Mar 20, 2026 3 min read Wilbraham, Massachusetts

Disciplemaking Churches

After 3 years of making disciples a few at a time using the MicroGroup-based Discipleship Essentials process, Evangel Assembly, Wilbraham, Massachusetts organically grew from 2 MicroGroups to 20.

Northeast regional churches partnering with disciplemakers in Africa

From one church in Massachusetts making disciples as Jesus modeled a few at a time, we are not only seeing disciplesmaking and multiplying with local churches throughout the Northeast, but also the Northeast regional churches are now partnered with disciplemakers in Central Africa. Praise God!

In 2023, after 3 years of making disciples a few at a time using the MicroGroup-based Discipleship Essentials process, Evangel Assembly, Wilbraham, Massachusetts organically grew from 2 MicroGroups to 20. In March 2024, 8 churches participated in our first Northeast Region Disciplemaking Forum which resulted in 7 new MicroGroups outside of Evangel Assembly.

Initiating MicroGroups in Massachusetts and Connecticut

One of the churches that attended the Forum in 2024, New Life Church, Leominster, MA, initiated 2 MicroGroups. Those two MicroGroups have now multiplied, giving birth to 10 new MicroGroups.

Last year, in March 2025, 16 churches, from Massachusetts and Connecticut attended the Norhteast Forum, resulting in additional MicroGroups launching.

Then this year, pastors and local church leaders from churches in three Northeast states participated in our 3^rd Annual Disciplemaking Forum. Pastor Eliason, Freedom Hill Church, Malden MA shared,

“My team and I thoroughly enjoyed the Forum. The Forum was a perfect combination of encouragement, equipping, motivation, and inspiration. The small group breakout sessions gave us time to ask detailed questions and hear from others who have been where we are wanting to go. We all walked away excited about what God has next for us.”

The Freedom Hill staff and lay leaders have begun to prepare for starting several MicroGroups. Dr. Brian Tracy, pastor of Evangel Assembly and Coleader of the Northeast Disciplemaking Forum concluded,

“There was a clear spirit of energy and excitement in the forum. Churches that have never done discipleship now have their leaders signed up for Coaching MicroGroups (CMGs). Churches that have discipleship MicroGroups are maturing and producing workshop leaders and main session speakers in the forum as well as assistant coaches in CMGs. The northeast region was able to put on an entire forum, led by discipleship leaders from the region itself. A partnership has been established with African Diaspora churches in our region whose leadership is excited to be in CMGs. The region is energized to partner with central Africa to make disciples who make disciples around the world."

Please pray as we prepare for upcoming Disciplemaking events throughout the USA in 2026:

April 15-16: National Disciplemaking Forum, Houston, TX
June 5: Disciplemaking Forum, Mancos, CO
September 10: Our first one-day Disciplemaking Forum at a Federal Prison. Jefferson City Correctional Center, Jefferson City, MO
October 17: Northwest Region Disciplemaking Forum, Birch Bay, WA

Contact David Schanuel for information on how to start MicroGroup-based disciplemaking at your church.

David Schanuel, GDI US National Director Global Discipleship Initiative
Dave@globaldi.org
816-703-8324
Globaldi.org

Refreshed Vision

How do we make reproducing disciples in the CONTEXT of the transformative environment of a MicroGroup while using the CONTENT of Discipleship Essentials to lay a Biblical foundation in the lives of Christian believers?