Featuring: Dave Coles, author of God on the Move: Making Disciples Among the Nations📖 Book on Amazon💡 Related reading: Motus Dei: The Movement of God to Disciple the Nations



This episode begins with a reading from the foreword of Dave Coles’ new book God on the Move and a conversation with the author. Dave shares his passion to give a voice to majority world movement leaders and make their stories accessible to the global church.



Some Key Features of Disciple Making Movements (DMM)



Prayer & miraculous signs, empowerment of ordinary people, holistic transformation, disciples making disciples and courage & sacrifice — all hallmarks of movements God is using across the nations.



The Challenge of the Unreached



The world is becoming more unreached, yet movements are multiplying faster than population growth among key groups. Multiplying movements bring real hope for reaching the nations.



Hope for the West



Encouraging signs of growth in unexpected places like the UK and France. God’s promise in Amos 9:13 reminds us that the harvest will overtake the sowing — even in the West.



Church in Movements



Simple, Spirit-led expressions of church — not dependent on buildings or programs — empower ordinary disciples to gather, obey, and multiply.



Community Learning Centres



From India’s Bhojpuri movement to urban hubs, meeting community needs holistically opens doors for the gospel and creates spaces for discovery and multiplication.



What Brings Dave Coles Hope?



God’s promises and presence — and seeing Muslims and others coming to faith in miraculous ways — points to the nearness of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:14).



A Word of Encouragement



We serve an amazing God! Ask Him, “What do You want me to do this week to show Your love and advance Your kingdom?” — and step out in faith.

We continue our series from the Thailand 25 Gathering, hearing from a leader from South East Asia who is catalysing disciple-making movements among a large unreached people group, and from Dave, who shares practical insights on how to catalyse movements with stories from Fiji and England.



From the South East Asian Leader



He shared about three key roles in disciple-making movements (DMM):



1. Disciple – doing DBS (Discovery Bible Study) together.



2. Facilitator – helping others become disciple-makers.



3. Catalyst – multiplying movement through others.



He described his personal calling as that of a Catalyst—someone Jesus sends into new places to find people of peace, help them discover Jesus, and train others to do the same.



Some key principles he highlighted:



• Follow Jesus’ plan to be sent into places where you know no one, trusting Him to lead you to people with open hearts.



• Gather and train those who respond—equip them with simple tools and resources.



• Model and multiply—invite those who have seen fruit to share at trainings and train others by example.



• Form teams from those trained—pray together, stay together, and go back to Scripture and DBS regularly.



• Coach and mentor ongoingly, repeating the process to see multiplication continue.



From Dave: How to Catalyse Movements



Dave shared how catalysing begins with our relationship with God—hearing His call and being led by the Spirit.



He described five levels or roles in movement growth:



1. Disciple (groups of 2s and 3s)



2. Group leader (People of Peace, often church leaders)



3. Leader of groups and streams of churches that are multiplying



4. Regional leaders (those carrying a vision across nations or regions)



5. Catalysts who help multiple movements grow



Key insights from Dave’s experience:



• Everything begins in prayer—listening to God and watching for new things He is doing.



• Find catalytic leaders—local, Spirit-led people whom God is already using.



• Serve others by asking, “What does this person need?” rather than pushing your own agenda.



• Movement work is highly relational and Spirit-dependent, not just about strategy or training.



Dave reminds us that God is the one who catalyses the work—and sometimes He turns the question back to us:



“How much do you want?”

We continue our series from our international gathering in Thailand with part two of The Inner Life of a leader. In this episode, Graham (a pastor from New Zealand with over 50 years of ministry experience) and a leader from South Asia share how they nurture and sustain their inner lives as disciples and leaders.



Part 1: Graham (New Zealand) – Dealing with our questions and thoughts



“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23



Graham reflects on how leaders can deal with questions and negative thought patterns. He highlights the importance of bringing our questions honestly to the cross. He also shares the need for accountability in relationships and discerning God’s voice by taking every thought captive.



“We have to learn how to deal with the questions.”



Part 2: South Asian Leader – The rhythms of a disciple in the midst of persecution



“You have to face these things [persecution]. These things will come.”



Speaking from his context of persecution, this fruitful leader describes how rhythms of prayer, Scripture, and fellowship sustain him. He emphasises that obedience to God’s Word is central, since we can only share with others what we are living out ourselves. He explains the MAWL principle (Model, Assist, Watch, Launch) as the way he disciples others.



Even in persecution, he testifies that the Word of God brings hope and courage. Since Jesus prepares us as his disciples for suffering from the beginning, the promise of eternal life gives hope and strength. For this leader, it is a deep source of joy to see the church multiplying under persecution—he shares that they have recently recorded 2,100 churches in their network.



Final Encouragement



Once again, we see how our inner lives are the most vital part of who we are as disciples and leaders. Be encouraged by these leaders’ words to:




Guard your heart and let God’s truth shape your inner life.



Live out rhythms of prayer, Scripture, and obedience that sustain faith—even in hardship.








Graham has written a book called ‘Demon Speak: Recognising and Overcoming the Enemy Voices in Your Life’.

We continue our series from our international gathering in Thailand.



What will take us out of the race as leaders in movements? Over the next two podcasts, we’ll be hearing  from four practitioning leaders share from their perspective of what helps them go the distance as disciple makers and leaders. In this episode, we hear two powerful insights from two experienced practitioners about the inner life of a disciple and leader—the part of us that shapes everything we do. Be encouraged by the walk of others as we look at our own lives as disciples and leaders. 



Part 1: Roger (New Zealand) – Personality and Leadership



“Often we underestimate how much our personalities can influence our leadership.” 



Roger shares how our soul or personalities and tendencies can both strengthen and slow us down as leaders. If we’re not aware, our personality can even take us out of the race.



Looking at the lives of Jesus’ disciples, Roger highlights how their different temperaments shaped their strengths—and their struggles: 



• Peter – impulsive, bold and ambitious. 



• James & John – ambitious, strong leadership, destructive (controlling and angry) at times, but full of zeal (can lead to burnout for some). 



• Thomas – skeptical, analytical, cautious (wise but can be paralysed by doubt and overthinking) yet also deeply loyal (slow to trust). 



• Philip – practical, analytical, sometimes too pragmatic. 



• Andrew – quiet and relational (but can be people pleasing and compromise with shallow connections rather than speaking the truth and lifting one another up).  



• Judas – calculated, controlling, desiring power (the prestige of Jesus’ movement), and ultimately led astray.



Roger challenges us with Romans 12: are we functioning out of our true spiritual gifts—or just our personality? Many leaders let their personality take over, but God calls us to live and lead from the Spirit alongside others in community and teams. 



Part 2: Gabi (Ukraine) – Testing: God Working in the Dark



“The lack of trusting is actually the lack of love.” 



Gabi speaks vulnerably about walking through valley seasons as a leader. Instead of asking “why me?” she encourages us to ask: “God, what are You doing in this situation?”



Drawing from her journey, including seasons of suffering and difficulty, Gabi reminds us of Psalm 23. God meets us in the valley - in the dark. And he leads us through and encourages us to grow as people.



She encourages leaders not to give in to bitterness or fear, but to embrace the Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). Even in the darkest moments, God is at work shaping our hearts and preparing us to lead with greater depth.



Takeaway



Your inner life is the most important part of who you are as a leader. Be encouraged by Roger and Gabi’s words to:



• Pay attention to your personality and how it influences your leadership.



• Allow God to meet you in the valleys, shaping your spirit rather than letting fear or bitterness take hold.



This episode will help you grow deeper as a disciple and leader who leads from the inside out.

As we continue our Thailand25 series, many of you will remember Rey from Hong Kong and how God used him to see movement among Filipina maids. In this episode, Rey continues to share the journey of seeing movement in and from Hong Kong. In July 2022, Rey pioneered Discovery Obedience Bible Studies (DOBS) in Hong Kong parks with Pilipino maids. What began as one small step of faith has now grown into multiplying disciple-making communities (DMCs) in Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, and even Japan. Rey’s obedience to the Holy Spirit has opened the door to multiplication down to third and fourth generations of disciples. His passion is clear: “We are not in the business of making believers but disciples.” You’ll be encouraged as Rey explains how God is using simple obedience, a clear disciple-making vision, and a commitment to multiplication to bring transformation from Hong Kong to the nations.



Highlights from Rey’s Journey




Early Exposure to Movements

Since 2016, Rey was exposed to disciple-making movements through experiences in Israel, India, and Myanmar, which grew into a deep passion and became the focus of his Master’s thesis in Hong Kong.











From Pastor to Movement Pioneer

His church in Hong Kong adopted DMM principles—but only as a growth strategy, not a true disciple-making movement. The spark eventually faded.



2022: Rey resigned from traditional church ministry, rejecting offers from large churches. 



During quarantine, while fasting and praying, God’s answer surprised him: not to join another church, but to start doing DMM himself.



July 2, 2022: Rey launched the first DOBS group in a Hong Kong park.











Multiplication Across Nations

Hong Kong:

Now 110 active disciples.



3 DMCs (up to 4th generation).



201 baptisms over the last three years—monthly beach baptisms with new believers.



20 women in training to become “DMM pastors,” preparing to return to the Philippines.





Macau: 1 group, 8 active disciples, 3 disciple-makers.



Philippines: Communities in the north, central, and the Muslim south (Mindanao). Over 100 active disciples in multiple generations.



Japan (Yokosuka, near Tokyo): Filipina women reaching out to bar owners and families. Baptisms and new groups forming into a multiplying community.











Disciple-Making Process

Rey uses DOBS (Discovery Obedience Bible Studies): Discover, Obey, Bible, Share.



He has developed different levels of scripture sets:

Seekers – discovering Jesus.



Disciples – going deeper.



Leaders – training for multiplication.













Vision & Tools

Rey always gives the vision upfront: everyone is called to be a disciple-maker.



He even draws people a simple path: Seeker → Believer → Disciple → Disciple-Maker → Leader.



Anchors everything in key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20 (Great Commission), Matthew 22:36-39 (Great Commandment), Acts 1:8 (Need for Holy Spirit to be witnesses) and 2 Timothy 2:2 (Multiplication of disciples).



DBS format follows the 4Ws:

Worship



Watch (share stresses)



Word (Head, Heart, Hands)

In this first episode from our Thailand25 gathering with movement leaders and teams from nine nations, we hear from Mike, who has seen hundreds of groups multiply in Hong Kong. He shares about modelling what you want to see multiply as a disciple maker. After all, we model what we love.







1. John 15:5–17



"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (verse 8)



How does modelling work in John 15?The Father models love → Jesus → disciples → others.That’s four generations of reproduction—love expressed through obedience.





“They will not follow and imitate what you know but what you love.” (Mike)









2. Mike asks AI



Mike asks ChatGPT how to start a DMM that will flourish and spread. Chat gives a great answer—but will Chat’s answer actually start a movement? No. Because ChatGPT doesn’t love anything!




“Movements are based on love that is modelled, observed, and imitated!” (Mike)




We must learn to love God and love the lost. DMM isn’t about strategies or ideas—it flows from love. And love is nurtured through prayer. Without prayer of sacrifice, there is no love for the lost. Prayer and modelling go hand in hand: modelling how much we love God and how much we love the lost.







3. Stories (Man in Wheelchair and Mike's daughters)



Man in Wheelchair: Mike and Steve share Jesus with a man in a wheelchair. Soon the community around him begins to grow in faith. He invites his wider network to hear more about Jesus. Mike doesn’t think he’s doing DMM the “right way,” yet multiplication happens. One man begins a Discovery Bible Study with another new believer—and has a vision to see him become a disciple maker too. All of this starts simply because he observed and imitated Mike’s love.



Mike’s daughters: Mike's extroverted daughter shares Jesus with someone using the beaded bracelet, just like her dad. She is imitating his love. Another time, Mike’s extremely shy daughter tells him that a “little voice” in her head is urging her to go to the park to meet a family. She obeys, meets the family, and boldly shares about Jesus with her bracelet. Love reproduces through generations.







4. Final Encouragement



“If we are going to multiply, we have to keep praying. We have to keep loving the lost. Our modelling is not just for the people we are modelling to—it’s about them seeing how much we love God, how much we love the people around us, and how much we love sharing Jesus. They will see it. And they will not do what you know—they will do what they see you love.” (Mike)

In this episode of the Praxeis Podcast, we talk with Harvey Bishop from Melbourne, who has spent decades helping people follow Jesus and multiply disciples. He challenges us to be intentional about making disciples who are filled with the Spirit and equipped to multiply.



Harvey’s StoryAt 21, Harvey cried out to God and experienced an instant transformation. Soon after, mentors showed him how to live as a disciple and make disciples. Harvey went on to serve 41 years in full-time ministry, with Power to Change and in disciple-making.



Why Disciple-Making MattersHarvey saw many new believers fall away, which led him to focus on helping disciples grow strong and multiply. Influenced by 2 Timothy 2:2, he embraced Jesus’ call to make disciples who make disciples, training young people and international students to do the same.



How Harvey Makes DisciplesHarvey prays for people, shares his testimony, shows the cost of following Jesus, and uses Discovery Bible Studies to help people walk in the Spirit and form multiplying groups. He challenges us as disciples to be intentional, Spirit-filled, and accountable so we can pass on our faith effectively.



"Being filled with the Spirit is living the Spirit filled life. It's about letting Jesus control everything I do."



The Challenge“Every Spirit-filled Christian can make disciples if they’re willing to be trained and let the Spirit guide them. There is nothing more meaningful than bringing glory to God by discipling others.”







Websites and books referred to in the podcast:



'First Steps With God' website: https://firststepswithgod.com



📖 'The Man God Uses' (Osward J Smith)

In this episode of the DMM Podcast, we hear from Sam Turner of Northland, New Zealand, as he shares at the DMM Connect gathering. Sam tells his story of moving from traditional church leadership to embracing Disciple Making Movements (DMM). His journey leads to a deep shift—from extracting people into church programs to empowering believers to reach their own communities. In the second half, two leaders from Sam’s team, Roland and Jim, share how they are using Discovery Bible Study (DBS) in their own contexts to see multiplication.



Sam’s Journey into DMM



When Sam arrived in New Zealand, he was struck by God’s heart for a “fatherless nation.” While serving at a local church in Paparoa, Sam felt a deep dissatisfaction comparing the book of Acts with his church’s reality. This led him to a year of daily prayer, seeking breakthrough.



During this season, God gave Sam a vision of a match striking a box, igniting a fire that spread across New Zealand and beyond. The match represented a people who would stand unapologetically on God’s Word and not limit the work of the Holy Spirit.



This only deepened Sam’s longing—until he encountered the DBS tool and the book Contagious Disciple Making (Dave and Paul Watson). Applying DBS first to a men’s group, Sam saw it multiply quickly. Other groups followed, and soon the church was learning principles of simplicity, modeling, and multiplication. This marked the beginning of their transition from traditional church models to a disciple-making movement mindset.



Rethinking Church and Leadership



Over time, big questions emerged: How does DMM relate to church? What about teaching if no one person is “leading” a DBS?



Sam shares that Jesus often taught through questions—over 300 in the Gospels. Their team learned to respond with Scripture and good questions rather than top-down answers.



A major paradigm shift also occurred around evangelism. Rather than extracting people into church programs, Sam’s team began empowering believers to go, serve, and invest in others. Like Jesus in John 13:3–5, leaders are called to wash feet—not gather followers to make them “like us,” but to release them to reach their own communities.



Roland and Jim: Using DBS in Their Contexts



Roland, from a Tuvaluan background, opened his home for Bible study. What started as two families soon grew to over 40 people—so many that everyone couldn’t share. When his wife gave birth, the large meeting stopped, but what seemed like an ending actually multiplied. The big group naturally broke into 15 DBS groups meeting in homes across the community.



Jim first encountered DBS in a men’s group at Paparoa. He shares how the Holy Spirit became the true teacher, and how he wished he had this tool earlier while discipling at-risk youth with his wife. Now, Jim facilitates DBS among men, often through ManUp groups—a 10-week program for men dealing with family dysfunction, trauma, and addiction. Many of these men take DBS and pass it on to others, finding it far more effective than traditional street evangelism.



Final Encouragement for Church Leaders



Sam closes by urging church leaders to notice who God has placed on the hearts of the people they lead. For Roland, its forming communities that can multiply. For Jim, it’s reaching men who are struggling. For others, it will look different. The role of leaders is to serve, empower, and call people to see God’s bigger picture.







Watch this episode as a video here:




https://vimeo.com/1099328633?share=copy#t=2353.336

Paradigm Shifts, the Power of the Holy Spirit, and How to Pray for Movements



In this episode, we continue our conversation with Vijay, co-author of Bhojpuri Breakthrough. Vijay shares paradigm-shifting insights into what leadership looks like in the context of disciple-making movements—and how the Holy Spirit and obedience to God’s Word are essential for genuine transformation in any cultural context, including the West.







🔑 Key Themes:




Breakthrough leadership is upside-down.Vijay reflects on how he learned movement leadership not from titles, but from Jesus’ own example: humble, redemptive, servant-hearted. Jesus’ approach to money, gender, the marginalized, and power becomes the pattern for movement leaders today.



Empowering others is the goal.Leadership is not about hierarchy but about helping others grow and take responsibility."You have many teachers but not many fathers." – 1 Corinthians 4:15



‘Active theology’ leads to transformation.Leaders must ask: “How does God’s Word apply to my context?” As people obey what they learn, the Holy Spirit humbles, convicts, and transforms.



Jesus is relevant in the West.While many may reject church, people are still drawn to Jesus. Vijay challenges leaders to slow down, be transformed by Jesus' words, and internalise His message.Jesus gave the Be-attitudes, not just "do-attitudes" – Matthew 5–7



The Bible is practical and powerful.Movements grow when people apply what they learn.“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” – Philippians 2:12



Humility and vulnerability are leadership strengths.Rather than hiding struggles, Vijay encourages honesty and authenticity in leadership.Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector – Luke 18:9–14



The Holy Spirit shapes leaders from day one.Self-awareness, forgiveness, mentorship, and avoiding dependency are all vital. Leaders live in daily transformation, empowered by the Spirit, even amid spiritual warfare.



Graveyards of mission can become vineyards of revival.The Bhojpuri movement shows God can move in the darkest places. Today, over 2,000 movements globally reflect God’s hand—not man’s strategy.








🙏 How Can We Pray?




For humility and Christ-likeness under pressureIn India, persecution is intensifying. Pray believers would resist retaliation and stay centred on Christ, glorifying Him even in suffering.



For courage and enduranceMillions still need to hear the gospel. Pray for boldness amid political, financial, and family pressures.



For purity and simplicity in the ChurchWherever tradition takes over, corruption often follows. Pray that both the Indian and Australian churches return to Scripture and live it out.



For multiplication“The fruit of the harvest becomes the seed of the next harvest.” Pray that every disciple would become a disciple-maker.



For open doors through prayerAsk people, “What are you praying for?” It opens a conversation. Jesus taught us that God answers prayer and does far more than we imagine.








🎧 Tune in for this deeply personal and powerful conversation about how the Spirit-led obedience of everyday people is fuelling global movements—and how you can be part of it.







📚 Resources Mentioned




Bhojpuri BreakthroughThe Movement that Keeps Multiplying📖 Available on Amazon AU. Also available as an audiobook



Breakthrough LeadershipInsights from an Asian Mo...

Guest: Vijay (Coauthor with Dave Coles of Bhojpuri Breakthrough and their new book Breakthrough Leadership. This is a highly commended leadership development book for us as movement leaders)



In this first episode, Vijay shares his powerful journey from a traditional church mindset to becoming a catalyst for disciple-making movements across northern India. He unpacks key paradigm shifts and stories that have shaped his leadership and passion for transformation.



🔄 Paradigm Shifts in Leadership




From control to empowerment—loving people without agenda among the 90 million in his region.



Discipleship through godly conversation, not just conversion.



Breaking the “us and them” mindset to see everyone as fellow human beings.



Raising up ordinary people as leaders, not experts.




🙏 A Movement Rooted in Prayer



Vijay highlights the vital role of mobilizing a culture of prayer, even in the face of ongoing persecution.



🔥 Stories from the Harvest




Christian leaders continue to reach others even from prison.



No financial incentives—just wholehearted, voluntary decisions to follow Jesus.



Community in Christ stands in contrast to the isolation in modern Hindu society.




📘 About the Book: Breakthrough Leadership




Everyone is called to disciple-making, not merely church attendance.



Discipleship breaks cycles of bondage and multiplies transformation.




💬 Final Encouragement



“Who am I without my worldly status?”Jesus met people without title or status. As his followers, we’re called to love without condemnation.



John 3:17 – "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."




Discipleship is a lifelong journey of becoming like Christ.



The church is the fruit, not the focus—disciple-making is the core.



God empowers us with forgiveness—a key to personal freedom and transformation.




⚡ Takeaway Challenge



Don’t settle for being just a church member. Be an agent of transformation. Through you, God can impact families, communities—even nations.







📚 Resources Mentioned




Bhojpuri BreakthroughThe Movement that Keeps Multiplying📖 Available on Amazon AU.



Amazon (international)



Also available as an audiobook



Breakthrough LeadershipInsights from an Asian Movement Leader📖 Available on Amazon AU.



Amazon (international)



(Also available to read today as an e-book via Amazon)

God is doing something historic today. As Dave shares from New Zealand, we are seeing a surge of (disciple making) movements—rapid, indigenous, multiplying streams of disciples and churches—reshaping Christianity as we know it.



What began decades ago with just a few movements is now exploding: over 115 million believers and 8.5 million new churches, with growth doubling every 3.5 years—impacting more than 1.4% of the world’s population.



These are not renewal movements within existing churches, but harvest movements among the unreached—especially in hard, persecuted places like North India, where thousands of churches now grow where there was once spiritual drought.



Movements start when God calls catalytic teams, people hungry for more, willing to shift paradigms and obey Jesus fully. They embrace discovery-based discipleship, relational gatherings, and the multiplication of leaders across generations. This could be a tipping point in global missions—a generation that could complete the Great Commission.




"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." — Matthew 24:14




Which generation will see this? Who will run the final lap?There is only one task we carry to the finish line: to make disciples of all nations. Let’s live and lead like it depends on us!







📽️ You can watch this podcast here (NB: Dave shares from 33 minutes in):




https://vimeo.com/1095829360?share=copy#t=0

In this episode from the DMM Connect gathering in Northland, NZ, Keith and Joy share their journey from serving as missionaries in Thailand to how God called them to continue living on mission back home in New Zealand. They unpack how they have been able to live missionally in their own context using simple, reproducible tools.



Learning to have Spiritual Conversations (Four Quadrants)



A key turning point was learning how to have spiritual conversations using the Four Quadrants (casual → meaningful → spiritual → discovery). This changed how they connected with people in their local community.



Joy reflects on John 4—Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well—and how He took this Samaritan woman on a spiritual journey as a person of peace to her community. Likewise, Keith and Joy have seen everyday people (like 'Ruth', a young woman from a local market) discover Jesus and share Him with others.



Jesus' strategy when sending out his disciples



Keith emphasises how engaging in the harvest as key to transformation—shifting from theory to practice, from "come" to "go." We listen in as the room explores these 4 scriptures where Jesus sends His disciples out:




Mark 6:7–13



Luke 9:1–6



Matthew 9:36–10:16



Luke 10:1–11




These passages show that Jesus had compassion on the lost and taught His followers to beseech (or beg) God for workers—not for the harvest itself (which is already plentiful), but for more harvesters. It’s a key strategy of prayer that Jesus gave twice in the gospels. We know the Lords Prayer but this is another prayer Jesus commanded his disciples to pray.



Keith reflects on Matthew 9:35-38...



“We’ve all prayed for the harvest. But in a way, this is the wrong way to pray. Jesus is telling us the harvest is already great. What we’re imploring Him for is the workers. It’s like Jesus is healing the sick and then steps back and looks at the large crowd and realises that a different approach is needed… Even Jesus realised that it couldn’t be a one-man show. He needed a team to do what He did.”



In the group discussion, we hear reflections on how traditional models often extract people from their communities to come to church. But Jesus modeled something different: staying with those who welcome you. Like the woman at the well, insiders can reach their whole communities more effectively than outsiders can.



A final challenge




"In a culture of ‘come,’ we’ve made the lost person into the missionary (they have to leave their comfort zone to come to church). But ‘come’ is the enemy of ‘go,’ and addition is the enemy of multiplication.” – Raj (quoting those like Jim Britts)








🎥 You can view this podcast as a video too:




https://vimeo.com/1099326407

Welcome to episode 166 of the podcast. In this episode, we take you into Northland, New Zealand, where leaders like Dave, Graham, Sam, and others are wrestling with one central question: How can Discovery Bible Study (DBS) become more than a method—and instead spark a movement of disciple-making in our own context?



You’ll hear stories of breakthrough, honest questions about challenges, and the shift from teaching to facilitating—from knowledge to revelation. Whether it’s with a Muslim family, a church congregation, or people in the harvest, DBS is opening hearts to the Word and multiplying impact.



Let’s move beyond theory and explore how DBS can be lived out—simply, reproducibly, and powerfully—wherever you are.



🎤 Dave’s Discovery of DBS




Dave first encountered DBS through David Watson’s work in Africa.



He began applying it with a Muslim family, using simple inductive Bible study questions.



Key quote: “Power of God plus the Word of God put together makes disciples that multiply.”



His journey reflects a shift in mindset:

From using tools to tell people what Scripture says ➝ to trusting God’s Word and Spirit to speak directly.



From knowledge-based to revelation-based engagement.



From teaching to facilitating.



From expert-led ➝ to anyone can lead, even non-believers.



Coaches must help contextualize the Scripture set (not just use Creation to Christ for every setting).



Keep it simple: as easy as ABC – Ask, Bible, Commit (6–7 core questions).



DBS is not just for Christians; non-Christians can also hear and obey God's Word.



Retelling is key so people can pass on what they’ve heard.






“This God is someone who wants to have relationship.”– Muslim man expressing his first discovery of God through DBS on Genesis 1.



🙌 Sam Turner’s Journey




Sam shares his wrestle with DBS, particularly applying it within a church setting, then seeing it multiply outside.



He describes key paradigm shifts:

Getting out of the way as a teacher.



Discovery leads to internal conviction, not just external teaching.



In his church, they started passing the mic around after sermons, asking people to share their discoveries and applications.



DBS is not about growing my church—it's about growing the Kingdom.



Multiplication over addition.



A challenging but catalytic question:“Who within my sphere of influence could catalyse groups?”






💬 Live Group Reflections




What happens when obedience is hard for Christians? One great DBS question:“How should I change my thinking or actions from this story?”



Powerful moment during a DBS on Luke 24:13–49 (Road to Emmaus):

A long-time Bible teacher said, “You’ve ruined me as 40 years of Bible teaching!” after experiencing DBS for the first time.



Others shared how the group dynamic gave multiple “facets” of a passage—“like a diamond.”



The Resurrected Jesus (living testimony) and the Scriptures work powerfully hand-in-hand in mission.










💡 Reflective Challenge



As you reflect on what you’ve heard—from internal wrestles to surprising fruit—ask yourself:

Learning from Disciple-Making Movements in Asia



In this episode:



Scott Crawley shares insights from his experience speaking at the Praxeis Hub in Melbourne. He reflects on what he’s learning through his “classroom”—his on-the-ground experiences with teams across various cities in Asia—and how these learnings inform disciple-making and movement building in complex urban environments.







Scott’s Vision & Team



Scott describes his team’s pursuit of a bold vision: to see disciple-making movements emerge in 15 cities across Asia. His “classroom” is formed through real-time learning alongside others serving in diverse and often challenging urban contexts.







Three Foundational Principles for Disciple-Making & Movement




God has an End Goal: God is profoundly relational — He desires sons and daughters who trust Him and align their lives with His story.

In some Asian cities Scott's team is working in (with millions of people), collaboration is essential. Our individual impact is small, but together we can join God’s broader work across an entire city.



It’s not just about “my ministry,” but about contributing to God’s greater purpose in the city.





God Is Already at Work

This is a liberating truth—God is present both in us and in the harvest.



From Acts 17:26–27: Paul finds an altar to an “unknown god”—a reminder that God has already planted spiritual hunger in every culture.



We’re not arriving with all the answers; rather, we’re joining a divine treasure hunt, discovering where God is already moving and responding with faith and curiosity.





Cities Are Complex

While disciple-making movements (DMMs) have often thrived in rural settings, cities present unique challenges and opportunities.



Urban areas are dense, relationally fluid, and full of affinity groups (people connected by shared needs, interests, or causes) and urban villages (smaller, close-knit communities).



God is working through “inside leaders”—people of peace already embedded in these groups.



The key questions become:

Where is God already at work?



Where do we see hunger and openness?



What is our specific role in the “village” or affinity group we’re drawn to?












Reflection Question



What’s the one big thing God is whispering to you from this podcast?



Who can you share it with to help you take your next step in engaging your city or context?

In this episode, we listen in on a DMM (Disciple-Making Movement) training session in North Queensland with Steve and Mel Behrens. They share their journey into DMM and what drives them: a deep heart for the lost. The Behrens are practitioners and catalysts in Far North Queensland. They’ve seen fruit among Indigenous communities, everyday Aussies in various contexts, and returned soldiers. Enjoy listening as Steve and Mel share during their recent Cairns training. 



A Lost Dog



Steve shares how he was raised in the Western Province of PNG, later moving to Australia where he met and married Mel—who also carried a strong passion for the lost. They began as youth leaders and saw some fruit, but they were discontent when comparing it to what they read in the Book of Acts. Then something shifted.Mel tells a story about searching for their lost dog in a crocodile-breeding mangrove area. In that moment, God spoke to them:“You are willing to lay your lives down to find this lost dog but what about my lost children?”That moment marked a turning point. The call of God was clear: to seek the lost. But they began asking, “What’s the best way to do this?”They soon realised that the mission wasn’t just about making disciples, but making disciple-makers. This led them to movements. They began listening to what God was already doing and found themselves needing to let go of preconceived ideas and ‘baggage’ in order to embrace DMM.Their vision now is to see movements birthed—lost people coming into the Kingdom across North Queensland, into PNG, and beyond to the nations.



Passion Ignites Passion



Steve explains that God’s passion ignites passion in us. Often as Christians, we feel passionate but don’t know what to do with it—and we settle. But our hearts must remain fertile. He challenges us with a reflection from the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 28:16-20):“Where is our heart at? Is it in good soil? Are we reproducing? We need to make sure the soil of our heart remains fertile…How do we make the soil [of our hearts] good again? We go to Jesus and surround ourselves with likeminded people. As a disciple-maker, this is our core.” (Steve)



When Passion and Strategy Come Together



Addition vs. Multiplication



Mel shares the paradigm shift she and Steve underwent: moving from addition to multiplication of disciples. They illustrate this through a simple ‘build-up tiggy’ tag game.“There are people in our lives that even the best evangelists or preachers can’t reach. There are people in our networks who only we can ‘tag’.” (Mel)Mel explains how starting with 30 people each reaching 30 more over 30 years results in 900 people—addition. But beginning with just two people who each multiply yearly over 30 years could reach over 1 billion—multiplication.“So wherever you find yourself, maybe in a small country town or a big city, and you are lonely asking the question ‘where do I start?’… just grab someone else. Multiplication can start with two people.” (Mel)



Current Reality in North Queensland



In North Queensland, for every church that is planted, five are closing down. Steve and Mel highlight the urgency of recognising the spiritual climate. Yet Jesus didn’t just add—he multiplied. He modelled this for his disciples and commissioned them in Matthew 28:16–20. Once again they draw attention to the final soil in the Parable of the Sower—the one that multiplies. That’s the soil Jesus is calling us to be today.



People of peace



Luke 10:6 shows how Jesus sent out his disciples to find ‘people of peace’. These people are the ones we are called to pour into. They are spiritually open, hungry, and ready to share. They often become gateways to entire communities.

In this second part of conversation with Emanuel Prinz—movement practitioner, researcher, and author of What Actually Starts Movements—we go deeper into what truly fuels lasting spiritual movements. While many focus on methods and tools, Emanuel invites us to look upstream—to the hearts and lives of the leaders God uses to spark and sustain movements.







At the core of this episode are two key character traits Emanuel and his team have identified in effective movement catalysts: Hunger for God and Radical Learning. These two qualities, he argues, are not just common traits—they actually predict a leader’s growth trajectory and long-term fruitfulness.



1. Hunger for God



This is more than emotion—it’s a daily, disciplined pursuit of knowing and loving God deeply, often expressed through rich spiritual practices. It’s the foundation from which expectant faith, love, intercession, and boldness flow.



2. Radical Learning 



This is a posture of humility and curiosity. Movement leaders actively seek feedback, embrace failure, and adapt. Their teachability enables continual growth in ministry competence and spiritual maturity—even through seasons of disappointment.



Together, these traits mark a sharp contrast between catalytic leaders who continue to grow—and others who, though initially gifted, plateau or decline over time.







We also explore:




The depth of prayer vs. the duration of prayer—what really matters?



How effective catalysts listen to God and pray with faith for fruit



Why spiritual movements are possible in any society—even in the West



The significance of the 2.5% who are spiritually open in every community



The importance of forming small, agile catalytic teams with trust, clarity, and complementary gifting



Learning to discern the few essential things God is calling us to each day—rather than being overwhelmed by busyness




Emanuel reflects on the internal battles many leaders face and the need to give greater attention to the heart of the practitioner.







Looking ahead: Emanuel shares his vision to equip 50,000 catalytic leaders to reach unreached people groups and his hope for the future—rooted in the patience of the Father and the promise that the Kingdom will reach all nations.



🎧 Whether you're a pioneer, leader, or simply someone longing to see God move in new ways—this episode will encourage you to slow down, go deeper, and hold onto the Father’s hand.




"Hold onto the Father’s hand every moment of your life. Remind yourself that the Father is with you. This is a huge confidence booster. It changes everything." – Emanuel Prinz












Resources of Emanuel’s



Check out Emanuel's brand new book and INSTANT #1 BESTSELLER: What Actually Starts Movements:




https://www.amazon.com.au/What-Actually-Starts-Movements-Multiplication-ebook/dp/B0F5XVPLJG




See his previous title Movement Catalysts - 




https://www.amazon.com.au/Movement-Catalysts-Profile-apostolic-leader-ebook/dp/B0BHKY4845/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SPOQ65CAMV6P&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ndBDLQL1zWRXn8DesD5rIw.aDuCHLoNskkVeq8j0yzNn-utD8sB1rQKGlnYSEqiXkQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=movement+catalysts+emanuel+prinz&qid=1748485488&s=digital-text&sprefix=movement+catalysts+emanuel+prinz,digital-text,223&sr=1-1

In this two-part series, Dave sits down with Emanuel Prinz—movement researcher, author, and experienced practitioner who has witnessed God birth a disciple-making movement in a remote part of Sudan, resulting in thousands of new believers and hundreds of churches.



Emanuel is not only a pioneer on the ground but also a global researcher, having studied 147 movements worldwide, analyzing over 32,000 data points to understand what God uses to spark multiplication. The findings are captured in his latest book, What Actually Starts Movements.



In This Episode (Part 1):




Emanuel’s Journey to Movement Work

From intellectual belief to his calling to an unengaged Muslim people group in Sudan.



Learning through a 'reverse-engineering' of movements: discovering how to work with key influences and then learning the 'what' and 'how' to share.





Discovery Through Obedience and Prayer

Wrestling in prayer for clarity on God’s heart for a resistant people group.



A pivotal dream that directed him to a specific region in Sudan.





Vital Practices for Movement Breakthrough

Compassion ministry: Meeting felt needs and changing perceptions.



Radiating spirituality: Story-based Bible discovery before Discovery Bible Study (DBS) even had a name. Focusing on oral learners and inductive questions that lead to personal discovery.





The Importance of the Catalyst

God uses many methods, but there is a surprising consistency in the type of person He uses.



Emanuel's research shifts our focus from just methods to the qualities and competencies of catalytic leaders.



Movements cannot be manufactured—but we can grow into the kind of people God delights to use.











“God uses different methods to start movements. Methods do matter. But it’s not just one method [that God uses]. God uses a particular kind of person”








🌊 A Tipping Point in History



Emanuel shares these staggering global insights in the first chapter of his book:




From 15,000 (1995) to 115 million new disciples involved in movements today



8+ million new churches



Movements now represent 1.4% of the world’s population




God is creating a wave in our time—the question is, how can we join Him?



🙏 Final Encouragement from Emanuel



“Frame your pursuit of movement as a pursuit of God. Movement is secondary. My first ambition each day is to say, ‘Father, let’s live this day together.’ Don’t resign yourself to thinking movements can’t happen where you are. Instead, ask daily, ‘Father, where are you at work and how can I join you?’”







🎧 Stay Tuned for Part 2 – where Emanuel dives deeper into leadership traits, multiplication principles, and how anyone can grow into the kind of person God uses.







Resources of Emanuel’s:



📘 Grab the Book:Check out Emanuel's brand new book and INSTANT #1 BESTSELLER: What Actually Starts Movements:




https://www.amazon.com.au/What-Actually-Starts-Movements-Multiplication-ebook/dp/B0F5XVPLJG




See his previous title: Movement Catalysts:




https://www.amazon.com.au/Movement-Catalysts-Profile-apostolic-leader-ebook/dp/B0BHKY4845/ref=sr_1_1?

In this episode, Dave reconnects with Sam Turner, a passionate disciple-maker from Northland, New Zealand. Sam shares his journey of faith, family, and a God-given vision to see New Zealand and the nations ignited for Jesus.



From the UK to Western Australia



Sam’s move to Exmouth, WA, became a pivotal time of spiritual awakening (not to mention meeting his wife). He shares how a simple invitation to an Indigenous family for a meal blossomed into something deeply transformative. Sam met his German wife in WA. Married for just 3.5 years, they already had five children, including twins. Ministry isn’t just Sam’s calling—it’s a family mission.



A Prodigal’s Return



Throughout his young adults years, Sam sensed a persistent nudge from God, with a constant inner voice saying, “have more faith in me.” This quiet yet powerful prompting drew him back to Jesus. He immersed himself in Scripture—reading through the Bible multiple times in just a year—and was deeply moved by God's unwavering pursuit and faithfulness.



The Move to New Zealand



Sam’s wife, passionate about permaculture, prompted the family’s move to NZ. Arriving with a burdened heart for what they saw as a "fatherless nation," they connected with a local church, and Sam became a pastor.



Vision of the Matchbox



However a divine dissatisfaction stirred in Sam’s heart. He had a vision: a match striking a box, igniting flames that spread across a map of New Zealand and onto other continents. God was calling him to not hinder the Spirit and to teach the Word unapologetically.



Discovering DMM



Through a testimony of the power of prayer in Africa and the appearance of a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) sheet, Sam discovered the potential of Disciple Making Movements (DMM). Reading Contagious Disciple Making (by David and Paul Watson) confirmed his direction, and a team began to form.



“DMM is just a word we use to describe what God is doing.” – DMM Leader



Shifting Paradigms



Sam emphasises that DMM is not a method but Jesus’ model which continued throughout the book of Acts. This led Sam to re-evaluate the Great Commission and how teaching must be centred on obedience to Jesus, including the making of disciple-makers.



Transformation Stories



From drug dealers becoming disciples to gang members walking away from crime, Sam shares powerful stories of transformation. Social change follows spiritual obedience with families not just individuals being reached.



Sam also shares about his 12-year-old son who began a DBS with his friends. This sparked a new ministry—Kids for Kids—led by Sam’s wife, where children are now discipling other children.



Persistent Dissatisfaction



Despite the fruit, Sam is still hungry for more. He sees DMM as a key to global transformation and longs to see a multiplying movement across New Zealand and beyond.



“Culture has moved, but the church hasn’t kept up.”



Sam challenges the traditional mindset of church, calling for a return to the Spirit-led, disciple-making patterns of the New Testament.



A Word of Encouragement



Sam leaves us with a challenge and an encouragement:



“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10



Reflective Questions:




What desires has God placed on your heart?

In this episode, Dave catches up with Mike Porteous while connecting with the Praxeis team and disciple-makers in New Zealand. Mike is a seasoned missions and church leader who has embraced a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM) paradigm—both locally and as far afield as Zambia. He shares his journey, key insights, and encouragement to keep disciple-making simple and Spirit-led.



Mike’s Journey



From a farming background, Mike had a powerful encounter with God at 21 that launched him into decades of mission work—from the Philippines in the '70s to serving with groups including YWAM since 1980. In the early 1990s, while on staff at what is now Gracecity Church, Mike’s hunger for real and lasting mission impact grew. Introduced to DMM through others and inspired by David and Paul Watson’s book Contagious Disciple Making, Mike knew this was a path he needed to pursue.



What's Happening Now?



Mike’s DMM work has expanded into Zambia through a connection with a Sri Lankan man working there. Though 90% of Zambians are churchgoers, transformation was lacking. But through simple DBS tools, real change is taking root. Today, three DBS streams are multiplying, and Mike continues coaching leaders to sustain and grow the movement.



Back in New Zealand



Despite initial slow traction, Mike’s persistence in starting DBS groups has led to surprising breakthroughs. One key moment came during a Sunday night training north of Auckland—attended by Sam Turner, who’s now seeing movement among gang communities. Multiplication is happening, and Sam is running far beyond what he could do himself.*



Key Shifts in Mike’s Thinking




Discovery over Teaching – Moving from telling to facilitating, Mike has learned to trust God to reveal His Word through others.



Simple Tools for Equipping – He’s passionate about helping people uncover their God-given purpose and equipping them with tools that multiply through simplicity.




Challenges




Prayer – Building prayer teams and rhythms that moves people from a place of conviction in prayer to seeing transformation.



Leadership Development – Particularly in Zambia, where structure is needed for lasting depth in an over-evangelised context.



Discernment – In New Zealand, Mike is asking: Who is the Spirit highlighting to invest in?




Final Encouragement



Mike reminds us of two things:



“The key people are probably already in your orbit....We tend to complicate things. Keep it super simple.”







*Hear more of the stories of God moving amongst gang members in the north of New Zealand at the end of this podcast.

In this episode, Dave catches up with Roger Hayward, our Praxeis New Zealand leader, while standing atop a stunning lookout in New Zealand’s North Island. From this mountain perch, they gaze over the town of Ngaruawahia — home to one of the most significant marae in Aotearoa, Tūrangawaewae Marae — the royal residence of the Māori King and a symbolic heart of the Māori people.



A shift is happening



Together, they reflect on a wave of spiritual momentum and acceleration sweeping across New Zealand, particularly in regions like Northland. Roger shares powerful stories of movement — including within gang communities, where one leader is using Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) to help members break free from addiction and experience transformation.



Cardinal Points Prayer and DMM Connect



Their conversation also turns to the recent Cardinal Points Prayer and the upcoming DMM Connect gathering. The Cardinal Points Prayer saw the team travel to the north, south, east, and west of the nation, praying into what God is doing across the land. This weekend’s DMM Connect will bring together people from a variety of contexts.



Answer to long term prayer for universities



One such person is a church leader from central Auckland with a heart for university students — a direct answer to long-standing prayers for the next generation. This leader has found fresh clarity through connecting with Praxeis workers and engaging with the '21 Days To Becoming a Disciple Maker' book by Jim Britts. God is stirring hearts with a call to simplicity and obedience.



Catalytic leadership



Dave reflects on the role of a catalyst leader like Roger — someone who doesn’t try to do everything, but instead finds and releases workers in diverse contexts. Roger speaks honestly about the challenges in New Zealand: the need to embed deeply in local culture while also carrying the heart of Jesus into every sphere. He emphasises the importance of shared language and movement DNA across diverse teams — especially in a country like New Zealand, where over 40% of Auckland’s 1.8 million residents were born overseas, with some suburbs reaching up to 80%.



Roger poses the key question: how does the Gospel take root in such a mosaic of cultures? The answer lies in staying faithful to the DNA of Disciple-Making Movements — Word and Spirit. The expression may look different in prisons, among immigrants, or with students, but the foundation remains the same: the Word of God. It’s not our idea — it’s God’s. And the journey requires time, faithfulness, and perseverance.



Roger offers a powerful image of scaffolding: workers coming alongside to build and support until others can carry the vision forward in their own context. Then, the scaffolding comes down. “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21) becomes a theme echoed throughout the episode.



In the final minutes, Dave and Roger share their hearts for the nations — including Japan — and call listeners to pray bigger and be ready to step into what God is doing both globally and locally.



Final word of encouragement from Rog



“Keep going. This journey with DMM can be tough — like climbing a mountain — but there will be plateaus where we clearly see God at work. Our God is a good Father. As He sent Jesus, so He sends us. Don’t compare yourself to others. Rest with the Father when you need to, and keep being obedient to Jesus. Comparison kills — but obedience brings life. Enjoy the journey!”