December 20, 2007
FH association (formerly Food for the Hungry International) together with the Harvest Foundation, both Phoenix-based international ministry organizations, are pleased to announce the launch of the Disciple Nations Alliance as an independent ministry organization. The formal launch is scheduled for January 1, 2008.
The Disciple Nations Alliance began in 1997 as a joint initiative of FH and Harvest aimed at envisioning and equipping local churches worldwide to fulfill their strategic role in the transformation of communities and nations. The Disciple Nations Alliance promotes a “school of thought” centered on the power of biblical truth for cultural transformation, the strategic role of the church in society, and the importance of wholistic, incarnational ministry.
Since its inception in 1997, the Disciple Nations Alliance has helped to catalyze a global movement. Today, indigenous, self-governing training initiatives exist in over 40 countries. Disciple Nations Alliance books and training materials have been translated into more than 20 languages. Every year, hundreds of Disciple Nations Alliance training conferences (known as “Vision Conferences“) occur worldwide. The main impetus behind the establishment of the independent organization is this growth and the need to more effectively serve and shepherd it.
“I am so excited by this launch of the Disciple Nations Alliance as an independent organization,” said Greg Vestri, President of FH. “This will surely enable it to grow, multiply and bear even more fruit.”
“It is humbling to see how far the Disciple Nations Alliance has grown and touched so many lives in so many nations. While the Disciple Nations Alliance has forged so many partnerships across the globe, we look forward to a continued special partnership between FH and the Disciple Nations Alliance as each organization shares its unique strengths for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.” Food for the Hungry, Inc., FH’s founding member based in the U.S., continues to assist this launch through grants of office space and logistical support. Benjamin Homan, President of Food for the Hungry, Inc., said, “The Alliance’s commitment to biblical truth inspires us all; this is a ‘graduation’ to celebrate.”
The new Disciple Nations Alliance Corporation will not be an international headquarters. Rather, it will be a U.S. affiliate of a global alliance. Another prominant alliance affiliate, Samaritan Strategy Africa is led by Kenyan Dennis Tongoi. Additional affiliates exist in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The Disciple Nations Alliance will work in close cooperation with FH and Harvest, as well as other organizations that have incorporated its messages and trainings as part of their program.
Bob Moffitt, president of the Harvest Foundation and co-founder of the Disciple Nations Alliance will serve as chairman of the DNA board of directors. Bob is author of If Jesus Were Mayor: How Your Local Church can Transform Your Community (Monarch Publishing, 2007). His teaching is featured, together with Darrow Miller, in the On Earth as it Is In Heaven video curriculum.
Other board members are Dwight Vogt, Vice President of Ministry Services with FH, Dennis Tongoi, leader of Samaritan Strategy Africa, John Bottimore, an international business executive with Honeywell, and Bob Evans, a church leader and missions activist from Southern California.
Darrow Miller, who co-founded the Disciple Nations Alliance, will play a central role in the new organization. In addition to serving on the leadership team, Darrow will serve as a key speaker, writer, and trainer. Darrow is author of numerous books and papers, including his newest book, Nurturing the Nations: Reclaiming the Dignity of Women in Building Healthy Cultures (Paternoster, 2008). Darrow’s seminal 1998 book Discipling Nations: the Power of Truth for Cultural Transformation played a catalytic role in the development of the Disciple Nations Alliance.
Scott D. Allen, who along with Darrow and Bob has served with the Disciple Nations Alliance since its inception, will be president of the new organization. Scott, a 19-year veteran of Food for the Hungry International, is co-author of several books including Against All Hope: Hope for Africa, The Forest in the Seed: a Biblical Perspective on Resources and Development and the three-volume Kingdom Lifestyle Bible Study Series (published by YWAM Publishing).
Jeffrey A. Houser joins the Disciple Nations Alliance as the Director of Development. For the past four years, Jeffrey owned and operated a general contracting and real estate business. Prior to that, he served for five years with Food for the Hungry. Jeffrey is a graduate of Wheaton College and the Norwegian School of Economic and Business Administration.
