Training Resources
Our Strategy
Disciple-making is at the heart of Mission Tokyo. We believe that sustainable growth of the Kingdom happens when followers of Jesus are equipped and empowered to make disciples who make disciples.
Discovering God's Word
Model with believers and seekers how to study the Bible inductively and hear from the Holy Spirit to apply Jesus’ teachings to their lives
Obedience-Minded
Focus on immediate application and obedience to Scripture for spiritual growth, including the call to follow Jesus
Leader Multiplication
Empower and equip followers of Jesus to be disciple-makers, lead small groups and mentor new believers
Exponential Growth
Nurture and facilitate reproducible models to multiply disciples exponentially, seeing the organic formation of simple churches
Disciple-Making Approach
Disciple-Making Movements focus on multiplication, rather than addition. Instead of simply growing a single congregation, we partner with local bodies of believers to help train them in reproducible methods that develop generations of disciple-makers.
While only the Holy Spirit can ignite a Kingdom movement, we desire to be obedient to Jesus’ command to make disciples and teach them to obey His commands, so that we will be ready when the Holy Spirit moves in Japan.
Through methods, such as Discovery Bible Studies, believers can learn to:
- Study Scripture inductively and apply it immediately to their lives
- Share their faith naturally within their existing relationship network
- Equip and empower others to become disciple-makers, leading to exponential growth
- As groups follow Jesus together, foster the development of new local Jesus communities that multiply across networks
How It Works
1. Find & Equip Believers
Identify committed believers and equip them in DMM principles
2. Start Discovery Bible Studies
Start small groups through believer’s existing social networks, where the believer guides others who are not following Jesus, but may be spiritually interested, through inductive Bible study. Inductive study leads to personal discovery through the Holy Spirit.
3. Develop Group Leaders
As those group members choose to follow Jesus, identify and mentor emerging leaders within each group to lead their own studies
4. Multiply Groups
Support the multiplication process as new groups launch and reach other neighborhoods
Why DMM is Effective in Japan
Japan’s culture values trust-based relationships and community harmony. DMM strategies leverage these cultural strengths by encouraging believers to share their faith within their existing social networks—family, friends, and colleagues—where trust is already established.
Discovery Bible Studies provide a low-pressure, investigative approach that respects cultural sensitivities. Rather than direct, confrontational evangelism strategies (which do have their place in preaching the Gospel), DBS participants explore Scripture together and discover truth organically, making decisions to follow Jesus at their own pace as they come to learn more about Him.
The multiplication mindset ensures that each new believer immediately shares what they learn with someone else who does not follow Jesus, as they learn to be a disciple-maker, creating sustainable Jesus movements that do not depend on outside missionaries or large institutional structures.
Disciple-Making Movement (DMM)
Our primary focus is empowering believers to become disciple-makers through proven DMM strategies, such as Discovery Bible Studies.
- Training Leaders in Discovery Bible Study methodology
- Equipping established believers to mentor new believers
- Multiplying disciples throughout Tokyo and beyond
- Creating sustainable, reproducible discipleship models
Transforming Lives Through Disciple-Making
Mission Tokyo partners with established local congregations to empower and equip believers to be disciple-makers, just as Jesus commanded. We use methods, such as Discovery Bible Studies, to help believers encounter Scripture personally and grow in their faith.
Rather than relying solely on professional ministers or missionaries, we empower ordinary believers to multiply disciples within their own networks—creating an exponential impact for God’s Kingdom.
This approach has proven effective across cultures and contexts, making it ideal for Tokyo’s diverse neighborhoods and communities.
DMM Resources
Tools, training materials, and resources to help you implement Disciple-Making Movement strategies.
DMM Overview
Movements of the Holy Spirit Throughout History
From the Book of Acts to the Chinese House Churches
Modern Movements Around the World
Modern-Day Disciple-Making Movements: The Holy Spirit Multiplying Transformed Disciples Worldwide
Discovery Bible Studies
What is a Discovery Bible Study?
Unlocking God’s Word Together: What Is a Discovery Bible Study?
DBS Facilitator Guide
Complete guide for leading Discovery Bible Studies in small groups
The Whole Story: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration
Scripture list for 15 sessions covering the entire Bible narrative
Additional Links to Useful Resources
- KC Underground Podcast – Disciple-making from a community of Jesus followers pursuing gospel saturation in Kansas City
- DBS Groups – From KC Underground, DBS facilitation tips and scripture lists
- Zúme – A free, 20-hour video-based group disciple-making training
- DBSGuide.org – DBS resources and scripture lists
- No Place Left 411 Disciple-Making Training and Commands of Christ – 411 Disciple-making training from No Place Left
- Kingdom.Training – Free resource to help create and implement a digital media-to-DMM strategy
- Prayer.Tools – Tools for multiplying prayer networks for global movements
- Biglife – Disciple-making resources from a missions organization pursuing movements of God
- 24:14 – A community working together to catalyze, multiply and support church planting movements
- experienceLife – DMM Training for teams from a megachurch-turned-multiplying DMM group
- Two Four Eight’s 2023 Movement Insights – Explores the top 15 observations in urban disciple making movements globally
Ready to Partner for the Kingdom?
Whether you’re a ministry leader, missionary, or everyday follower of Jesus, there’s a place for you in this network. Together, we can see God move across Tokyo and beyond.