Ministry of Multiplication - ETHIOPIA

Written By Bart Physioc

by Hizkias Fako

My name is Hizkias, but my friends call me Hezekiah. I proudly represent Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, where there is an urgent need for discipleship. My goal is to implement the Step-by-Step Discipleship Process across the country by working with dedicated servants of God who are passionate about this mission. By forming committed teams aligned with the principles of 2 Timothy 2:2, we aim to spread the Word and cultivate disciples in various regions. The enthusiasm for the Gospel is palpable throughout Ethiopia, with many who are eager to engage in discipleship training. Carrying out this God-given command, we are committed to sharing the Gospel and empowering individuals to become true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and further the mission of discipleship throughout the nation.

Hezekiah (behind the laptop) with a group of disciples in training.

Eight teams of church pastors are working with me to implement the Step-by-Step Process through one-on-one mentoring. This initiative aims to help individuals, including key church leaders, promote Discipleship International (DI) across Ethiopia. These teams will undergo training and will “graduate” by passing an oral exam at the end of February 2026. Currently, there are 48 active members among the DI disciples, which includes the eight team leaders. The goal of this training is to strengthen their relationships with God and with one another within the Ethiopian Christian community. As Ethiopian churches grow into true followers of Jesus Christ, Ethiopia has the potential to become a missionary country, sending discipleship missionaries to Eastern Africa and the Middle East. I pray for this discipleship approach to spread throughout Ethiopia in the name of Jesus!

Afework Anjullo from the Hawassa area

Since everyone on my team is from the same town, we support one another in prayer and study, which strongly reflects our team's unity. It’s encouraging to see that we each have a unique understanding of discipleship and recognize the importance of committing to prayer, especially at the beginning of our journey with Jesus. May the Lord continue to bless our group, deepen our understanding of His Word and use to glorify Him.

Bekele Koronto (behind the laptop)

I emphasize the Step-by-Step Process as an effective method for fostering a deeper connection with our inner life and cultivating a closer relationship with God. Commitment to prayer facilitates access to God's presence. The principles of disciple-making provide guidance for following Jesus' example and drawing nearer to God. In Addis Ababa, our teams gathered with me for in-person training, focusing on prayer commitment. We also examined key aspects of discipleship that can enhance our studies and maintain our focus. The Step-by-Step Process delivers comprehensive spiritual and theological instruction and promotes lifelong dedication to the Lord. We love God and dedicate ourselves to this training.

Alexino Pembele from Addis Ababa

Being a disciple entails both sharing our faith in God and His gospel with the world's lost. Praying for those who have devoted their lives to the Lord is crucial because it symbolizes our shared desire to seek His direction. Recognizing who we were before Christ changed our lives, confessing our faults in order to become one with Him, and accepting His forgiveness are the first steps in this process. By doing these things, we may unite our spiritual energy and create the strength necessary to produce greater fruit in our lives. The Step-by-Step Guidebook is a fantastic resource!

Tamiru Mena with fellow disciples

The Step-by-Step Process has enabled me to reflect inwardly. I have learned two key and important lessons alongside my group members. The first is that we have come to understand the essence of discipleship. The second is the crucial role that prayer plays in becoming a disciple. Today, we prayed together before lunch, saying, "God, thank you for giving us this opportunity !"

Nana Tiyamo (far left) next to Hezekiah and two other disciples in training

Over time, I have discovered two essential spiritual practices that enable me to reflect inwardly alongside my friends. The first one is the definition of discipleship, which I have come to understand in a new way. The second, and most important, is learning the Prayer of Commitment because it focuses on how we begin life with Jesus. Through prayer, I have gained a deeper understanding of my spiritual journey. Our group study has transformed our comprehension of these concepts, and for this opportunity, we are truly thankful to the Lord!

We had a wonderful experience during our first session with the Addis Ababa team and we hope to have similar encounters with the southern teams in the future. Everyone came together to pray, go through the Step-by-Step training, enjoy lunch, and opt for a face-to-face meeting instead of a Zoom call. I truly value the time spent with all the teams during this initial session. Discipleship International is making significant progress in the hearts of believers in Ethiopia, working to reach over 130 million people with its rapid outreach efforts. - Hezekiah

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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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DI Partner Retreat - KENYA