode will encourage you to slow down, go deeper, and hold onto the Father’s hand.

“Hold onto the Father’s hand every moment of your life. Remind yourself that the Father is with you. This is a huge confidence booster. It changes everything.” – Emanuel Prinz

Resources of Emanuel’s

Check out Emanuel’s brand new book and INSTANT #1 BESTSELLER: What Actually Starts Movements:

See his previous title Movement Catalysts – 

Subscribe to his blog and podcast – https://emanuelprinz.substack.com/

You can find out more about Emanuel’s ministry and his services to help boost movements at: www.catalyticleadership.info

In this two-part series, Dave sits down with Emanuel Prinz—movement researcher, author, and experienced practitioner who has witnessed God birth a disciple-making movement in a remote part of Sudan, resulting in thousands of new believers and hundreds of churches.

Emanuel is not only a pioneer on the ground but also a global researcher, having studied 147 movements worldwide, analyzing over 32,000 data points to understand what God uses to spark multiplication. The findings are captured in his latest book, What Actually Starts Movements.

“God uses different methods to start movements. Methods do matter. But it’s not just one method [that God uses]. God uses a particular kind of person”

Emanuel shares these staggering global insights in the first chapter of his book:

God is creating a wave in our time—the question is, how can we join Him?

“Frame your pursuit of movement as a pursuit of God. Movement is secondary. My first ambition each day is to say, ‘Father, let’s live this day together.’ Don’t resign yourself to thinking movements can’t happen where you are. Instead, ask daily, ‘Father, where are you at work and how can I join you?’”

🎧 Stay Tuned for Part 2 – where Emanuel dives deeper into leadership traits, multiplication principles, and how anyone can grow into the kind of person God uses.

Resources of Emanuel’s:

📘 Grab the Book:
Check out Emanuel’s brand new book and INSTANT #1 BESTSELLER: What Actually Starts Movements:

See his previous title: Movement Catalysts:

Subscribe to his blog and podcast – https://emanuelprinz.substack.com/

You can find out more about Emanuel’s ministry and his services to help boost movements at – www.catalyticleadership.info

In this episode, Dave reconnects with Sam Turner, a passionate disciple-maker from Northland, New Zealand. Sam shares his journey of faith, family, and a God-given vision to see New Zealand and the nations ignited for Jesus.

Sam’s move to Exmouth, WA, became a pivotal time of spiritual awakening (not to mention meeting his wife). He shares how a simple invitation to an Indigenous family for a meal blossomed into something deeply transformative. Sam met his German wife in WA. Married for just 3.5 years, they already had five children, including twins. Ministry isn’t just Sam’s calling—it’s a family mission.

Throughout his young adults years, Sam sensed a persistent nudge from God, with a constant inner voice saying, “have more faith in me.” This quiet yet powerful prompting drew him back to Jesus. He immersed himself in Scripture—reading through the Bible multiple times in just a year—and was deeply moved by God’s unwavering pursuit and faithfulness.

Sam’s wife, passionate about permaculture, prompted the family’s move to NZ. Arriving with a burdened heart for what they saw as a “fatherless nation,” they connected with a local church, and Sam became a pastor.

However a divine dissatisfaction stirred in Sam’s heart. He had a vision: a match striking a box, igniting flames that spread across a map of New Zealand and onto other continents. God was calling him to not hinder the Spirit and to teach the Word unapologetically.

Through a testimony of the power of prayer in Africa and the appearance of a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) sheet, Sam discovered the potential of Disciple Making Movements (DMM). Reading Contagious Disciple Making (by David and Paul Watson) confirmed his direction, and a team began to form.

“DMM is just a word we use to describe what God is doing.” – DMM Leader

Sam emphasises that DMM is not a method but Jesus’ model which continued throughout the book of Acts. This led Sam to re-evaluate the Great Commission and how teaching must be centred on obedience to Jesus, including the making of disciple-makers.

From drug dealers becoming disciples to gang members walking away from crime, Sam shares powerful stories of transformation. Social change follows spiritual obedience with families not just individuals being reached.

Sam also shares about his 12-year-old son who began a DBS with his friends. This sparked a new ministry—Kids for Kids—led by Sam’s wife, where children are now discipling other children.

Despite the fruit, Sam is still hungry for more. He sees DMM as a key to global transformation and longs to see a multiplying movement across New Zealand and beyond.

“Culture has moved, but the church hasn’t kept up.”

Sam challenges the traditional mindset of church, calling for a return to the Spirit-led, disciple-making patterns of the New Testament.

Sam leaves us with a challenge and an encouragement:

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

Reflective Questions:

God has prepared the works—He’s simply looking for a willing heart to say “yes”.

Check out more of Sam’s resources by visiting his website, disciplemakingmovement.com.

In this episode, Dave catches up with Mike Porteous while connecting with the Praxeis team and disciple-makers in New Zealand. Mike is a seasoned missions and church leader who has embraced a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM) paradigm—both locally and as far afield as Zambia. He shares his journey, key insights, and encouragement to keep disciple-making simple and Spirit-led.

From a farming background, Mike had a powerful encounter with God at 21 that launched him into decades of mission work—from the Philippines in the ’70s to serving with groups including YWAM since 1980. In the early 1990s, while on staff at what is now Gracecity Church, Mike’s hunger for real and lasting mission impact grew. Introduced to DMM through others and inspired by David and Paul Watson’s book Contagious Disciple Making, Mike knew this was a path he needed to pursue.

Mike’s DMM work has expanded into Zambia through a connection with a Sri Lankan man working there. Though 90% of Zambians are churchgoers, transformation was lacking. But through simple DBS tools, real change is taking root. Today, three DBS streams are multiplying, and Mike continues coaching leaders to sustain and grow the movement.

Despite initial slow traction, Mike’s persistence in starting DBS groups has led to surprising breakthroughs. One key moment came during a Sunday night training north of Auckland—attended by Sam Turner, who’s now seeing movement among gang communities. Multiplication is happening, and Sam is running far beyond what he could do himself.*

Mike reminds us of two things:

“The key people are probably already in your orbit….We tend to complicate things. Keep it super simple.”

*Hear more of the stories of God moving amongst gang members in the north of New Zealand at the end of this podcast.

In this episode, Dave catches up with Roger Hayward, our Praxeis New Zealand leader, while standing atop a stunning lookout in New Zealand’s North Island. From this mountain perch, they gaze over the town of Ngaruawahia — home to one of the most significant marae in Aotearoa, Tūrangawaewae Marae — the royal residence of the Māori King and a symbolic heart of the Māori people.

Together, they reflect on a wave of spiritual momentum and acceleration sweeping across New Zealand, particularly in regions like Northland. Roger shares powerful stories of movement — including within gang communities, where one leader is using Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) to help members break free from addiction and experience transformation.

Their conversation also turns to the recent Cardinal Points Prayer and the upcoming DMM Connect gathering. The Cardinal Points Prayer saw the team travel to the north, south, east, and west of the nation, praying into what God is doing across the land. This weekend’s DMM Connect will bring together people from a variety of contexts.

One such person is a church leader from central Auckland with a heart for university students — a direct answer to long-standing prayers for the next generation. This leader has found fresh clarity through connecting with Praxeis workers and engaging with the ’21 Days To Becoming a Disciple Maker’ book by Jim Britts. God is stirring hearts with a call to simplicity and obedience.

Dave reflects on the role of a catalyst leader like Roger — someone who doesn’t try to do everything, but instead finds and releases workers in diverse contexts. Roger speaks honestly about the challenges in New Zealand: the need to embed deeply in local culture while also carrying the heart of Jesus into every sphere. He emphasises the importance of shared language and movement DNA across diverse teams — especially in a country like New Zealand, where over 40% of Auckland’s 1.8 million residents were born overseas, with some suburbs reaching up to 80%.

Roger poses the key question: how does the Gospel take root in such a mosaic of cultures? The answer lies in staying faithful to the DNA of Disciple-Making Movements — Word and Spirit. The expression may look different in prisons, among immigrants, or with students, but the foundation remains the same: the Word of God. It’s not our idea — it’s God’s. And the journey requires time, faithfulness, and perseverance.

Roger offers a powerful image of scaffolding: workers coming alongside to build and support until others can carry the vision forward in their own context. Then, the scaffolding comes down. “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21) becomes a theme echoed throughout the episode.

In the final minutes, Dave and Roger share their hearts for the nations — including Japan — and call listeners to pray bigger and be ready to step into what God is doing both globally and locally.

“Keep going. This journey with DMM can be tough — like climbing a mountain — but there will be plateaus where we clearly see God at work. Our God is a good Father. As He sent Jesus, so He sends us. Don’t compare yourself to others. Rest with the Father when you need to, and keep being obedient to Jesus. Comparison kills — but obedience brings life. Enjoy the journey!”

In this episode, we catch up with Steve Addison, a key voice in the global disciple-making movement (DMM) space. Steve shares compelling stories from his recent travels across movement hotspots—from Lebanon to Laos, Indonesia, and beyond. 

• Lebanon: The Story of Mohammed

A violent man transformed by Jesus after a dream and a divine encounter with a faithful disciple-maker who barely spoke enough of the local language. His entire family and surrounding villages are now experiencing the gospel through his transformation.

• Laos: A Widow’s Obedience

After her husband (a movement leader) was murdered, a widow hears God say, “His call is now yours.” She now leads teams planting movements across borders, showing deep faith despite grief and persecution.

• Indonesia: Facebook & the Gospel

Innovative use of Facebook to connect seekers to online Bible studies, eventually linking them to field workers. Many finish the course and begin meeting face-to-face—resulting in new groups and churches starting in hard-to-reach places.

• Global Snapshot:

With over 2,000+ known DMMs and more than 115 million people (1.4% of the global population) involved, movements are spreading globally—demonstrating that God is using ordinary people to bring extraordinary transformation.

• Texas Death Row Story:

Inmates, not expert chaplains, bring the gospel to fellow prisoners—like Tracy, a death row inmate who gave his life to Christ and died singing Amazing Grace. A powerful example of how disciple-making happens through everyday believers.

• India–Australia Connection: Harry’s Story

A young Sikh-background believer from Melbourne now boldly shares his faith both locally and seeking to do the same with those back in India—another reminder that movements begin in the lives of transformed individuals.

• God is moving globally through everyday people, not just professional leaders.

• It’s not just about multiplication—it’s about transformation and obedience.

• Movements thrive when ordinary believers faithfully love, share, and disciple others.

• Focus on the next person God puts in front of you. We never graduate from disciple-making.

What’s Next for Steve?

Steve is working on a new book documenting case studies from movements across the world (including his next trip to a nation in Central Asia). Let’s pray for wisdom for Steve as he captures and communicates these stories like the biblical author Luke.

Final Encouragement:

Stay faithful to the call: make the next disciple. Jesus’ invitation still stands—“Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

• Steve Addison’s book: “Acts and the Movement of God” — now available as an audiobook on Audible (and Spotify if you are a subscriber).