2024 Stories
There are two things mentioned often throughout these stories that we deeply value, gospel movements and Discovery Bible Study. If you’re interested, we’ve explained a little more what we mean:
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Gospel movements happen when the good news of Jesus spreads contagiously through a network of social relationships whereby many people become committed followers of Jesus and groups of these disciples multiply. Such movements have the potential to radically impact whole towns, cities, and nations.
Learn more about Gospel Movements. -
In a Discovery Bible Study group we see spiritually-interested people read the Bible story together, discover what it says, and then are challenged to immediately live out what they learned and share it with someone else. It’s that simple!
Learn more about DBS.
Spain | Supporting Everyday Disciple Makers Through “Coaching Circles”
Everyone gets discouraged or needs fresh creativity for ministry from time to time, and we really want our network of everyday disciple makers to succeed at following Jesus into mission! After participating in the Activating Prayer Cohort and the Disciple Making Cohort, people are given the opportunity to commit to disciple making and join a Coaching Circle.
Nebraska | DBSs and Cultural Transformation in the Police Department
Police stations are like isolated, well-guarded countries; you can’t just walk in and start doing ministry. But the relationship with the police chief opened the doors for Novo to start a Discovery Bible Study at the station.
South Asia | Diamond’s Daughters
Diamond was saved at the age of 13 through a youth Bible study, and subsequently led her parents to the Lord. She later led her husband, who was an atheist, to the Lord. Together, they left their jobs to spread the gospel, planting several churches, raising up leaders, and starting a mission organization.
Santa Clarita, California | Horchata Milkshakes and Letting the Holy Spirit Lead
So much ministry impact comes from first paying attention to God’s leading. In Santa Clarita, Brandon had just finished up dinner when he felt a Holy Spirit nudge to go to Del Taco. I don’t know, he thought. I think I just want a horchata milkshake. But he got in his car and went.
Peru | One New Believer Opens a School District to Jesus
Jessica had never stepped into the strategic missional space of making disciples through Discovery Bible Studies (DBSs) before attending the Novo Disciple Making Cohort. After that training, Jessica invited 17 non-Christian women from her neighborhood to join a 6-week DBS. Amazingly, 13 of the 17 women became believers.
Kansas | Wellness Shepherds for Novo Workers
Global workers can face burnout, need counseling, or experience a crisis. In fact, 50% of all global workers leave their ministry location within the first five years, and of those who leave, 71% leave for preventable reasons.
South Asia | Sacrificial Giving to Reach the Unreached
Novo staff were able to train 1,190 “Master Trainers," each training 12 others, who together as a team aim to launch 50 DBSs and lead 500 people to Jesus in a year. There are currently 1400 local teams overseeing 125,632 Discovery Bible Study groups facilitated by everyday disciples!
Nevada | "Dirt Church" in the Nevada Desert
Greg and some of his long-time friends who were believers in the motorcycle community decided to start a Christian club in the association. They called it “Moto Novo.” The club began with 12 members who were believers; today, there are about 60 members, and more than half aren’t Christian.