Announcing the launch of Reconciled World

We are so excited for our friends in Asia to officially launch their new organization called Reconciled World!

God is doing astounding, community-transforming work through these people whose mission is to apply Biblical Truth to brokenness in all areas of life.

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By understanding and applying Biblical Truth in a variety of contexts, Reconciled World tackles some of the most pressing issues of our day:

• Ashish Centre for the Differently Abled (India): Helping others see the blessing and potential of children with special needs
• Ending Gendercide (India): Building a movement to see the end of gendercide
• Skills and Discipleship Center (Southeast Asia): Training youth to be future leaders
• The Create Commission (India): Creating art to give a voice to the marginalized
• Truth-Centered Transformation (Southeast Asia): Equipping rural churches to move their communities out of poverty

While each of these programs already has been operating for years, they now will be united under the umbrella organization Reconciled World. Click here to learn more about these programs. In past blog posts, we have shared some exciting stories from these partners here, here and here; click here to read many more.

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Story: The Drunken Pastor

History with the DNA

The founder of Reconciled World (a current member of the DNA’s board of directors) attended a Vision Conference in 1999 where she encountered a new set of Biblically grounded ideas on poverty. Some of the key DNA messages about the local church and the impact of a biblical worldview on poverty became embedded in her mind, and she spent the next four years researching them through Scripture. In 2003, she began to test these ideas with local churches, and the response was “like an out-of-control fire.” Church leaders were thirsty for this training was transforming people’s lives.

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Over the years, walking by faith and listening to God’s direction, the Truth-Centered Transformation movement grew and, today, more than 1,000 churches in Southeast Asia have been trained to apply Biblical Truth to their communities. To learn details on this model, click here.

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From the founder: “Reconciled World (RW) leaders are great fans of the DNA teachings. Formerly part of Food for the Hungry, almost all the partners and program leaders of RW would point to studying the DNA ideas as a turning point in their ministry. As an organization, our focus is the application of these ideas.”

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Learn more by visiting reconciledworld.org.

First-ever DNA Regional Forum for Latin America was even better than expected

Considering the small coordination team, the short length of time to plan the event, and the lack of precedence in Latin America for an event like this, the first-ever DNA Regional Forum for Latin America was “even better than expected” with “electricity flowing through the room,” some attendees said.

More than 140 people from 16 nations, including a few from Spain and the US, converged upon Panama City September 10-13. The largest delegation–about 50 people–came from Peru, with Colombians composing the second-largest group. The crowd was filled with many very influential leaders like Pastor Hector Pardo from Colombia.

Those who came to the Regional Forum for Latin America either were invited by a friend, had read Discipling Nations or If Jesus Were Mayor, or knew about the DNA from seeds planted in the region over the years through Vision Conferences and other seminars.

“There was a lot of energy from the group and a sense that the prayer and seeding over the years is coming to fruition. Many people said this was a kairos moment for the Americas,” said DNA co-founder Darrow Miller.

What was the agenda for the conference?

The morning sessions were spent sharing about the DNA: vision, mission, operating principles, core truths and other central DNA messages. In the afternoons, delegates split into groups by country to pray and strategize together. Every evening, DNA practitioners like those from AMO or the Nehemiah Center shared about God’s work through their ministries. Meals were spent in a buzz of fellowship with old friends and meeting new friends.

What new things did people learn?

With so many high-level church leaders in attendance, the topic of servant leadership was very prominent. Long-time DNA leaders stressed the alliance’s identity as a movement–not an institution–and how that structure demands continual, humble servanthood of one another and the Lord, all for the advancement of God’s kingdom. (“We seek neither power nor glory” is operating principle #1 of the DNA.)

Yarley Niño, a member of DNA’s Global Leadership Team, the contact person for the DNA in Puerto Rico and the woman who spearheaded this forum, repeatedly stressed that with this movement, there is no power nor salary–only work.

What now?

Several volunteers stepped forward to form new Local Networks of the DNA in their home countries. Specifically, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Mexico had strong delegations of believers who expressed their desires to advance God’s kingdom by spreading DNA teachings within their own circles of influence.

These groups each were prayed over by the rest of the forum’s delegates, and we ask you to join us in praying for their attentiveness and obedience to God’s instruction as they move forward and organize.

This is how the DNA “virus” spreads–by grabbing onto the hearts and minds of hosts who takes the teachings and “infect” others with it. Read about how this happened in Africa here and here.

Also, many delegates discussed hosting a follow-up Vision Conference and Training-of-Trainers session for forum delegates to attend with key young leaders they know. If you will, please also pray for this effort as well!

Sustainable, amazing community transformation in Southeast Asia

One of the DNA’s seven core truths is that the ministry of the church must be wholistic. God is the Lord over all, and his sacrifice on the cross is meant to reconcile all things to himself (Col. 1:19-20). Just as Christ in his ministry addressed physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs, so must the church. The DNA exists to help local churches recognize and live out this calling.

In Southeast Asia, God is transforming individuals, families and whole communities through local believers applying biblical truth to their everyday lives. The results are stunning and long-lasting; this truly is transformation that only God could do. Here is one such report from our friends at Reconciled World, who closely worked with 30 churches in a certain rural area and returned to the region two years later to see the results.

While we have always believed that what God has started in these areas will continue, we didn’t have experience of what would happen. We were amazed to discover how much the areas have changed. Today, more than 95 percent of houses are made of concrete, whereas when we started, 95 percent were made of mud.

The community has made incredible strides in education. Only a few years ago, no one here continued school past grade nine. But during our visit, a pastor showed us a list of all the students from the area now attending university. Fifteen students (10 from the churches we worked with)  were granted scholarships by the government–a prize typically awarded to students in urban areas where there are better teachers. This is an astonishing accomplishment!

The groups were continuing to build roads opening up even more farm area. One pastor was acting as a buyer for most people in the area ensuring that everyone got fair prices. The communities were now investing in machinery to process their crops, further increasing their income.

Perhaps most startling was the news that six families now have cars! Cars are extremely expensive in this country. This is an incredible step up in a place where, only seven years ago, bicycles were considered a luxury. Families are using their vehicles to meet the community’s needs like transporting sick or injured people to the hospital.

God never ceases to amaze us with his ability to transform hearts and minds. May he receive all the glory for this wonderful work!

To learn more Reconciled World’s ideas, approach and programs, visit www.reconciledworld.org. Read more of their stories of transformation here!

Please pray for the first-ever DNA Regional Forum for Latin America!

Please join us in praying for an exciting development in the DNA global movement in Latin America!

September 10-13, more than 100 Christian leaders from Latin America and Spain will gather in Panama City to build relationships, renew their visions for their work and lives, and potentially form several new DNA local networks across the Spanish-speaking world.

Yarley Nino

Plans for this DNA Regional Forum for Latin America grew out of personal conversations and the stirring of the Holy Spirit at the DNA Global Forum in Brazil last March.

The initiative is being spearheaded by Yarley Niño, the contact person for the DNA local network in Puerto Rico.

Yarley also serves on the DNA’s Global Leadership Team and has directed Puerto Rico’s YWAM (Youth with a Mission) base since its inception in 1984.

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Please join us this week and next in praising the Lord for this opportunity and asking him to:

• Speak to the hearts and minds of those attending, stirring up new passion for the advancement of his kingdom
• Facilitate healthy, collaborative conversations among attendees, forming new relationships and strengthening existing ones
• Pave the way for safe journeys for everyone before and after the Forum

Our ultimate prayer is that God would receive all the glory for any good things that take place at this event or in DNA networks around the world.

You can learn more about this event here or by e-mailing info@disciplenations.org.

‘Nurturing the Nations’ Portuguese translation is underway!

“If I could have written only one book in my life, it would have been Nurturing the Nations,” says DNA co-founder Darrow Miller, who has written and co-written a total of 11 books. This book directly addresses one of the greatest causes of global poverty: the lie that men are superior to women.

Nurturing the Nations currently is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Romanian, and God is using it to heal broken relationships and hearts all over the world. (Click here to read a powerful story from Spain.)

Presently, DNA friends in England and Brazil are working hard to translate this book into Portuguese. We will announce the book here as soon as it’s finished, so stay tuned!

Please e-mail info@disciplenations.org with any questions.

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A tradução para o português de “Nurturing the Nations” está à caminho

     Se eu pudesse escrever um só livro em minha vida, seria o Nurturing the Nations, diz o co-fundador do DNA, Darrow Miller, que escreveu e co-escreveu o total de 11 livros. Este último destina-se diretamente a uma das grande causas da probreza global: a mentira de que o homem é superior a mulher.

     Nurturing the Nations está atualmente disponível em inglês, espanhol, romeno e chinês e Deus está usando-o para curar corações e relacionamentos destruídos por todo o mundo. (Clique aqui para ler uma poderosa história ocorrida na Espanha).

     Atualmente os amigos do DNA na Inglaterra e no Brazil estão trabalhando para traduzir este livro para o português. Nós anunciaremos o livro aqui assim que estiver disponível, fiquem sintonizados.

     Favor enviar e-mail para info@disciplenations.org com suas perguntas.

Upcoming conference: Raising up the next generation of Christian leaders in México

This announcement comes from our partners at Proyecto Amistad:

Please, consider joining us this Sept 24-26 in Guadalajara, México. Rev. José Luis Montecillos Chipres, author and historian, and Darrow Miller of Disciple Nations Alliance will be our main speakers. This is sure to be an important and very enjoyable time for the friends of Proyecto Amistad and other ministries to create new relationships, learn, and work together for transformative Christian education in México. Click here for updated information and full schedule. Translation will be available at all conference activities.For information, you can call or e-mail the “Conference Location” or contact Chris at: U.S. Cell: (830) 719-5812, or proyectoamistad@gmail.com.