Looking back on my life, I’ve found this statement to be incredibly true. Life is simply better when we do things together—whether we’re collaborating on a project or traveling the world. My most memorable moments have always involved sharing experiences with others.

How, then, does this apply to today’s world and the art of discipling others?

Discipleship is on the rise in the Kingdom. For several decades, I believe it had become a negative word; when people heard it, they often turned away in awkward silence.

Of course, the practice never stopped—it just took on new labels, like mentoring or coaching. These terms gave fresh legitimacy to the art of discipling. While the concept itself didn’t need legitimizing (discipleship will always be with us), words can sometimes take on negative connotations. (Read ‘When Discipleship Became a Curse Word’)

Now, for whatever reason, the word discipleship is making a comeback. What goes around comes around (hey, even mullets made a minor comeback!). But this got me wondering: Why is this word returning now?

To answer that, let’s step back to 1913, when William Seymour delivered what was later called the 100-year prophecy. He foretold that a great, global move of God—greater than the Azusa Street Revival—would occur roughly 100 years after his death in 1922.

If you aren’t following what’s happening in the East and the Middle East, know that this global movement is already well underway—even more so than in the West right now. But we are awakening to it.

Fast-forwarding to this moment: what do you think would be the wisest thing to focus on if a billion people around the globe were about to meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus?

Discipleship.

While there is a growing desire to connect with the spiritually hungry people in our lives, we have largely lost the art of genuine connection in discipleship. The very heart of discipleship—relationship—was excised. It was replaced by a rigid program of questions and answers, where people filled in workbook blanks to gain spiritual understanding.

Yuck!

The next wave of individuals meeting Jesus will be hungry for deep, personal connection. They won’t settle for a fill-in-the-blank spirituality.

They want you!

They want your friendship first, so they can learn to trust the people providing spiritual insight on their new journey of freedom.

I developed The Art of Walking Alongside for exactly this purpose: to help people discover how to disciple with the Father’s heart. It is designed to equip you to become a relational discipler to those God brings into your life through divine encounters.

This is the joy of this move of God—we all get to play! But you can see why we need to be prepared. With this in mind…

How to Discover More

Join me live on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 4:30 PM Pacific Time to discover more about The Art of Walking Alongside.

• I’ll share a short thought from the book along with…

• Connecting with you through questions and discussion

• Purchase your copy here.

I’m looking forward to seeing you live this Wednesday!

— Byron

We did our best to create alternative words to lessen the negative impact, yet nothing seemed to work. To truly alter the feeling of the word itself, we began to remove it from our vocabulary.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED

We spent days, weeks, and months going through boring study guides on how to become a better Christian. Fill in the blanks. Entire conferences and seminars were created from these workbooks.

They weren’t on how to disciple, but how to be a good and faithful disciple. It became a program, not a relationship.

Discipleship was always meant to be a personal experience, not a dry, boring fill-in-the-blank endeavor that leaves a bad taste in our mouth.

It became one of those moments we’ve all experienced. We expect one thing and discover something so foul we have no desire to be involved. It became a curse word. You didn’t bring it up in public or private.

Something has shifted.

The word discipleship is taking on new life. Hope is rising that it can be relational again. An encounter to grow and discover God and purpose.

I find this encouraging as I believe that discipleship is vital to the body of Christ. But over several decades of seeing discipleship as a curse, not a blessing, we’ve lost the art of discipling.

When I first traveled to Nicaragua, I discovered that families’ farmlands had grown fallow due to a lack of attention, which led to a lack of training, and the small farm, for all intents and purposes, disappeared. After several decades, hundreds of thousands of acres were left fallow throughout the nation. Good land, good people, hard workers without the skill or funds to produce a crop.

Discipleship has come to a place where we have lost the knowledge of discipling. It has become fallow ground. We have little understanding of how to connect with someone, when to connect with them, and then what to offer once we do connect.

WHY NOW?

What is the Father doing on the earth that is heaven-sent? What is his purpose behind opening our hearts and minds to rescuing discipleship from the trash bin?

We have entered what I believe is the front edge of a mighty kingdom storm that will ultimately bring a billion people globally into the kingdom of God. They will meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus.

But then what? Where will they go, and who will they connect with? They will connect with you. They will want face-to-face interaction on what just happened and who is this Jesus.

Before this occurs, you may be the person the Father connects them to on their journey into his presence. Into the kingdom. The divine connection.

HOW WILL WE BE PREPPED?

I have created a simple study guide called The Art of Walking Alongside: A Discipleship Guide for the New Era. It is to help us learn how to disciple others. The introductory steps.

Formulas don’t change lives. Relationships do.

Most of us genuinely want to help others, but we often get stuck in the gap between meeting someone and actually discipling them. We fear that without a 10-step manual or a perfectly polished, superhuman version of ourselves, we have nothing to give. The Art of Walking Alongside is designed to help you close that gap.

In this interactive workbook, I explore what it means to mentor with the “Father’s heart”. Guiding you through a critical paradigm shift: moving away from a transactional “my bus” mentality, which treats people like projects to be managed, toward an “our bus” mindset that prioritizes the relationship over the agenda.

Instead of relying on easy answers, it teaches you how to become a steady, patient presence. Through this guide, you will discover:

• The Relational Shift: How to transition your mindset from managing a project to mentoring a person.

• The Art of Extraction: How to stop giving advice and start asking piercing questions that draw out the wisdom God has already placed inside your mentee.

• The Power of Vulnerability: Why people don’t want a flawless guru, but rather a real guide who is willing to share their own messy journey.

• Challenge Without Shame: How to offer grace-filled accountability by separating a person’s behavior from their core identity.

• Practical Activation: The tools to help mentees break massive visions down into immediate, actionable 48-hour steps.

Designed for both quiet reflection and group dialogue, each of the seven chapters features core teachings, focused objectives, deep-dive discussion questions, and immediate application exercises.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to make a massive impact. You just have to be willing to walk alongside.

BUY NOW

Our paid subscribers receive a free PDF.

PAID SUBSCRIBERS

If you wish to lead a small group, I ask that you not copy this PDF for your group, but encourage them to purchase the study guide. …

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There was humor. There was some anger. There were frustrations. But then again, we had traveled thousands of miles together, often playing in the heat and dust of Turkey.

When we got off the plane, my wife Crystal, our daughter Kate, and I were greeted by the national media, which was a big surprise. I guess we were sort of rock stars. The government, of course, was promoting this, so they needed a lot of footage.

We did a few events beginning in the southern portion of the country, moving north into the different regions of Turkey where the Apostle Paul's journeys took him.

A Shadow in Ishmet

The story I'm focusing on took place, I believe, in the town of Ishmet. We had been told what happened there the year before.

"...a man had come to an event and thrown a grenade into a tent where they were distributing Christian materials. A mother and child were killed."

Now, that tends to get your attention. At least, it got mine.

As the leader of this band, my purpose was to connect relationally with Jesus and to offer that relationship to those who were present. We were a jazz-based group, and amazingly enough, jazz was very popular in Turkey. We had good audiences wherever we performed.

The Concert Begins

As we began the concert in Ishmet, the crowd was good-sized. The venue was indoors, and once we got set up, had sound checks, and were rolling, I didn't think about the grenade anymore. I was enjoying the concert and the audience.

But a short while into my gospel presentation—into presenting my life in Christ—two young men walked into the back of the room. This wasn't unusual in itself, but these two young men were wearing floor-length coats, like the dusters cowboys wear in rainy or dusty weather.

It was August in Turkey. It was very hot and very dry. There was no need for any coats whatsoever. We were all wishing we could wear shorts and T-shirts.

The Men in Long Coats

And here are these two young men, wearing floor-length coats. I was probably a quarter of the way into my presentation when, all of a sudden, the thought of a grenade and a mother and child dying came rushing back into my memory.

"Why in August are two men wearing floor-length coats? Why are they standing at the back of the room? And why did they come in right as I was beginning the gospel presentation?"

As I continued, one of them reached slowly inside his coat.

A Moment of Truth

I have to admit, I began to question what I should do. Do I continue? Do I put this crowd at risk? Do I put my own life, my wife's and daughter's lives, and the band at risk?

I had a choice to make. Do I walk in fear of what will come, or do I continue with the message of my heart?

I was watching them closely, cautiously. But I decided in that moment that if this was going to be my last moment—if something was going to happen that would radically take me out of this world—then I might as well go out telling my heart's story of how Jesus changed my life.

An Unexplained Exit

It was interesting. After I made that decision, the young man took his hand out of his coat. The two men looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and walked out of the room.

I've often wondered what was going through their minds to shrug their shoulders and leave. Did they see something that we didn't see? Was there angelic activity that we weren't aware of? Did something strike them in their spirits? I don't know.

I only knew that day that it was feasible our lives were saved.

It's also feasible that he just had an itch.

Final Thoughts

We all have our moments in life when we have to make radical changes or decisions. I'll never forget that hot August day when two Turkish cowboys showed up.

How about you? Have you had a story similar to mine?

A Prayer 

Father, 

Thank you for the gift of another day and the chance to share the message of Jesus, even amid fear. We stand here today, much like that hot August day in Turkey, faced with the unknown and the choices we must make. We pray for the courage to live out our faith boldly and share our heart's story, no matter the circumstances. We ask for protection from hidden dangers and unexpected threats that lurk in the shadows. Let our lives be a testament to your power and grace, a beacon of hope for those who need it most. We don't know what the future holds, but we trust that you are with us, guiding us, and protecting us every step of the way. We thank you for the angels you send, the small miracles, and the peace that comes from knowing you are in control. May we always choose faith over fear, and may our lives bring glory to your name. 

Amen

Key Takeaway

You know, looking back at that day in Turkey, and really looking at all the hot August days we face, the real message isn't just about what happened with those two guys in the coats. It's deeper than that. It's about those moments when fear tries to grab hold, when everything in you screams to back down, to play it safe. 

But then, you have to ask yourself: What do I truly believe? What's the story of my heart that needs to be told, no matter the cost? For me, it was about sharing Jesus. And in that choice, in that moment of stepping out, something shifted. Was it angels? Was it just a random itch? I don't know for sure, but I do know this: when you lean into your conviction, when you decide to live out your faith even when the path isn't clear, that's when you see the unseen. That's when you realize that courage isn't the absence of fear, but the decision to keep going anyway. And that, my friends, is a story worth living, and a story worth sharing.

Questions for Discussion

The Nature of Courage: In moments of intense fear or perceived danger, what factors do you believe enable someone to choose courage and conviction over self-preservation?

Unseen Forces: When considering the possibility of angelic activity or spiritual intervention, how do you reconcile such occurrences with your own understanding of faith, providence, or the unknown?

The Power of Testimony: If the goal is to "present the life of Christ, a life in Christ, and a relational connection with Jesus," how important is personal testimony in conveying that message, especially in potentially hostile or unfamiliar environments?

Defining "Radical Change": We all have our moments in life when we have to make radical changes or decisions. Can you identify a "hot August day" moment in your own life where you faced a significant choice that tested your beliefs or resolve?

Responding to the Unknown: When faced with an ambiguous threat, where the outcome is uncertain (like the men shrugging and leaving), how do you process the experience afterward? What lessons can be drawn from situations where you don't get a clear explanation for what happened?

Call to Action

1. Identify Your Moment of Truth:

Recognize the "Men in Long Coats": What are the sources of fear, doubt, or opposition in your own life? Are they internal (self-doubt, past failures)? Or are they external (criticism from others, challenging circumstances)?

Pinpoint the Decision Point: When are you most confronted by these fears? Is it when you are about to share your beliefs? Or is it when you are pursuing a goal or passion?

2. Choose Your Response:

Ask the Core Question: In that moment, which path will you choose? Will you walk in fear of what might happen? Will you continue with the message of your heart?

Make a Conscious Commitment: Decide that your purpose is more important than your fear. - If this were your last opportunity, what would you want to be known for doing?

3. Share Your Story:

Reflect on Your Experience: Think about a time you had to make a radical decision in the face of fear.

Connect with Others: Share your story with someone who needs encouragement. Engage in conversations about faith, fear, and purpose.

4. Engage Further

Answer the Author's Question: Do you have a story similar to this one?

Seek Understanding: Do you have questions about the events in Turkey or the decisions made?

5 Steps to Go Deeper: From Fear to Conviction

This exercise is designed to help you apply the lesson from the "Cowboys in Turkey" story to your own life.

Identify Your “Men in Long Coats”: What are the "long coats" in your life? What situations, fears, or internal voices appear when you are about to step into your purpose or share your "heart's story"? Is it the fear of failure, public rejection, financial insecurity, or disappointing others? Be honest about what truly stops you.

Articulate Your “Heart’s Story”: What is your core message? If you had to distill your most profound beliefs, values, and passions into a single story, what would it be? This isn't just a career goal; it is the truth you feel compelled to live and share. In one or two sentences, write down your "heart's story." Make it so clear and concise that you could call it to mind in a moment of intense pressure.

Face the Moment of Truth: Visualize one of your fears from Step 1 appearing at the exact moment you try to live out your story from Step 2. Feel the tension of that choice. Acknowledge the powerful arguments for playing it safe and retreating. Ask yourself: "Do I walk in fear of [your fear from Step 1] or do I continue with [your heart's story from Step 2]?" Speak the question out loud to make it tangible.

Make the “Last Moment” Decision: How does your perspective change when you treat the moment of decision as if it were your last opportunity? What becomes most important? Make a conscious, deliberate choice right now. Declare to yourself using your own words: "Even if I'm afraid, and even if the outcome is uncertain, I will choose my heart's story. If this is my moment, I will go out on my terms, true to my convictions."

Act Without Needing to Know Why They "Shrugged": The story ends with ambiguity—the men shrug and leave. Are you waiting for a sign that it's safe before you act? Are you waiting for your fear to "shrug and walk away" before you move forward? Identify one small, tangible step you can take this week to act on your "heart's story." Do it with the understanding that the fear may not vanish. Your job is not to control the outcome, but to take the step. Send the email, make the call, write the first page, and have the conversation. Act.

Language is a necessary part of our existence. We need it in some form or fashion to communicate, but its true power lies much deeper. Language creates understanding for the things we only feel or vaguely conceptualize. Those internal senses—that undeniable tension in the atmosphere between what was and what is coming—arrive long before we have the vocabulary to define them.

For years, Crystal and I discussed the idea of a new kingdom culture, yet we lacked the language for it. We used many different words trying to express the heart of God in this cultural shift, but we hadn't quite discovered a vocabulary that communicated it clearly to our community.

Then, around 2008, as I began discovering and documenting the different spiritual aspects at work in our world—observations and data that would eventually fill the pages of my notebooks—we found the language we needed. Words like New Era emerged in our daily conversations long before the phrase became popular in the wider church.

I believe the words we use to express our ideas ultimately help people understand the divine shifts they are sensing but haven't been able to intentionally grasp. With language, these internal feelings and quiet revelations can be externally spoken. It gives more people a way to move from merely sensing the transition to actively participating in it.

This brings me to a pivotal question: Does language become the external spark of our internal concepts that lead us into a move of God?

If this is true, then what language are you creating around the internal ideas and concepts of the Kingdom that will spark a move of God for those in your life?

This move of God is deeply personal. It is not a top-down broadcast; it is a one-to-one, face-to-face groundswell that you play a vital part in. It operates on the mathematics of transformation—where pouring authentic love into a few friends replicates dynamically through the multiplication principle, multiplying outward into the culture rather than just adding to a crowd.

A Final Challenge

What is your language, and who will be drawn to that authentic voice so they can finally meet, encounter, and respond to Jesus?

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A creative center and a center for creatives!

That’s a good tagline, isn’t it? It speaks to the heart of what we often desire to be or do because I believe we are all creative and carry within us the ability to create.

You may be shaking your head right now, “I don’t believe I’m creative. That’s for the special few who are creative geniuses.”

I want you to meet Joel Hundley. Joel is originally from Southern California, met his amazing bride, and now lives in Vacaville. I met Joel and Jamie the first time we lived in Vacaville. Joel and I hit it off right away.

As you know, I’m a walker. I guess that’s why golf was a favorite to play. I never liked riding in carts. It took the joy out of being on the course and replaced it with speed as the scenery flew by.

Joel, yes, okay. We would take long walks and share life’s ups and downs. He is a singer/songwriter and an entrepreneur, and in both he has always been creative.

His most recent endeavor stems from his sons, who are long-distance runners. Joel chose not only to encourage his sons' love for running but also to get involved, which led to the very first Kaiser Permanente Village Run.

The Village Run began as a thought. A simple thought that was then attached to an action. Joel took action and talked with local business leaders who connected the dots.

What was an idea became reality. I call this creativity. I call Joel a creative.

Do you see yourself as a creative, or are you shaking your head in disbelief?

How many times have I had a thought that I considered unworthy or unwarranted? “Don’t waste my time, Byron. That’s just a silly idea.”

Have you ever had a moment like this?

What’s strange about these ideas is that I almost always discover someone else had a similar idea and chose to believe it, whereas I decided it was nonsense.

Here in Vacaville, creatives are everywhere. They aren’t always seen at first glance, but they are there. Yes, artists, musicians, writers, performers, but also creatives in all aspects of life.

I believe Vacaville is a creative center and a center for creatives.

I also believe that wherever you may live, your town is brimming over with creatives of all types.

Let’s set the captives free. Let’s set our imaginations free to step out of muddleness into trust, risk, and expectancy.

But let’s do this together! So we can encourage, build up, and promote one another.

I’m super proud of Joel Hundley for taking a simple thought and taking simple action, which has now led to an expansion of the original registration numbers for the Kaiser Permanente Village Run.

Byron

P.S. I’m looking forward to following up with Joel after the event to hear how it went and what he learned. Does this sound like a good idea?

I rarely do. I sit down, I write what’s in front of me that week, and I don’t go looking for a thread. Then I read the month back and there it is, running underneath everything like a wire I didn’t know I’d laid.

Here it is: God moved the action off the stage.

Off the platform. Off the program. Out of the building and into the hands of ordinary people having ordinary conversations in ordinary places. That’s the whole month, in one line.

Tag, you’re it.

Below is July, post by post, with a question from each one. Not rhetorical questions. Real ones, the kind I want answered out loud on the 4th.

July 5 — You’re It! The New Grassroots Move of God

I opened the month with a question I’ve been chewing on for a while. Are we standing at the edge of the greatest move of God in history?

I think we are. But it won’t look like the ones we’ve read about.

The revivals we tell stories about had names attached. A handful of people, a tent, a stadium, a stage. This one works differently. This one is a groundswell. The invitation went out wider this time, and it came all the way down to you.

I talked about multiplication instead of addition. Mentor five people well, and the math gets away from you in the best possible way. I brought out the umbrella — what is yours actually covering? What’s the message you’re carrying into everyday conversation, whether you’ve ever named it or not?

And I said what I’ve been saying for years. Put down the ten-step program. Lean into the divine appointments at the coffee shop, the grocery store, the school pickup line. Ephesians 4. Everyone gets to play.

For the Zoom: Who are your five? And if you can’t name them yet — what’s actually stopping you? Time, fear, or not feeling qualified?

July 12 — Unexpected Intersections: Cultivating Spiritual Awareness

I leaned on the phrase “divine appointment” hard in Episode 2. So I went back and unpacked it.

These aren’t coincidences. They’re arranged. And the traffic runs both directions — you are not the only one being used in that moment.

I took us out to the desert road with Philip and the Ethiopian official, because that story is the whole pattern. No program. No building. No calendar invite. One man made available and one man with a question.

I’m convinced the next great awakening gets carried on exactly that. One road crossing another road.

Which means the skill to develop isn’t boldness. It’s awareness. Introvert, extrovert — doesn’t matter. The question is whether you’re paying enough attention to notice.

For the Zoom: Tell us about a divine appointment you almost missed. What nearly made you walk past it?

July 19 — This Is Taking Shape!

This one was personal, and I’ll say it plain. I was lying awake on a Wednesday night telling the Father I didn’t have a burning purpose for being on Substack.

I’d started the page out of simple obedience. One step at a time. But I wasn’t about to fake a passionless project.

Thursday morning, a friend told me out of nowhere that he’d seen me in front of a screen with hundreds of people asking questions about my journey in the prophetic.

I sat with that. Then I heard it, inside: So you ask last night and receive an answer today. Is that not soon enough?

I took a walk. That’s what I do. And on that walk I heard the name — The Equipping Station. A conversation that afternoon confirmed how it lined up with who I actually am.

That’s why this page has a new name. Forty-five years of global ministry, handed over in conversation instead of lecture.

For the Zoom: How long do you normally wait between asking God something and expecting the answer? And what does that gap say about what you believe about Him?

July 26 — Finding 3D Connection in a 1D World

I closed the month by looking up a word.

One-dimensional: defined by a single coordinate point; lacking both width and depth.

Lacking width and depth. That’s how the digital spaces feel to me most days, and I said so.

I also said I have zero interest in being That Guy — the one who tells you it was better back in his day. I’m not anti-social media. I’m sitting here writing on it.

But for forty-plus years, connection came built in. People drifted to the front after every event. There was the seatmate on the flight. The local leaders hosting me in a city I’d never seen.

Now I’m a 71-year-old ambivert relearning how to make a friend.

So I asked you, and I’m still asking. How are you actually meeting people these days?

For the Zoom: Where in your week does real, three-dimensional connection already happen? And could that ordinary place be the road God plans to send somebody down?

So here’s what I’m asking of you

If July said one thing, it’s this. The shift is to the grassroots, and grassroots means you.

Not a bigger platform. Not a better program. Not waiting on somebody more qualified to get sent.

Just you. Awake, available, in the ordinary places you already go.

That’s not a small ask, because you can’t do it from behind a screen. It takes width and depth. It takes being in a room with somebody.

So this week, do one thing. Pick one person and move it one dimension deeper. Turn the comment into a phone call. Turn the phone call into coffee.

Don’t bring a formula. Don’t polish yourself up first. Don’t wait until you feel ready.

Then come tell us what happened.

The Equipping Station — Prophetic Q&A
Tuesday, August 4 · 4:30 PM Pacific · Zoom
Paid subscribers — your link comes by email the morning of the call.

Bring the question you didn’t want to put in a comment section. That’s the one I want.

See you there,
Byron

P.S. If you would like to join us, you can subscribe for free and receive a link for this months Zoom call.

Don’t forget! Tuesday, August 4 @ 4:30 pm PDT. Zoom in and take a seat for a time of prophetic encouragement and Q&A.

For over forty years, I traveled this incredible globe. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the digital spaces we hang out in feel completely one-dimensional to me. I actually looked up the mathematical definition of one-dimensional recently, and it said:

“Defined by a single coordinate point; lacking both width and depth.”

Lacking width and depth. That perfectly describes how I feel about social media most days.

Yet, here I am, showing up in your feed, hoping to catch your attention. My actual prayer—and yes, I do pray about this—is that these digital notes might somehow open the door to real, thoughtful conversations with some actual depth.

Escaping the “Back in My Day” Trap

Let me be clear: I have zero desire to be “That Guy.” You know the one—the guy who constantly complains that *back in his day*, things were better, or that my generation had it so much harder. I know there is nothing new under the sun, and I am genuinely all for positive progress. I’m certainly not anti-social media, or I wouldn’t be sitting here writing today.

But it does leave me wrestling with a very real question: **How do we actually connect face-to-face anymore?**

The Loss of Built-In Community

I spoke, ministered, and led worship in churches, at conferences, and on countless stages. The beauty of that life was that connection was practically built-in.

After every event, people would naturally drift up to the front to say hello.

“Hi, I’m Bob, thanks for your time...”

“Hey Bob, it’s great to meet you.”

Sometimes it turned into a deep conversation, sometimes it was just a passing handshake. But either way, I was standing in front of a real, breathing human being. We were sharing the same physical space, reading each other’s body language, and communicating in real-time.

Does anyone else miss that organic, three-dimensional interaction? Or is it just me? Am I just feeling the friction of transitioning off the road, or is it fair to admit that a screen is never going to fully satisfy our very human need to connect?

The Introvert/Extrovert Dilemma

When I was traveling, my social outlets were handed to me on a silver platter: the guy sitting next to me on a flight, the attendees at an event, the local leaders hosting me in their city.

Now? I feel like a 71-year-old man trying to relearn how to make friends. And the funny thing is, I’m not even a hardcore introvert. I’m more of an ambivert—I need my quiet time, but I also enjoy engaging with others.

So, I’m turning the floor over to you. **Honestly, how are you meeting people these days?**

Between remote work, busy schedules, and the digital noise, how do you find your people? Help this floundering—but highly willing—older guy discover some new paths to grow in the modern art of connecting.

That was, at least, until Wednesday night when I found myself lying awake in conversation with the Father. I had been feeling like I was lacking a genuine, burning purpose for being on Substack. I originally started this page a couple of months ago out of simple obedience to the Lord—taking it one step at a time, knowing slow growth builds a strong platform. But I definitely didn’t want to just go through the motions or fake a passionless project. I was searching for a clear focus.

Then, Thursday morning happened.

I was meeting with my friend Mark Snider (atthetableworship.com), and out of nowhere he said, “I just had a vision of you in front of your screen. There were hundreds of people online asking you questions about your journey in the prophetic.”

After our call, I was sitting there contemplating Mark’s revelation, wondering what I was supposed to do with it. Suddenly, in my spirit, I heard: So you ask last night and receive an answer today. Is that not soon enough?

When things like this happen, the best thing for me to do is take a walk, clear my head, and seek the Father’s intent.

On that walk, I heard the words clearly: The Equipping Station.

Then a second wave of insight hit that afternoon when talking with another friend (it's cool to have great friends), Cathy Atkins, revealed truth about myself and how this lines up with who I am.

Suddenly, it all clicked. This is exactly what I’ve been wanting to do—create a space where I can share 45 years of global ministry with you. I truly enjoy a Socratic, conversational approach to training: we bring an idea to light, and then we let the questions flow and watch how the Father works.

So, I am thrilled to welcome you to my new and improved Substack page: The Equipping Station!

To kick off this new chapter, we are launching our very first prophetic equipping flight with a brand-new Zoom call, The Equipping Station.

Here are the details for our first gathering:

• What: Prophetic Q & A

• When: Tuesday, August 4th

• Time: 4:30 PM Pacific Time

• Where: Zoom (Exclusive to paid subscribers—you will receive the link the day of the gathering!)

I can’t wait to see you face-to-face, share this story, and let your questions flow.

See you there,

Byron

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Topic: The Equipping Station Monthly Zoom

Time: Aug 4, 2026 04:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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Prompted by my own frequent use of the phrase in Episode 2, I explore these encounters not as mere coincidences, but as unexpected, God-orchestrated moments that carry a mutual, life-altering impact.

Drawing on the biblical narrative of Philip and the Ethiopian official, I look at how these unplanned moments of connection are the true foundation of discipleship and the Great Commission. Rather than relying on structured programs or massive stadium events, I'm seeing that the next great global spiritual awakening will be fueled by these relational, one-on-one interactions.

My challenge—whether introverts or extroverts—is to cultivate heightened spiritual awareness, remaining open to the everyday moments when they might intersect with someone else’s journey.

Additionally, the episode includes an exciting announcement for paid subscribers: a new interactive monthly Zoom gathering launching on August 4th to deepen community and continue the conversation.

ARE YOU A PAID SUBSCRIBER? Check out new material on the Issachar Report Page! It’s in the navigation bar in the header.

Crystal aims to clarify the true nature and function of prophetic gifts, defining them primarily as tools to reveal God’s heart for the edification, exhortation, and consolation of others.

By examining scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 1…

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Are we standing on the edge of the greatest move of God in history? In this episode, I share a powerful revelation about the new era we’ve entered. Unlike past revivals sparked by a few key individuals or massive tent meetings, today’s outpouring is a grassroots, groundswell movement. God is shifting the focus away from the “big wigs” and pointing directly at you. Tag, you’re it!

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The Power of Multiplication: Why true kingdom growth is about multiplication, not addition. Discover how mentoring just five people can ultimately impact millions.

• What is Your “Umbrella” Covering?: A thought-provoking analogy to help you understand the overarching urgency and message you bring to everyday conversations.

• Relational Discipleship: It’s time to move past rigid 10-step programs and return to the lost art of engagement. Learn how to lean into divine appointments at coffee shops, grocery stores, and school.

• Everyone Gets to Play: Fulfilling Ephesians 4 by stepping into the unique works God has prepared for you.

Resources Mentioned: Ready to dive deeper into relational discipleship? Check out my brand-new, 6-part series on Substack called The Art of Walking Alongside: Discipling from the Father’s Heart.

Issachar Report

Introduction to The Art of Walking Alongside

I’ve noticed something in this “New Era” we’re living in. Most of us deeply want to help others, but we often get stuck in the gap between meeting someone and actually discipling them. We convince ourselves that we need to offer a 10-step manual or present a perfectly polished version of ourselves, fearing that without a formula, we have nothing of valu…

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Thank you so much for listening, sharing, and being a part of my life. Have a great day!

Issachar Report Paid Subscribers Zoom Call: Join me Tuesday, August 4th at 4:30 PM Pacific Time for a conversation on the topics from July’s podcasts. Bring your questions and comments, and let’s connect. You will receive a separate email that morning with a link to the Zoom call. See you there!

I learned this most profoundly on Christmas Day in 1984. As my dad lay on his deathbed, he called Crystal and me to his side. He didn’t hand me a heavy list of ministry instructions or a rigid set of rules to live by. He simply asked if we were doing what God had asked us to do. When we said yes, he looked at the rest of the family and declared: “Then leave them alone!” In that single moment, he gave me a true father’s blessing—a declaration of freedom, honor, and favor rather than restriction. That is the true “Father’s Heart.” It’s the profound shift away from the exhaustion of “doing” Christianity and religious laws and toward simply “being” in a branch-and-vine relationship with Jesus. It’s recognizing that God loves us exactly for who we are, not just for what we can become.

This new six-part audio series is all about closing the gap and making that relational shift. Together, we are going to explore how to stop just handing out answers and start asking the kinds of questions that draw out the wisdom God has already placed inside the person you’re guiding. We’re defining mentorship as a commitment to the long haul—prioritizing the relationship itself over any personal agenda. If you’ve ever felt unqualified to mentor because you don’t have it all figured out, you are in the exact right place. We aren’t here to build another formula; we’re here to learn the art of walking together.

I invite you to come join us as a paid subscriber to the Issachar Report to unlock this full audio training series, gain access to exclusive video calls, and much more. Let’s take this journey together.

Key Concepts

The Origin Story, Byron opens with a personal …

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This episode explores the transition from trying to be a perfect, “superhuman” leader to becoming a genuine, vulnerable mentor. Byron reflects on his early life, noting his constant hustle to gain his father's approval, who was a successful leader. He explains that he later carried this same pressure into his faith, striving to be th…

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The Power of Piercing Questions

To illustrate the impac…

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The Core Philosophy

The central theme of this episode is the “challenge without shame” model, which allows mentors to speak hard truths without wounding a mentee’s identity. Operating with “The Father’s Heart,”…

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The Core Philosophy

• Mentors must honor the autonomy of the person they are guiding and recognize that their role is not…

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