Debbie Friley is the founder of the Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry, The Freedom Workshop, and The Evangelism Workshop. She has served full-time with The Navigators since 1984. Employing her remarkable gifts of evangelism and discipleship, Debbie has spent the past 46 years ministering to women through the message of the Gospel, one-on-one discipleship, Bible study groups, and leadership training. She has enjoyed the tremendous privilege of reproducing and multiplying countless disciples of Christ.

She has lived in Australia, doing evangelism and discipleship with her ministry team. During her time there, she saw many come to Christ, and a wonderful church was born.

Debbie also spent almost four years as part of the co-mission project, living in Blagoveshchensk, Russia, a small city located in eastern Siberia, where she “enjoyed” 40 below zero weather! While in Russia, she taught courses in Christian morals and ethics in their public schools, led women's Bible studies (including one for English-speaking university students, which drew many unbelievers) and assisted in establishing a church for the new believers in that city. Due to government restrictions, Debbie was prevented from returning full-time but has traveled in and out of Blagoveshchensk on a tourist visa to minister to the Russians through evangelism, discipleship, mentoring, and coaching.

In 1999, Debbie also began traveling to China, ministering to the Chinese people. She has worked in the cities of Shanghai, Xian, Hangzhou, and Ningbo--equipping local Christians, working with underground church leaders, and teaching many conferences for international college students. Over 50 countries were represented each time.

In November of 2007, Debbie traveled to Nicaragua for their International Women’s Conference. She was the main speaker at the conference with over 600 women in attendance, most arriving in the back of numerous trucks, and you could hear them praising the Lord the closer they got. Debbie was accompanied by a team of women she has mentored and trained to lead Salt & Light workshops. Debbie’s Salt & Light team then trained the local Nicaraguan women to lead Salt & Light Discipleship groups. God used this training to birth over 100 weekly Salt & Light Discipleship groups who are now reading through the Bible, memorizing Scripture, and studying the Bible using the Bible!

Debbie has also taken a team of trained leaders to Wiesbaden, Germany, to present the Freedom Workshop and to introduce the Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry there. Also, she goes to Cuba each year to do the same ministry. This year, 2026, she and her team will be going to Santiago, Cuba. Looking ahead to May of 2026, Debbie has been invited to Nairobi, Kenya, in Africa to bring the Ministry as well.

When Debbie is not traveling internationally, she is taking the Freedom Workshop and Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry and Evangelism Training to many states across the USA. Her local Salt & Light groups meet weekly and also support a local ministry, CREATED WOMEN, whose mission is to assist victims of sex trafficking.

While at home in St. Petersburg, Debbie stays in close contact with many of her lifelong friends around the world. She also continues her involvement in outreach, Bible studies, one-on-one Biblical counseling, leadership training, and speaking. Her speaking ministry includes "I'm Stuck, but I Want to be Free." This powerful and life-changing message from the books of Romans and Galatians is known as the Freedom Workshop.

Much of Debbie’s ministry is centered on both leading and equipping leaders and other churches to host Salt & Light Discipleship Groups. Salt & Light Discipleship groups meet weekly, learning to be “self-feeding” Christians by reading through the entire Bible at their own pace, memorizing Scripture, and studying books of the Bible as a team. They meet as a team because, as Debbie says, referring to Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, “We are better together.” These Salt & Light groups continue to multiply and grow all over the United States and abroad, contributing to the fulfillment of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Timothy 2:2. This ministry is truly a work of God. She welcomes newcomers.

The Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry and Freedom Workshop are now in Russia, China, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Cuba, Nairobi Kenya & many Florida cities, and all over the US.

Debbie also is a speaker at large and travels all over the U.S.A. and the world, bringing the Truth of God's Word. Debbie worships and ministers in St. Petersburg, Florida, when she is not ministering elsewhere in the U.S. or overseas. Debbie is available to introduce Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry and coach the leadership to begin small groups. She’s also available to teach a 2-day Freedom Conference, a “How-To” of “I’m Stuck, but I want to be Free.” Also, Evangelism conferences, “I’m Willing to share the gospel, I just don’t know how,” followed by workshops. In addition, Debbie is available to do conferences as well as workshops for all she teaches.

In her free time, Debbie enjoys cycling, photography, and calligraphy. Her photo cards are called “Worth a Thousand Words” (Prayed for Pictures), and her calligraphy cards are called “Life-Giving Words.” She pens words from the Scriptures to go with her beautiful photo cards. You can also find Debbie cycling around town with friends, doing what she fondly calls “Discycleship,” playing her guitar, or hanging out with her beloved nieces and nephews.

God has blessed and anointed Debbie with the gifts necessary to teach and inspire thousands of people throughout the world (2 Peter 1:3). Her call to Evangelism and Discipleship is something we all, as part of the body of Christ, can participate in. Here are a few ways you can too:

Debbie’s income is solely based on the gifts of others. One-time gifts or repeating monthly gifts would be fantastic!

• Galatians 6:6 “Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.” 
• Philippians 4:17 “I don't say this because I want a gift from you. Instead, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.”
• Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders who taught you the Word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow the example of their faith.”

Find: Debbie Friley on The Navigators website at https://www.navigators.org/staff/120873/ or search for her by name. One-time gifts or repeating monthly gifts would be wonderful!
Mail: You can mail a gift directly to Debbie at the address below.
Other: You can also mention Debbie and her Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry in your will. You can also give to Salt & Light Discipleship Ministry here:

What better way is there for you to uplift Debbie? Psalm 34:17,19 “The LORD hears His people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.”

Scriptures to pray for Debbie:

• Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’"
• 2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB) “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Debbie loves receiving encouraging letters, texts, and emails from people, especially those testimonies of how God has spoken to you and how He has impacted you. Also, encouraging her with Scriptures that spur her on would be such a blessing.

Acts 20:24 “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”