Newsletter – April-May 2026

Pilot Program Launched in Burkina Faso, Africa, Isaac Mphande & Heidi Hayslip

The Pilot Program has clearly been a God-given vision, and though it has faced intense spiritual, financial, family, and work-related opposition, we believe those attacks confirm that God is moving powerfully through it. Please pray for the 11 children’s workers, their adult helpers, and the 110 children they will intentionally mentor and disciple through the end of June—that God would protect them from every attack of the enemy and fill them with His love, power, boldness, and purpose so their lives are forever changed.

Kids Reaching Kids: Igniting a Generation for Christ By Dr. Clint May

I recently pulled My Utmost for His Highest off my bookshelf. I remember reading it when I first began seminary over 35 years ago. One quote leaped off the page:

“Our work begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit."

That truth still fuels my passion today. Over the past 35 years of ministry, I have personally witnessed or been part of thousands of children trusting Christ as Savior and Lord. Yet what stirs my heart even more is seeing a child become fully devoted to Jesus through personal discipleship. One surrendered life, set on fire for Christ, has immeasurable value in the Kingdom of God.

Praise the Lord—I have just completed The Cross Life discipleship handbook! As I prayed through writing this resource, I asked myself: If I had twelve weeks to invest in a child’s life, what would be most important to teach them? The result is a practical, life-changing study designed to lead children deeper in their walk with Christ.

The goal of The Cross Life is to help children develop a life of surrender that produces daily faith in action—through prayer, God’s Word, ministry, and living on mission by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We believe kids can reach kids, and children can become powerful disciples today—not someday. To learn more and watch a video about these new resources, visit Leaders In Training at leadersintraining.com/newsletter.

What’s Been Happening with the United States Leaders In Training?

Russ Zacek (click here to read Russ’ vlog)

• Reaching new churches in North Carolina and beginning conversations with churches nationwide.

• Expanding social media to show L.I.T.’s unique impact on preteens. Please pray for churches to adopt L.I.T.

Publications Shipped from Amazon

• Two of the 24 preteen devotionals and leader guides have now been revised and are available on Amazon, simplifying access and avoiding messy PDFs and expensive print runs.• Four more books will be ready by August, with six more by November (so spring materials are available by January).• Donations so far: $5,000. Goal: $12,000 total — $7,000 still needed. Please pray and consider giving to complete the Amazon publication project.

Prayer Points

Praises

• The Way of the Disciple Leaders Guide is complete!

• Thanks to Amy McMullin, Russ Zacek, and Rachel Jackson for all their hard work in completing the project.

• Praise the Lord for His continued provision for L.I.T.

Prayer Requests• Pray for Amy McMullin and Rachel Jackson as they finalize the student devotional for My Identity in Christ.• Pray for the Lord’s provision to publish the remaining L.I.T. discipleship books. The average cost is $1,000 per book.• Pray for Dr. Clint May as he works to develop the training for The Cross Life Discipleship Handbook and the new student devotional.• Pray for Russ as he prepares for a conference May 5–7 in Lima, New York. Pray for safe travel and that the Lord would speak through Russ at the conference.