Meet Our President
Nate Harkness, President of Worldwide Discipleship Association
Leading with humility, vision, and a heart for discipleship.
A Message from WDA’s Board Chairman, President Emeritus, & President
“Following a thoughtful and prayerful search process, the Board is pleased to appoint Nate Harkness as the next President of WDA, effective March 31, 2026. Nate brings a strong track record in disciple-making, vision-casting, and leadership, and a pastoral heart for equipping leaders and churches around the world. We are confident he will lead with integrity, vision, and a collaborative spirit.”
– Woody Johnson, Chairman of the Board
“I have had the privilege of walking alongside Nate Harkness for many years, and I have seen firsthand his character, humility, and deep love for Jesus and for people. Nate is a trusted leader who understands the heart, culture, and mission of Worldwide Discipleship Association, and he is uniquely prepared to lead it into the future.”
–David Parfitt | Former Vice President, WDA
“Nate’s humility, relational warmth, and ability to connect across cultures and denominations have significantly strengthened WDA’s global impact. We are confident that his maturity, integrity, and long-term investment in WDA uniquely position him to lead the organization effectively into its next chapter.”
— Joint Statement from WDA’s 9 International Country Directors
President Profile & Address
From the Desk of Nate Harkness
When I surrendered my life to Christ at age 16, I was discipled by my youth pastor, Joel Osterlund, and later by Mark Pavola, my area Youth for Christ director. Through these relationships, I learned that discipleship is not a program—it happens in personal relationships and small groups, in the context of everyday life. It requires transparency, accountability, and above all, genuine love.
Jesus appointed twelve “so that they might be with Him and that He might send them out” (Mark 3:14). One of the defining marks of His leadership was that He enjoyed being with His disciples and he intentionally prepared them to be sent. He led them through progressive phases of growth—focusing on their character and entrusting them with responsibility over time. This formation was marked by relationship, truth, accountability, prayer, and structured situations, directed by the moment-by-moment leadership of the Holy Spirit.
As WDA has sought to follow the wisdom of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God has caused significant growth! Through our global staff, He has opened doors to impact lives in 173 nations. We stand on the foundation of faithful and humble leadership—men like Bob Dukes and David Parfitt, along with our committed board of directors—who have led WDA to a place of health, clarity, stability, and mission alignment. I step into this role with deep humility and a strong sense of stewardship.
As I begin this season, I want to be clear about several commitments:
- Our mission and philosophy of ministry will not change.
- We will clarify and contextualize our approach for a new generation and a global audience, without compromising our core convictions.
- We will protect and cultivate a culture of biblically faithful, emotionally healthy, and spiritually vibrant discipleship—first in our own lives, and then in our ministry.
Above all, we affirm that Jesus is the head of WDA. Our effectiveness depends on our willingness to seek Him, listen to Him, and follow His leadership together.
In the years ahead, I believe we will experience a season of deepening, pruning, and fruitful expansion. We will deepen our commitment to transformation by:
- Engaging more actively in the global conversation on disciple-making through strategic partnerships
- Clarifying quality standards for discipleship and strengthening how we measure and report impact
- Empowering our mission fields toward self-sustaining and self-reproducing ministry
- Establishing new pathways for involvement, including local chapters and volunteer associates
As President, I am committed to leading with clarity, integrity, and trust across the organization. I will seek to remain humble, accessible, and relational with our staff, while also ensuring that we maintain strong alignment around our mission. I am also committed to guarding the spiritual vitality of WDA by continually calling us back to the Christ as our model, our source, and our guide on this journey.
WDA has a rich history of disciple-making on campuses, in the Church, and around the world. My responsibility is to honor that legacy while helping lead us into a future of multiplied impact—by continuing to do what Jesus did: making disciples who think, feel, and live like Him, one life at a time.
With humility and love,
Nate
Connect with Nate Harkness and Bob Dukes
We invite you to take this opportunity to personally connect with Nate Harkness and Bob Dukes, WDA’s new and former Presidents, through one of the options below, and to be part of this next historic chapter with WDA.
- VIRTUAL Meet & Greet | April 29th
- IN-PERSON Open House & Lunch @ WDA HQ | May 13th
- Set a Personal Appointment with Nate
“Nate Harkness is truly a student of God’s Word and His people, making him a passionate discipler. He pastors with incredible care locally, globally, and more importantly, at home. I salute Nate as WDA’s new President and endorse his character, pastoral heart, and integrity to lead WDA into the future!”
-Lyle Tard | Discipleship Pastor, New City Church