Conversations as you Go

In this episode, we hear from ‘Steve,’ a DMM social media catalyst and practitioner who shared at the 2024 Nairobi Conference. Steve gives us insight into how social media can be used to find people of peace and transition from online engagement to real-life disciple-making.

Steve’s journey highlights both the potential and limitations of digital disciple-making. He emphasises the importance of on-the-ground disciple-makers. His message is clear: we should use media wisely—to catalyse movements, not replace real-life discipleship.

Steve’s Story & Lessons Learned

“The faster that they can meet face to face, the more likely they are to multiply.”

While caring for his terminally ill wife, Steve turned to social media to continue making disciples. He initially tried online Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) but soon realised that true disciple-making requires face-to-face relationships. This led him to experiment with running ads to connect with seekers and find persons of peace.

One of the stories he shares is about Madonna, a young Muslim woman drawn to Jesus. However, she ultimately lacked a local disciple-maker to walk with her, underscoring the critical need for on-the-ground believers.

Challenges in Using Social Media for Disciple-Making

• Media doesn’t make disciples—only disciples make disciples.

“It’s easier to teach a disciple-maker how to use social media than it is to teach a social media person how to make disciples.”

• Broadcasting faith content isn’t enough; engagement and relationship-building are key.

• Online seekers need local, Spirit-filled believers to walk with them.

How Social Media to Movement Works (Finding People of Peace Online)

“Yes, social media is a dark place, but we need to be shining the light of Jesus into this darkness.”

1. Attracting Seekers – Media is used to attract spiritual seekers who are already on a spiritual journey.

2. Identifying Seekers – When engaging with people online, the goal isn’t to convince them but to identify those who are genuinely seeking.

3. Filtering Responses – Digital filterers help discern legitimate seekers through relational engagement rather than debate.

4. Connecting to Face-to-Face Discipleship – Once seekers are identified, they should be connected with local disciple-makers as quickly as possible. The faster they meet in person, the more likely they are to multiply.

Observations from the Most Fruitful Fields

• Disciple-making happens face-to-face, not online.

• Digital filterers should have bridge-building spiritual gifts. They focus on relational engagement rather than debating or convincing people.

• Effective disciple-makers prioritise starting groups within existing networks of seekers.

• Local, experienced, and proven disciple-makers are best suited for filtering seekers.

• The focus should be on disciple-makers, not just hiring people for online or offline engagement. This is spiritual work—social media is only an access ministry. We are not making disciples online.

• The most fruit often comes from the hardest places.

Steve’s Vision & Next Steps

Steve’s vision is to create systems, processes, and tools that anyone can use to find persons of peace online. The goal is to test, refine, and replicate these processes to train disciple-makers in DMM. The hope is to develop scalable systems that can be freely shared across the Kingdom of God.

What We Need to Use Social Media for Disciple-Making

• At least two committed disciple-making movement workers

• Access to laptops, computers, reliable phones, and internet

• A network of disciple-makers who can meet face-to-face with seekers

Steve's Final Encouragement

“Let’s go and take everything we have learned to the ends of the earth.”

This episode challenges us to see social media not as the end goal but as a tool—one that can help find seekers and connect them with real-life disciple-makers. Are you ready to use digital tools wisely and shine the light of Jesus into the darkness?

In this episode, our friend and movement author Steve Addison shares powerful stories from his global travels as he researches how God is at work. One of the most remarkable movements he has encountered is happening inside maximum security prisons in Houston, Texas, where disciple-making is transforming ‘death row’ into ‘life row.’

God’s Glory on ‘Death Row’

In six of the fourteen prison sections, 80 out of 168 prisoners have turned to Christ, forming multiplying disciple-making groups and churches. Over the past three years, 24 men have been executed, and 20 of them were disciples of Jesus—a powerful testimony of transformation behind bars.

Prisoners are putting it this way:

“This isn’t death row for us—it’s life row because we have found Jesus.”

So What Can We Learn?

The movement in these prisons challenges us with key lessons:

• Raising the Bar of Discipleship – Only those serious about change are invested in.

• Baptism = Commissioning – Like Jesus’ baptism, every believer is ordained to make disciples.

• Simple, Reproducible Methods – Disciple-making training and equipping at its core.

• Deep Love and Generosity – A community marked by sincere love.

• Partnership – Working with prison authorities to see transformation.

Movement in the West

God is starting movements in prisons, what about us on the world outside? These same principles can bring transformation anywhere.

Steve’s Encouragement for Us

Are we practicing simple, reproducible disciple-making like Jesus and the early church? Our identity isn’t in the results—trust God for the fruit and stay faithful in the basics of discipleship.

Let’s take what’s happening in prisons as a challenge: If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

In this episode, Dave Coles joins us to share insights from his new book, 'Living Fire'. This book tells the powerful story of Aychi and how God is sparking movements in some of the hardest places on earth. You will be inspired as you listen that God is at work in extraordinary ways. Are we willing to be part of it?

'Living Fire: Advancing God’s Kingdom in Challenging Places'

Get the book on Amazon

Get the book via Praxeis

Key highlights from the book:

• The spread of the gospel in high-security regions, particularly among Muslim communities in Africa.

“We are going everywhere except hell to share the gospel.” (Aychi summing up their mission)

• The incredible fruitfulness of disciple-making movements (DMMs) in places where, just decades ago, the idea of such breakthroughs seemed impossible.

How Are These Movements Growing?

The book explores 22 key factors that ignite, accelerate and sustain these movements. Some Dave mention include:

• A Healthy Dissatisfaction – A deep urgency to see the gospel spread.

• Extraordinary Prayer – More than regular prayer, it’s serious, informed, and strategic.

• Focusing on Relationship, Not Religion – Critical for ministry among Muslims but also relevant in post-Christian cultures.

• Access Ministry – Identifying and serving the practical needs of different communities.

• Showing Jesus’ Radical Love – Genuine, sacrificial love opens doors and hearts.

• Holy Boldness Amidst Hardship – Persevering despite challenges to find people of peace.

• Person of Peace – Finding those open to the message (and messenger) and willing to share it.

• Discovery Bible Study (DBS) – Helping people discover God’s Word for themselves.

The Power of ‘Hot Coals’

A standout principle from the book is ‘Hot Coals’—the idea that movements grow best when those who are already living as radical disciples are sent to ignite new fires elsewhere.

Aychi explains:

“In our rural areas, we take a hot coal from one neighbor’s fire and bring it to another neighbor to restart a fire.”

How Can We Join In?

With God, all things are possible—but not always easy. The book challenges us to examine our own disciple-making journey by asking:

• “How am I doing with these movement factors (principles)?”

• “God, what are the practical steps I can take as I make disciples?”

God delights in using His children for His mission. Whether in high-security places or our local communities, these principles apply. The call is clear: every believer is a disciple, and every disciple can make disciples.

Further Reading from Dave Coles:

• Bhojpuri Breakthrough – A look at one of the world’s most remarkable disciple-making movements.

• Cabbages in the Desert – Stories of kingdom impact in unlikely places.

Dave speaks with Aila Tasse, author of Cabbages in the Desert, at the Nairobi DMM leaders gathering. Aila shares practical steps for catalysing movements in even the most challenging contexts.

Key Highlights:

• Movements are thriving globally through ordinary people living with simple faith and obedience.

• In the West, Christianity is often intellectualized and individualistic, hindering relational, God-dependent disciple-making.

Steps to Catalyse a Movement:

1. Engage – Use spiritual mapping and prayer.

2. Raise Awareness – Cast vision and train locals.

3. Build & Train Teams – Equip those attempting first steps of DMM.

4. Coach & Network – Connect practitioners to share insights.

5. Develop Leaders – Identify and develop leaders.

6. Multiply Catalysts – Equip leaders to catalyse movements.

Networking (Learning and Seeing):

Aila emphasises the importance of making disciples for Jesus, not organisations. Movements thrive when leaders embrace a posture of learning, depend on God, and prioritise the DNA of disciple-making over branding.

Aila isn’t just learning—he’s seeing movements emerge. Out of his vision for 150 movements, he has already witnessed 69 movements take root. By sharing resources freely and focusing on empowering others, Aila has seen God’s work multiply beyond organizational boundaries.

Final Encouragement:

• Trust God’s timing and keep sowing seeds with simple faith and simple obedience. 

• Stay connected in networks and cultivate perseverance—it’s the fruit of the Spirit.

• Keep going until the Lord comes back; His didn’t tell us to come, but his call remains, it is “Go.”

Dave chats with Roy Moran from New Generations in a cafe in Nairobi about the growing global impact of DMM.

• Global Growth: DMM is thriving in hundreds of places, proving it can happen anywhere.

• A Gospel of Life: Moving beyond forgiveness to a Gospel that generates life, helping people flourish and follow Jesus with allegiance and transformation.

• Adapting Locally: Western contexts need patience and relational connection, focusing on the 'why' behind DMM practices, not just importing methods (the 'what').

• Perseverance: Building trust and allowing small steps of obedience over time are essential to see breakthrough and multiplication.

Roy finishes by encouraging us in the West to focus on micro-movements and measuring their “R number” (like during COVID) to assess how effectively our disciples are multiplying. If we help give and focus on people with an infection rate above 1 enough time, we will see phenomenal impact.  

June 2025 Global Catalyst Camp (Nairobi): Learn more and register here.

In this episode, Dave speaks with Patrick, a leader overseeing over 90 churches across 16 districts in Sierra Leone, who shares insights on developing a strategy for abundant prayer. Patrick, a disciple of Shodankeh (featured in Engage Africa videos), highlights how prayer fuels discipleship and movement growth.

Building a Culture of Abundant Prayer

Patrick outlines practical steps for creating a prayer-focused movement:

1. Extend Daily Prayer Times: Begin with the time you are currently praying and increase gradually (e.g. 15-30 minutes).

2. Weekly Intercessors Prayer: Designate intercessors for every group to pray daily.

3. ‘Upper Room’ Prayer Days: Dedicate full days of uninterrupted waiting on God.

4. Weekly Prayer and Fasting: Set a consistent day (e.g., Wednesday) for fasting and prayer. Start small and grow to longer durations. 

“Jesus told us to survive without Him, and prayer is how we do it—we move the movement through abundant prayer.”

Key Elements of the Prayer Strategy

Start with intercessors Prayer: Every group has intercessors connected to a regional prayer team. 

Regional Prayer Hubs: Weekly gatherings for intercessors to pray together.

Monthly ‘Prayer Quakes’: Intense, three-day spiritual warfare prayers, inspired by Acts 4:31.

• Example: Patrick is calling a “Altars Against Altars” Prayer Quake in October, calling for personal and communal fire through the Holy Spirit.

Finally, Prayer Mobilisation: Calling and teaching those in the wider community (inside or outside the church) to gather and pray.

Prayers Focused on Movement Goals

1. Spiritual Breakthroughs: For those being discipled and their communities.

2. Open Hearts: Praying for access to the people and places God has prepared for the Gospel.

3. Transformation of minds: Asking God to empower us to see change and transformation through His Word and Spirit.

4. More Disciple-Making Leaders: Inviting others to witness and participate in God’s transformative work.

The Power of Modeling Prayer

Patrick and Dave emphasise teaching prayer through example, saying, “The heart of discipleship is to model prayer.”

Encouragement for the West

Patrick shares from 1 John 5:14-15, reminding listeners to have confidence in God hearing our prayers and answering us when we pray according to his will. We know DMM is God’s will. He explains how upper room prayer unlocks God’s fire and empowerment:

Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give unto you power…”

Luke 24:49 “Do not leave Jerusalem”

Acts 1:8 “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”

Final Words

Patrick challenges listeners:

“God never calls us without backing us up. His backing comes through prayer. Mobilise people, create prayer hubs, and make prayer attractive. When you depend on God in prayer, you will never be disappointed.”

This episode is a compelling reminder of the transformative power of prayer in disciple-making movements. Prayer is paramount, and prayer is powerful.

Dave is still in Kenya, continuing with a third discussion in this series with movement leaders gathering in Nairobi. This episode Dave speaks with Pyry Winter, a Finnish movement leader about his vision for DMM and the importance of reaching and forming community amongst affinity groups in our urban Western contexts. His insights from Europe resonate with challenges many of us face in places like Australia and New Zealand. 

• Pyry’s Story and DMM Journey

• Being a former Lutheran pastor, Pyry was inspired by leaders like David Broodryk (248 Training) and Bill Hodgson (My Friends Training).

• Pyry began discipling Christians in what he calls a church affinity group, encouraging them to grow connections with people from the harvest. He focused on equipping this group to make disciples through intentional training (My Friends) and rhythms.

“Because we have freely received, freely we want to give away.” (Referring to Jesus’ words as he sent out the twelve in Matthew 10:8)

• God has formed a vision for Finland in Pyry’s heart as he yearns to see his nation play a key role in fulfilling the Great Commission, contributing to God’s work across Europe.

• Challenges of our urban culture in the West

• Pyry addresses the reality of isolation, individualism, and the need for genuine community in our urban settings. We hear how we can’t presume that deep relationships already exist within affinity groups. There is a need to intentionally form what he calls ‘pre-church communities’ where people can belong and engage, even with their busy schedules. 

• Example of engaging angry young conspiracy theorists in Finland

• Pyry shares an example of one of his teams engaging angry young conspiracy theorist men in Finland. He highlights how they engaged this group of outcast, broken men by: 

Identifying their brokenness (loneliness and lack of purpose).

Recognising the lies they are believing as well as their strengths (truth-seeking).

Responding by building ‘pre-church communities’ (where these young men felt like they belonged and started to be transformed by Jesus). 

• Word of Encouragement

“Jesus is doing a new thing in the Western urban environment. He is creating new wineskins and building His church as we make disciples. A new day is coming for the West, for Finland, and Europe—for the glory of God!”

In this episode, Dave connects with Rich Robinson, leader of the Movement Leaders Collective, during his time in Nairobi, Kenya. Rich brings profound insights into pioneering leadership in Western contexts, emphasizing biblical faithfulness and cultural adaptability. His reflections inspire movement leaders to take risks and embrace new paradigms for making disciples in a rapidly changing world.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• New Paradigms for Ekklesia (Church):

People often resist alternative forms of church that fit today’s mission context. Rich unpacks how these “vehicles” can serve the Kingdom.

• Insights from Rich’s Book, All Change:

Rooted in the Gospel of Luke, Rich outlines four phases of Jesus as a leader who pioneered a movement:

1. Dream (Luke 1–5): Envision a future guided by kingdom imagination.

2. Discover (Luke 6–11): Coaching small groups and building discipleship.

3. Design (Luke 12–22): Teaching Kingdom principles that can be contextualized.

4. Deploy (Luke 22–24): Mobilizing disciples for mission.

Rich’s book provides language for pioneering leaders to articulate the vision God has placed on their hearts.

👉 Explore free resources: allchangejourney.com/resources

👉 Get the book: Amazon Link

• Western Urban Challenges:

Rich explores how Western cities, with their fractured relational networks and competition for time, differ from rural contexts. He highlights how:

• Urban relationships are affinity-based, not geographically based.

• Missionaries need to find “people or places of peace” and experiment with connecting points (e.g. community needs, mental health, or physical care).

• Western urban contexts are complex, like a Rubik’s Cube, requiring us to stop, look, and listen to God’s work.

• Encouragement for us as leaders:

• Acts 4:13 reminds us that ordinary people, with the presence of Jesus, can be bold leaders.

• Leadership involves faithful obedience, learning from mistakes, and remaining passionate in discipleship.

• Find others to share the journey with—pray, encourage, and pioneer together.

Final Challenge to Listeners:

“Wherever God has placed you, be a disciple, be good news, and make disciples who make disciples. You’re not alone—find your community of pioneers and step boldly into the work of the Kingdom.”

📖 Scripture Highlight: Acts 4:13

🎙 Guest Links:

• Movement Leaders Collective

• Rich Robinson’s Book: All Change

Let’s journey together as we explore what it means to lead faithfully in complex, urban mission fields.

We reconnect with Jim Britts, author of 21 Days to Becoming a Disciple Maker, whilst both he and Dave gather in Africa with other DMM leaders. In this episode, we get an update from Jim from the States of some of the highlights happening around him with both his own community and collaborating with others. Highlights such as doing a 'push week'.

Push Week

A push week is when people come together from different places and focus on the harvest for a few days. Finding and then following up people of peace for the remainder of the week is what this 'push' is all about. The week can be covered in 'live prayer' through, for example, group messaging. This is a great way to get 'unstuck' for people who want to bring together a few others to engage a particular harvest field together.

Coaching - a key learn for Jim

Be in community for accountability, prayer and celebration.

Be a coach and get coached. Coaching can happen better in smaller groups where each person commits to focusing on a few others to coach each week. Coaching needs to include a deep relationship that asks 'fathering' questions which leads people into fruitfulness.

Remember as a coach, don't tell but lead people to the answer.

"Breakthrough happens through coaching - when someone helps you walk through doors that they have already walked through"

The phrase 'you are who you hang with' is true in DMM. So if we want to grow in disciple-making, we need to be in relationship with those who are behind, alongside and ahead of me.

We can be encouraged that movements are God's work that are happening through ordinary yet humble people just like us.

Word of encouragement

Choosing this journey of making disciple is choosing a journey of rejection. Discouragement can come with this. Jim then asked us this question: 'Will you do disciple making only if others are doing it with you or if God brings the fruit? Or are you doing disciple-making for the rest of your life? Instead of an 'only if', we need to have an 'even if' mentality. Even if our dreams aren't met or even if everyone else walks away.

Today we have the privilege of hearing from Tom and Sophie Butler who have intentionally placed themselves in the multicultural suburb of Auburn in West Sydney. They have an awesome vision of seeing multiplying hubs established all across the city. Be blessed as you hear their heart and stories of how God has called them into DMM and how lost people around them in Sydney are being impacted by Jesus.

Tom and Sophie’s story

Tom and Sophie have spent almost 5 years pursuing God’s call to see disciple making movements birthed in Sydney. They share how exposure to DMM as late teenagers influenced them to follow God’s lead and start Discovery Groups with old school friends and jump into Auburn for the last two years. Jesus’ focus on discipling the lost and his unconditional love has captured their hearts to fully embrace God's vision for the nations in and beyond Sydney. 

Stories from and a vision for Sydney

These guys have been intentionally reaching out amongst the nations in Auburn, seeing Discovery Bible Studies start in places like a local Mosque and seeing people’s lives transformed by Jesus. Tom shares a powerful story of seeing a young Nepalese man reconciled with his father after responding to one of Jesus’ parables.

Tom and Sophie are part of a team called ‘Fruitpickers’ who carry a vision of seeing catalytic teams in every urban centre of Sydney and across Australia. They dream of seeing Discovery Groups grow into simple and organic churches amongst every people and affinity group of the city and into the nations. 

Word of encouragement

Tom reflects on Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8):

“Movement will take sustained effort for a long time. Jesus is asking us, ‘Will I find faith on earth when I come?’ Will we maintain faith that a movement is not only possible but it is God’s will and desire?"

Sophie finishes the podcast by praying for us and says, “Don’t let the fear of making mistakes get in the way of living out the call of God on your life!” 

Before moving on from this podcast, allow Jesus to ask you, "Will I find faith on earth when I come?". Ask yourself, "Is fear of making mistakes creeping into my life as a disciple maker?". Pray for God to give you fresh faith to take risks in pursuing his heart for disciple making movements in your context.