November 3, 2026
Capturing Glimpses of God’s Glory: An Interview with Nature Photographer Kenneth Keifer
Landon Shuman
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Restoration Movement ministries, missions, colleges and organizations.
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Independent Christian ChurchGlobal Church Growth inc.Global Church Growth Inc. equips churches, missionaries, and ministry leaders through disciple-making training, mentoring, church planting…Independent Christian Church · Missions
Global Church Growth inc.
Global Church Growth Inc. — Organization Profile Global Church Growth Inc., also known as Global Church Growth Discipling Ministries or GCGDM, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-denominational Christian ministry connected with Sevierville and Seymour, Tennessee. The organization states that its goal…
Global Church Growth Inc. — Organization Profile Global Church Growth Inc., also known as Global Church Growth Discipling Ministries or GCGDM, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-denominational Christian ministry connected with Sevierville and Seymour, Tennessee. The organization states that its goal is becoming disciples and its mission is making disciples. Its public materials describe the ministry as providing training, training materials, and support to churches, missionaries, individuals, and ministries around the world. The organization’s core focus is making disciples of Jesus Christ by equipping ethnic, foreign, and national ministries and their leaders with practical training, materials, mentoring, and support. Global Church Growth describes its mission as helping ministries make disciples and foster others in making disciples. Its work is directed toward…
Global Church Growth Inc. — Organization Profile
Global Church Growth Inc., also known as Global Church Growth Discipling Ministries or GCGDM, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-denominational Christian ministry connected with Sevierville and Seymour, Tennessee. The organization states that its goal is becoming disciples and its mission is making disciples. Its public materials describe the ministry as providing training, training materials, and support to churches, missionaries, individuals, and ministries around the world.
The organization’s core focus is making disciples of Jesus Christ by equipping ethnic, foreign, and national ministries and their leaders with practical training, materials, mentoring, and support. Global Church Growth describes its mission as helping ministries make disciples and foster others in making disciples. Its work is directed toward strengthening church leaders, new churches, established congregations, and mission partners.
Global Church Growth serves ministries in the United States and internationally, with official materials identifying global work in places such as Cuba, Myanmar, Nepal, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Russia, Poland, Mexico, Antigua, Uganda, and other mission contexts. The ministry’s approach emphasizes equipping native leaders to carry on disciple-making work in their own communities.
The organization operates through on-site seminars, church planting support, internships, personal mentoring, foreign missions, and service tracks. Its training includes evangelism, discipleship, leadership, church growth, giftedness, shepherding, and the “Uniquely You” profiling resource. Global Church Growth states that it does not simply present seminars or provide materials, but also offers personal mentoring and monitoring for those who partner with the ministry.
A distinctive part of Global Church Growth’s approach is combining church-growth training with long-term disciple-making systems, mentoring, and leadership development for local ministry leaders. Its founder and director, Dr. Michael R. Householder, developed the “Walk in Discipleship” series after seeing the need to help new believers continue growing as disciples. The ministry’s history includes work in Eastern Europe, Russia, Poland, and other regions where churches have been trained in discipleship and church-growth principles.
People can engage with Global Church Growth by giving financially, praying, joining the email list, inviting the ministry to train leaders, ordering materials through Fishnet Publishers, or contacting the ministry about seminars and service tracks. The organization also asks for support for short-term workers, full-time missionaries, church planting, established church growth, and funds needed to continue its disciple-making ministry.
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Church of ChristPolishing the Pulpit (PTP)Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) is a churches of Christ–associated Bible workshop that equips Christians and leaders…Church of Christ · Conferences
Polishing the Pulpit (PTP)
Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) — Organization Profile Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) is a large, lectureship-style workshop associated with churches of Christ, created to provide Bible-centered teaching and practical training for Christians and congregational leaders. What began as informal collaboration around…
Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) — Organization Profile Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) is a large, lectureship-style workshop associated with churches of Christ, created to provide Bible-centered teaching and practical training for Christians and congregational leaders. What began as informal collaboration around sermon preparation grew into a multi-track gathering that now serves thousands of attendees each year through concentrated classes, worship, and fellowship. PTP describes its focus as worshipping God, edifying His people, and educating/training His workers, functioning as continuing education for preachers and many others. PTP is organized around a wide range of class offerings intended to strengthen both knowledge of Scripture and everyday discipleship. The workshop schedule typically includes textual Bible studies, preaching and teaching instruction, evangelism and apologetics topics,…
Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) — Organization Profile
Polishing the Pulpit (PTP) is a large, lectureship-style workshop associated with churches of Christ, created to provide Bible-centered teaching and practical training for Christians and congregational leaders. What began as informal collaboration around sermon preparation grew into a multi-track gathering that now serves thousands of attendees each year through concentrated classes, worship, and fellowship. PTP describes its focus as worshipping God, edifying His people, and educating/training His workers, functioning as continuing education for preachers and many others.
PTP is organized around a wide range of class offerings intended to strengthen both knowledge of Scripture and everyday discipleship. The workshop schedule typically includes textual Bible studies, preaching and teaching instruction, evangelism and apologetics topics, and practical sessions that address home life, spiritual growth, and common challenges Christians face. The aim is not a single conference track, but a learning environment where attendees can choose sessions that match their roles, needs, and stage of life.
While PTP is often associated with preaching, the event is intentionally broad. PTP’s programming has long included specialized instruction for elders, deacons, and ministry workers, along with extensive class options for women, teens, and children. This “workshop for every member” approach has made it a gathering where entire families and church groups can participate together while still receiving age- and role-appropriate teaching.
Geographically, PTP hosts its primary annual gatherings in two settings: Branson, Missouri, and the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee. Alongside the main events, PTP also runs PTP Spark, a smaller “mini-PTP” model hosted by local congregations in various locations. Spark events are designed to extend the training and encouragement of PTP in a smaller setting, making participation more accessible for those who cannot travel to the larger gatherings.
PTP also offers year-round access to teaching content through PTP365, an online audio/visual library that includes a large archive of sermons, Bible classes, and training sessions from past workshops. This resource is positioned as a usable library for individuals and congregations who want ongoing study and teaching tools beyond the annual events. Those who want to engage with PTP can attend a workshop, participate in a PTP Spark event, use PTP365 resources, subscribe to updates, and support the work through giving and scholarships.
