Godswill and Florence Chongsi are leading relationship transformation in their community. They see the impact of lives centered around three relationships: with God, fellow believers, and those who do not yet know Christ. While Godswill served as a missionary in Nigeria for many years, the Chongsis currently serve a local congregation in Cameroon. 

Learning to lead for the mission of God changed the way Godswill and Florence live out ministry. They shifted from primarily teaching people to intentionally building relationships and discipling others.

“Before PLI training, I was a missionary, a pastor, doing a lot of evangelistic work, and teaching a lot. But I really did not have the concept of discipleship—building meaningful relationships with people. I was just trying to accomplish a task given to me,” Godswill explained.

“After joining PLI, I started doing more discipleship and building lots of relationships. That’s been very transformative in my life.”

Relationship Transformation

Florence gave more insight into the transformation they have experienced. “It changed my perspective on relationships. I understand that I’m not only expected to have a relationship with God (that’s up) and then a relationship with one another in church (that’s in), but I’m also supposed to have relationships with unbelievers—those who don’t know Christ.”

This shift toward discipleship and relationships has changed how the Chongsi’s engage their community. “One of the things I’ve been doing in my neighborhood is intentionally visiting my neighbors, creating relationships with them so that we can chat…and then the Lord [opens the door for] discipleship,” Florence shared. Over time, their neighbors have begun visiting their home.

“They used to come around once in a while. Now they come and sit with me in the house and we talk. And it’s just beautiful.”

Godswill is also encouraged by their investment in relationships within their community. “A few of them, when they have difficulties…they come to us. They are opening up more and more to us. We think that is a bridge we can use to effectively disciple them.”

Investing in relationships with people in their community has opened new doors for the Chongsi’s to share the love of Jesus. This is a story we hear repeatedly—not only from leaders in Cameroon, but in Latvia, the United States—in every region we serve! The Holy Spirit is working in and through these new relationships to draw people closer to Christ. 

Jesus calls all believers, like Godswill and Florence, to follow His way engaging in three relationships: with God, fellow believers, and those who do not yet know Christ. Read more to explore one of PLI’s practical tools for prioritizing and integrating these relationships into everyday life and ministry.