GDI South America Opens Up in Chile

February 8, 2026: Greetings from Concepcion,

Why should I be surprised that our Lord is at work way outside our field of vision?

Then I get an email.

Daniel informs me that he is a part of a network of fives churches under the banner of Angular (a take-off on cornerstone: piedra angular). He had taken an online Spanish language course from Indiana Wesleyan University on discipleship.

My book Transforming Discipleship (Discipulado que Transforma, aka “ the pink book”) was a textbook.

Chile GDI Vision: To have MicroGroup-based disciplemaking churches in every country of the world.

These churches had been committed to one-on-one disciplemaking as central to their identity, but came to realize the limitations.

They were now ready to adopt our model of MicroGroups and had set training dates for their key leaders for January 31-February 1, 2026. In our initial conversations, I had agreed to join them via Zoom. As Daniel and I passed back and forth the schedule of content for those days, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “Why don’t you offer to join them?”

I was hesitant to follow this prompting.

It seemed presumptuous of me to push myself on them. With a bit of cringing embarrassment, I followed my prompting and made that suggestion.

I quickly got the return reply, “We have been praying about the same thing.” Yes, the Holy Spirit is not limited by geography.

What a blessed time we have had! The leaders couldn’t be hungrier. I shared with them the American expression, “Hunger makes the best cook.” Hunger fills the teacher with joy.

The conference began with Francisco doing an extensive report on the downsides they experienced from the one-on-one model. He highlighted the dependency it creates between discipler and disciplee.

They taught me a new phrase: “eternal discipleship,” meaning these relationships go on forever with no end point. They were tired of these endless relationships with little replication.

Of course, we practiced life in MicroGroups. Hungry! Hungry! Hungry! I fielded great and eager questions focused on best practices of implementation.

It was important that they made the case out of their experience for why they needed to change to embrace MicroGroups. I took them through Jesus’ Model of Disciplemaking rooted in Luke 6:12-13 by emphasizing these key principles:

1. Jesus invested in personal relationships as the foundation for disciplemaking.
2. The power of personal invitation vs. the church reliance on programs is essential.
3. The transformative and multiplicative environment of a MicroGroup energizes people.

A humorous “aha moment” for them was that Jesus had disciples for three years, then he left.

The Angular churches are eager to become representatives of GDI in South America. We had wonderful debriefing conversations with the seven pastoral couples at the heart of this ministry.

This group was marked by wonderful camaraderie and humility. Thirty years ago, Alberto Loyola, the Senior Leader, came to  Concepcion from Santiago.

He had been highly influenced by his mentor, who was closely associated to what was then called Campus Crusade (CRU). With that came the focus on one-on-one disciplemaking.

Now he, as the founding pastor from whom four churches have been birthed, is leading the charge for change.

Humble leaders are life-long learners.

All five Angular churches are making the shift to form MicroGroups to make disciples who make disciples. Another church in Santiago is also practicing MicroGroups to fulfill The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.

They asked if I would be their consultant as they make the shift becoming eager representatives in South America.

How Jesus Built Transformation Without Programs

Let’s talk about the power of relationships over programs, lifestyle over classes.

GO MICROGreg Ogden

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?

GO MICROGreg Ogden

Ukraine Mass Blackout Severe: Help Outreach

In the freezing winter, when there is no electricity, heating, or water, hot food becomes a lifeline. A warm meal helps people survive the cold, restores strength, and reminds them that they are not forgotten. Families, elderly people, and children in Kyiv are enduring extreme conditions.

GO MICROGreg Ogden