Making Disciples who Make Disciples in Zambia

Written By Bart Physioc

by Edward Phiri

Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord  Christ Jesus! I am Edward Phiri from Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. I was born from the family of 10: five boys and five girls (I’m #6). I received Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord in 1992. My wife, Diness, and I have six children: two boys and four girls. I’m the founder of “Jesus Is Life Pentecostal Church,” serving now as pastor of the main church in Lusaka and overseer of four branches - three are in the province of Lusaka and the fourth is located in the Eastern province of Zambia. Additionally, I serve as a Ministry Partner with Disciplers International and my wife serves as a Ministry Associate. Together we are committed to the work of making disciples who do likewise.

God is transforming lives in Lusaka through Disciplers International

WEEKLY TRAINING PROGRAMS

I have developed a weekly program on Saturdays during which I and fellow Disciplers teach learners (i.e. Disciples) about the discipleship training we offer: Step-by-Step Guide to Spiritual Intimacy. This training has become easy to access and employ because all of the materials are readily available on the DI website at https://www.disciplersinternational.com/Disciplers International trained me to train others, generation after generation. This is what 2 Timothy 2:2 is all about!

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One-on-One and Small Groups

Our primary method to reach untrained multitudes is one-on-one, but we also train in small groups (no more than 12). We do this to enhance interaction and develop relationships that lead toward spiritual intimacy. We simply follow the example of ministry that the Lord Jesus demonstrated for us in the gospels. I’m pleased to say that this approach is working quite well in Zambia!

Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Lungu from Lusaka

Since the time we started discipleship training we have been a happy couple! This is because we have experienced the “Goal of  Discipleship,” which is to enjoy spiritual Intimacy with God and each other. We are really happy and truly thankful. May the Lord bless Disciplers International for the good work they are doing in Jesus Mighty Holy Name!

Spiritual Growth and Multiplication through the Step-by-Step Process

There is multiplication in our ministry because we have learned the secret, which Matthew reveals by purposefully closing his gospel account with Jesus telling us to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) This is what our Lord did and it’s what He expects us to do as well, because the GREAT COMMISSION is not an option but a command! As a pastor in Lusaka, Zambia, my commitment is to lead the churches I oversee in obedience to this command.

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Bart Physioc

Bart’s interest in discipleship began at the time of his conversion in 1978, while serving in Guam as a Coast Guard officer. After reading the four gospels in the New Testament, Bart was moved to accept Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord. He wanted to be a disciple, but didn’t understand how discipleship was supposed to work, and no one took the initiative to mentor him. Bart’s early discipleship experience was limited to reading books on the subject and going through study guides. Although examples were evident throughout Scripture, but Bart did not have such an experience personally.

While attending Golden Gate Theological Seminary in California, Bart took several courses on discipleship. From those classes, he took the most useful and practical elements of each model and produced a guidebook of his own that was comprehensive in scope, yet concise in presentation. After graduating in 1983 with a Master of Religious Education degree, Bart spent three years developing a discipleship model specifically for college students at the University of Idaho, where he served as Campus Minister. Upon returning to Golden Gate Seminary for his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees, Bart tailored the discipleship model for church plants and then instituted that model in the church he planted and pastored in California. As an Army Chaplain, Bart used the Discipler/Disciple model which led many service members to Christ and provided new believers with a set of tools to disciple others.

Convinced that disciple-making requires a relationship between a mentor (“Discipler”) and learner (“Disciple”), Bart created the 14-Step Discipleship Process, which was launched in 2000 and has been used worldwide to grow Disciples of Christ into Disciplers for Christ. In 2022 he launched a new presentation of the discipleship process called Step-by-Step.

While still serving in the military, Bart helped to establish Disciplers International in 2006 to provide free Discipleship Resources and Training for all who follow Jesus, and obey His call to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

https://disciplersinternational.com
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Transformative Impact in the DRC