"Discipling for Development"

Discipling for Development is a key focus of the ministry of The Navigators in the African countries where they work (Burkina Faso, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda. The Navigators has no work in Zimbabwe).

Discipling for Development is a strategy The Navigators utilizes to impact poor, rural communities with a holistic Gospel.

Edward Mupada, Uganda country director for The Navigators, has said, “… I realized that we were on a new and exciting dispensation in the advancement of the Gospel. But how could we be relevant in a situation where unemployment levels are over 40% and many live in abject poverty?

“In November 2007 I attended the Discipling for Development training in Mbale, Uganda. I saw rural communities being transformed by the Gospel and livelihoods of people improving as they used local resources. The poor are given life skills and the Gospel is flowing freely through relational networks, impacting families and neighboring communities. I praise God for a new approach in discipleship that helps us reach the whole person and whole communities!”

The main focus of the work is among the rural poor in Africa. In countries where the church is well established, the Discipling for Development team enters into partnerships with in-country organizations that share our vision and commitment. They call these partnerships Discipling for Development mentoring projects. In these situations our mentors don’t live in the country where the training takes place; instead, they travel to the country about three times a year to train and coach indigenous missionaries and pastors. In countries (or people groups) where the church isn’t adequately established, The Navigators sends mentors to live among the people and implement the Discipling for Development process.

This approach is in line with the vision and strategy of the Zimbabwe ANESU Partnership. We invite you to watch this video clip, “What is Africa Yearning For?”, and rejoice in the good work being done through The Navigators in Africa, and pray that we too, might be effective in assisting the Church in Zimbabwe to meet the challenge Zimbabwe’s people face.

We believe that our relationship with Foundations in Farming (http://www.foundationsforfarming.org/) will greatly enhance this strategy, as we bring it to bear in Zimbabwe.