September 10-13 in Panama City, Panama, DNA leaders and partners from all over Latin America will gather to share stories, renew vision and address the Great Commission which involves making disciples of all nations!
The kingdom of God is a mysterious but central aspect of the Christian faith.
Out of the 40 parables Jesus taught to his disciples and to others within earshot, 18 specifically were about the kingdom. In the four gospels, the phrases kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God are referenced 97 times!
Hein van Wyk, part of DNA’s Global Leadership Team and an excellent teacher, gave perhaps the most thorough explanation that we have seen of the kingdom of God at the 2013 DNA Global Forum in Brazil. Here, you’ll find his presentation in two parts. Please watch and share with your friends and colleagues!
Possessing the Kingdom (Part 1) by Hein van Wyk from Disciple Nations Alliance.
Possessing the Kingdom (Part 2) by Hein van Wyk from Disciple Nations Alliance.
Since 1999, DNA partners from all over the world have gathered about every two years to renew their vision for their work, to share how the biblical worldview plays out in their various ministries, and to build new partnerships for even greater impact.
This year, the DNA Global Forum was a milestone. For the first time, it was hosted in Latin America, and two new countries declared themselves as local DNA networks: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic!
The Forum, in mid-March, was hosted by the newly formed DNA-Brazil network. More than 60 delegates from 16 countries spent six days at a retreat center operated by Igreja Batista da Lagoinha, a 51,000-member church in the city of Belo Horizonte. Many leaders and members of the church participated in the Forum, the topic of which was “Possessing the Kingdom: A Call to Truth and Love.”
Here are some reflections on the week by John and Kate, long-time partners of the DNA serving in South Asia:
John and Kate on the DNA Global Forum 2013 from Disciple Nations Alliance on Vimeo.
Below are a few photos from the week. Click here to see many more! Over the next few months, we’ll feature stories on many of these people and the work God is doing through them. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to stay informed!
Some long-believed lies in southern Africa were exposed during a recent Biblical Worldview and Transformational Development Conference.
Over 40 people attended the three-day event, conducted at Mawilini in September. They came from the communities of Mawilini and Kandeni and represented four denominations: the IRM, Kalibo Church, Methodist, and Catholic.
Hein van Wyk (center) facilitating with Pastor Jose Ganhale (L) translating into Takwane and Rev. Danie Murray (R) translating into Portuguese.
The session was sponsored by four partners: Hope for Africa (Hein van Wyk), Hande Vat Project (Rev Danie Murray), TOPIA (Rev Johannes Aucamp) and The Tumbine Synod of the Reformed Church of Mozambique (IRM). The IRM Synod was represented by Pastors Souza Estaforde (IRM Liazi) and Jose Ganhale (IRM Namitimba) who are both being trained as conference facilitators.
The IRM congregation at Mawilini, pastored by Pastor Carlos Herbert, Moderator of the Tumbine Synod, hosted the event.
This conference was the first in Mozambique to be arranged and funded by the local community. The desired outcomes were: 1) a growing vision for community development through cultural transformation, 2) a basic understanding of worldview and of the role of the Church in society, 3) all of this practically applied through the demonstration of God’s love in every area of community life.
The facilitator team debriefing
During the conference the delegates had the opportunity to deal with cultural lies like tribalism, male superiority, the lie that work is a curse, and fatalism. In small groups they discussed the roots and fruits of these lies, how they are transmitted in the culture, what the Bible says about them, and what practical steps can be taken to expose these deceptions.
The group made one practical application during the week. The married men left their benches to cross the aisle and sit with their wives on the floor on the other side. The next morning the wives in turn sat with their husbands on the benches. This simple action showed a changed mindset, one which acknowledged that Jesus Christ had demolished the wall of separation between male and female.
The following are some of the comments delegates made during the course of the conference:
A wide range of ages was represented
Pastors Souza Estaforde (R) and Jose Ganhale (L) being trained as facilitators
As a result of the training, three Seed Projects were done by the participants. The first was the repair of a damaged bridge at Maramotondo. A second project, done by people from different denominations to demonstrate unity, was repairing the house of Pastor Kalito Mario (the pastor from Kalibo Church) which had recently burnt down. The small group also raised 100 Malawi Kwacha and presented the gift to him at the closing of the conference.
A group of youth did the third project. They composed a new song and sang it to the conference attendees at the conclusion of the three-day gathering. One of the truths of the conference lessons was captured in the lyrics: “To work is not a curse; it is a blessing. Go and read Genesis 2:15.”
By Hein van Wyk
Members of the DNA Global Leadership Team met December 3-5, 2010 at Darrow and Marilyn Miller’s home in the mountains of Central Arizona. Darrow is co-founder of the Disciple Nations Alliance.
Members in attendance were regional alliance leaders Dennis Tongoi (East Africa), HeinVanWyk (Southern Africa), Anna Ho (Asia), as well as co-founders Darrow Miller, Bob Moffitt and president of the International Secretariat, Scott Allen. Hein serves as chairman of the GLT. Unable to attend were Ben Wong (former Asia Regional Coordinator) and Cleiton Olivera (Latin America Regional Coordinator).
Members of the Global Leadership Team meeting at Darrow Miller's home in Central Arizona, December 2010
The GLT affirmed the ten-year strategic plan (available here), and agreed on the need to better define categories of involvement. A “lexicon” that includes definitions of key words and categories for involvement will be developed in 2011. It was also determined that the DNA office in Phoenix, Arizona would serve as the “International Secretariat” for the Global Leadership Team.
The GLT is comprised leaders of regional networks of the Disciple Nations Alliance along with DNA co-founders and the president of the International Secretariat. Regional network leaders are selected by the members of regional steering committees. In addition to the lexicon, protocols for GLT involvement will be drafted in 2011.
Come & Listen: a chronicle of the DNA global movement 