Live Locally, Think Globally: Senegal Summit 2025, Pt. 1

In this special two-part episode, Steve and Carrie McCoy sit down in Dakar, Senegal, during the 2025 SmallCircle Summit with two key leaders from the Arabic world: Yazan Melkonian, SmallCircle’s regional director in the Middle East and elder at Grace Baptist Church in Jordan, and Pastor Khalif Barakat, head of the Baptist Convention of Egypt and pastor of the Baptist Church of Alexandria. With Yazan translating, the conversation dives deep into the current state of discipleship across Egypt and the broader Middle East, sharing firsthand stories of how God is moving in predominantly Muslim and persecuted regions. Yazan and Pastor Khalif explore the rich history of one-to-one disciple-making in Egypt during the 1980s and ’90s, why that vibrant movement faded, and the factors—like social media, small-group models, and the confusion between counseling and true discipleship—that shifted church priorities away from personal, agenda-driven spiritual growth. Pastor Khalif and Yazan explain the cultural and biblical distinctions between one-to-one discipleship and other ministries, highlighting how SmallCircle tools have sparked renewed vision, healthier churches, and remarkable fruit, including dozens of baptisms directly tied to intentional, personal disciple-making. Recorded live after two intense days of the summit, this unscripted conversation offers powerful insight into what’s happening right now in the Arabic churches and why returning to one-to-one discipleship is essential for the future. Part one of this inspiring discussion sets the stage—don’t miss part two for even more stories of transformation and kingdom impact.Ep. 2Thank you for listening!Follow the SmallCircle Podcast for more on one-to-one disciple making.https://www.smallcircle.com/podcast🌐 smallcircle.com 📱Download the free SmallCircle app: Search “SmallCircle Discipleship” on the Apple App Store or Google PlayFollow on Social https://www.instagram.com/yoursmallcirclehttps://www.facebook.com/yoursmallcircleLove the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it really helps!Hosted by Carrie McCoy, Director of Global Relations | SmallCircle