Archives for 2022

Odisha finds a place on the world map of Christian missions!

October 15, 2022 By Ryder Kumar

STN’s Strivings in the State

India is a challenging country to reach with the gospel due to its diversity of languages. It’s 1.3 billion people have 16 major languages and 1600 dialects. Bible translators such as William Carey served the Lord with many sacrifices and translated the Bible into several of those languages, but not all. Even the areas that have a Bible do not yet have very many other resources translated into their language.

The state of Odisha in India.

While Odisha had the Bible in Oriya, the BTCP curriculum that STN uses was not available in that language. Jose Simon, our regional director for STN in North India and Nepal, started going to Odisha over 5 years ago and offering classes anyway. The task was extremely difficult. During this time, the President of STN, Paul Brown, wrote on September 4, 2018, “Ryder, I am so grateful to God for you and Jose as you make the long and difficult treks to train these precious saints for ministry. It is only appropriate that our sacrifice would be equal to or greater than the sacrifice these dear brothers are making to be trained. May God use both of you in a mighty way to give these men a greater love for God, tools for ministry, a heart for their people, and a passion to see churches multiply all over Odisha.”

Even with the difficulty of teaching this way, several students graduated in 2019. But it will be much easier now thanks to one of our ministry partners, Crossing Culture International. They have been working diligently on translating the curriculum into Oriya and it is now available!

2019 Odisha graduates pictured above

Presently, we have 200 pastors in Odisha who are waiting to be trained using this new BTCP translation.

Please pray for the Lord to provide the needed finances to pay for the travel expenses of our teachers and for the study materials for the students. The current cost is approximately $100 per student for the BTCP curriculum, a study Bible, and some reference tools.

Latin America is Opening Up Again!

October 14, 2022 By pbrown

by STN President, Dr. Paul S. Brown

STN began its work in Latin America in 2016 under the direction of Pastor Eddie Bueno (Hispanic senior pastor at The Bridge Bible Fellowship – Iglesia Cristiana Puente de Vida). At one time we had a total of six training institutes in four countries offering BTCP courses. Several groups completed the 10-volume curriculum, we held some graduation ceremonies, and we were ready to offer courses to new people. Then 2020 came and most of the work came to a halt due to Covid-19 restrictions. Pastor Bueno and I were supposed to travel to a graduation in Tapachula, Mexico in late March 2020 but all flights were canceled.

The Lord has once again opened the doors! Classes are being offered again in Bolivia and Honduras. By the time you read this, Pastor Bueno will have gone to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (Sept. 26 – Oct. 1) to offer a Teacher Training Workshop (TTW). BTCP requires this training for anyone who is going to use their curriculum to teach others. One of the men attending the TTW already has a group of 20+ students waiting for their new class to start in October.

Pastor Bueno will also be going to Tapachula, Mexico (Dec. 1-4) to preside over the graduation ceremony we were supposed to have 2 ½ years ago. The trainer in Tapachula is preparing to start a new BTCP class early in 2023 with 20+ students. There is a possibility that I will join Pastor Bueno early in 2023 for a graduation ceremony in Honduras. And there are other men and locations we are evaluating for possible STN Institutes in the future.

Thank you for your prayers for STN’s ministry in Latin America. Please continue to pray for Pastor Bueno’s health, for wisdom in restarting some of the Institutes and launching new Institutes in new regions. Ask the Lord to use STN’s training to raise up many new church planters who will go to currently unreached areas all over Latin America. And give Him praise for allowing us the privilege of resourcing native workers to reach their own countries with the gospel. To God be the glory great things He is doing!

Concern for the Local Churches

September 9, 2022 By sleinen

by STN International Director, Ryder Kumar (SE Asia)

“There is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”
2 Corinthians 11:28.

The STN organization was born in a local church.

Most of the International board members are either pastors or elders and their wives. Others on the board are significantly involved in the ministries of the local church. I delight in talking about these facts as the Lord has put on our hearts to focus on local churches right from the inception of Shepherding the Nations.

Pastor Suresh with his wife, Mercy

About 18 years ago, even before STN was established, when we first launched out into India, we had about half a dozen assemblies (churches) in India with whom we were closely associated and ministered. The Lord increased the number; today, STN is partnering with about 60 churches in various parts of India and Nepal. On the left, we have Pastor Suresh with his wife, Mercy. Our team worked for several years with this church in North India.

While we labored in North India, we also had a great opening in South India. Left is a picture of a local church on the left where Pastor Ravi Rathan Kumar, along with one of his elders named Timothy, participated in the study courses of STN and graduated.

Everywhere STN has operated, we have worked with local churches. In Nepal, the Lord led our regional director, Jose Simon, to work with local churches.

Jose Simon, center

A Pastor from Nepal says,

“I could learn how to stop the wrong teachings from spreading in our area. I learned what true gospel is and how to keep a church record. Through church history, I could learn to avoid the faults of the previous generation.”
-Dil Bahadur Dharti

In one of the growing assemblies (church) in a remote location in South India, we have a dear brother who resigned from his lucrative bank job to be a pastor of his church.

Having no biblical training, he not only joined our study program but also provided the use of the church facilities and food to all the participants from the beginning to the end of the program. He graduated and continued to serve the Lord at the same location. (Photo on left.)

India has a population of 1.3 billion and will have the largest population in the world by 2023.

We look forward to tens of thousands who will be trained and equipped to catch the vision. We came in contact with one senior pastor who came into the grip of this vision. Brother Paul Chepa, a senior pastor, says, “STN has been pivotal in planting and establishing new local churches in remote and tribal villages of Andhra Pradesh. I can proudly say that STN training shaped, equipped, and prepared the ministers for effective and healthy churches. I found a mentor in Ryder, International Director, who personally prays, speaks, guides, encourages, and challenges with daily devotions and different biographies and his testimonies. We are always indebted to the STN ministries for blessing us with training”.

Is the Church in India growing? Yes!

New churches are planted.
The Word is preached.
STN stepped into these nations with God’s provision, enabling us to serve His people.
There are many needs to be met, and this can’t be done without the partnership of churches with a vision for Missions!

1 Corinthians 16:9 – “For a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

The STN training and equipping is not limited to study programs. The International team that goes to India has been involved in counseling to resolve conflicts in interpersonal relationships. The leaders’ relationships in the local churches were restored.

One of the blessings has been to be an example to the local churches in keeping New Testament practices. On the right, we have prayed over those baptized by laying on of hands. On the left, we have a photo of a child’s dedication. This attests to the teaching that we do dedication but not child baptism.

We do praise God for the local churches that are partnering with STN. Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Sacrificial giving is an answer to twenty years of prayers!

August 4, 2022 By Ryder Kumar

by STN International Director, Ryder Kumar

We praise God that he is raising up faithful prayer partners who also give sacrificially. This includes US local churches and individual believers that support the ministry of Shepherding the Nations. I know of a dear lady from the church where I pastored for 15 years. She has been retired for many years but is so committed to giving that even with her limited resources she keeps giving to the mission work of STN. Another brother from a Wichita church retired from his job many years ago, but out of his limited resources is committed to give to the ministries of STN sacrificially.

Even during the times of Covid lockdown, the giving of our donors enabled our regional directors in India to receive their monthly financial support. Each of our 1000 participants receive the set of 10 books in the curriculum, each costing $10. These participants could not afford to buy these books without your donations.

Not a single day goes by when I don’t thank the Lord for His saints’ giving! Here is a real story to tell how your giving enabled us to start a new class in an “H”* populated location which has been hostile to the Gospel for decades!

36 participants meet in a local Christian school

Praying for 20 years!

“This church has been praying for twenty years to have the course introduced by STN regional director, “P,”* said Bro. “S,” the local church’s pastor in “B” town. His local church, with about 150 believers, has opened the doors for STN training classes. The group of people in this local church also ministers in eight other churches in 15 surrounding villages. However, none of these believers, including the pastor, have formal training to teach God’s Word. “P” introduced the study program of STN. The church believes that this systematic study and equipping program was an answer to their prayers!

“P,” our regional director, launched STN training into this new area through the local church as is his practice. Incessant rains didn’t force him to cancel his schedule, but he sent a prayer request to several people. The Lord answered and stopped the rains!

This is not only a new class for STN, but a new state in India for STN. For these 36 new participants, this STN training will be a turning point in their pilgrimage to study the Word systematically and dive into reformed theology. While 32 new participants registered, 36 attended. The four extra people who attended couldn’t resist their hunger to study the Word, and for “P,” it became irresistible to stop them from attending the class.

A local Christian school provided facilities to hold our classes. This helps our ministry continue to be cost-effective for our students. Usually each class takes about 2 ½ years to complete the 10-book curriculum. Shepherding the Nations’ goal is to provide these classes in remote villages where most of the population live. This method is working to reach thousands of participants who live in unreached areas.

STN ministry’s presence in already reaching several states of India and Nepal. Please pray to that we may launch into eight new states where there is a need.
Pray for about 1000 participants in several states of India and Nepal who are currently being equipped to be the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, spreading the message of peace in personal lives, families, and societies.
Please pray that graduates of 2015 (67), 2019 (199), and 2021 (127) would multiply by taking His Word further to those who need this training.
Pray for the graduations scheduled in November 2022 as Paul Brown addresses over 450 graduates via Zoom. Pray that these graduates may consecrate themselves to plant new churches, establish new study centers and multiply the impact of solid Bible teaching into local churches.

New class in Orissa

STN is also working in this state in a new location where a new class has begun. “S” is a small town in the Orissa state of North India, one of the most backward areas on earth. It is populated predominantly by a tribal society that has responded to the Gospel in the last century. The church’s growth is limited chiefly to family expansion due to the lack of proper guidance and training.

In this town in 2022 STN has registered 16 pastors and leaders in our training classes to equip them with the systematic study of the Word. The group gathers every month for two days for study and training. “J”, STN’s regional director for North India and Nepal, spends 9 to 10 hours each day teaching, answering questions, and leading the students in discussions. He has such a heart for people to reach these unreached areas!

*Names of people and places have been abbreviated for security.

Four cities, two countries, and lots of news about STN in Latin America.

July 10, 2022 By sleinen

Latin America Trip, May 2022

One of The Bridge Bible Fellowship Pastors, Eddie Bueno, along with his son, Sammy, was finally free to travel to Latin America to meet in person with our STN trainers.

The purpose of this long-awaited trip was two-fold:

to discuss and reestablish the priorities of STN in the Bolivian cities where we had started this ministry;
to encourage the trainers to make sure that many had access to sound biblical training with an emphasis on planting new churches.

Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Pastor Bueno met with our Regional Director for Bolivia, Pastor Richard Buitrago. They were mutually encouraged as they discussed the challenges that came with Covid, and the plans to move forward with STN’s training program in Bolivia.

Summary of the work in Santa Cruz, Bolivia:

Pastor Buitrago has seen two classes graduate with more than 30 total graduates.
Four churches were planted by STN graduates before Covid; these churches have struggled, but now three of these churches continue to meet, each with up to 20 adults plus children.
Pastor Buitrago moved during Covid and is planting a church near the airport. He will be starting training classes in his home in this new area.
At the same time, he is starting a children’s ministry and has already formed a group with more than 35 children. Pastor Bueno says, “I hope that God will help us to restart support for this children’s ministry, which before the pandemic reached more than 600 children.”

Prior work in Cochabamba and La Paz, Bolivia will not be continuing at this time. Pray for Pastor Tito for provision for his frail health and difficult financial situation.

Pastor Bueno in El Alto, Bolivia

Pastor Bueno was able to meet with several pastors who are interested in starting new training classes in La Paz, Bolivia.

Pastor Jhonny Villareal, has been a pastor for more than 25 years working with “Union Bautista Boliviana” (Bolivian Baptist Union) in one of the most difficult regions of La Paz called “El Alto.” A million and a half people live there; the majority are indigenous people of very low income, with few Biblically sound churches. This makes the need to have an STN training institute even greater in this city, where witchcraft is very common, and alcoholism is very high among the youth.
Pastor Bueno also met with Pastor Joaquin Barrau, a pastor in the southern region of La Paz for over 30 years. He teaches in the Christian Seminary of La Paz and has a Master of Divinity. He is very interested in our BTCP training program. Many Christians who would like to prepare for ministry are not able to attend a seminary because they don’t have a high school diploma, or they don’t have the resources necessary to pay for their studies. Pastor Barrau believes that our program would be an answer for these.

Pastor Bueno in El Alto, Bolivia

Colombia

Pastor Bueno also traveled to Tulua in Cali, Colombia, a beautiful town where they cultivate sugar cane. He was there with brother Edwin Verjan, who was a deacon of Iglesia Cristiana Puente de Vida (TBBF’s Hispanic congregation) for 14 years. He went back to Colombia and now attends a Baptist church.

The pastor of this church, Rigoberto Revelo, is from Honduras. He was a missionary in India and is now planting a church in Colombia. When he heard about our project, he was very excited to make STN a reality in his church.

Status of STN in other Latin American countries:

México – Pastor Marco will soon hold the graduation which was cancelled two years ago due to Covid. He will then start looking for new students to start the training classes again in Mexico.
Honduras – After many trials, Pastor Pino is again giving classes; they are in book nine (of ten). Pastor Pino is challenging the students to go and plant churches and there are several brothers from the 26 students that are excited to accomplish this calling. Let’s pray for Honduras.
Guatemala – We ask for your prayers so that God would open the doors in Guatemala again. We have a contact with a church that seems to be interested in starting STN training classes since they are growing and would like to be more useful in the labor of the Lord.

Please pray for Pastor Eddie Bueno as he is committed to the Lord and depending on his physical strength and health, he would like to continue the original plans for training classes in Latin America that Covid interrupted. He says, “I believe in the Lord that it is time to continue forward. Knowing that these times are decisive and maybe the last to preach and teach the Lord’s Holy Word.”

“… men of whom the world was not worthy…”

July 5, 2022 By pbrown

Duane Ulrich

Ralph Evans

It has been my privilege over the past 44 years of ministry to work with amazing men and women who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and are committed to seeing the Gospel reach every nation. They truly are people of whom the world is not worthy. Two of them stand out in my mind right now: Duane Ulrich and Ralph Evans.

Duane and Ralph were elders at The Bridge Bible Fellowship who also served on the STN International Board since its inception. They gave of their time, talents, and treasures in sacrificial ways. They were men of the Word who prayed with great faith.

At one critical juncture in STN’s history as the doors were opening wide for effective ministry, we knew we needed a substantial amount of money to move forward with the vision. I shared with the Board that we should all pray and ask the Lord for a half a million dollars. To me it was a huge step of faith.

Ralph replied, “Why don’t we ask for 1 million dollars?”

I was convicted by his strong faith in God. We prayed earnestly about this and a few months later the Lord answered our prayers when $1,100,000 was donated.

Duane and Ralph were men devoted to their wives. Duane and Janet were married for over 63 years. In January of 2020, Duane went home to be with the Lord. Two weeks later he was joined by his wife Janet.

Ralph and Joyce were married for almost 63 years. On April 9, 2022, Joyce Evans graduated to heaven. She was joined 3 ½ weeks later by Ralph. Their godly marriages are a profound example for us all.

Duane and Ralph (and their wives) left an incredible legacy of faith. Like the Apostle Paul, they “fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). They have entered the joy of their Master having heard Him say, “Well done” (Mt. 25:21). And I know they are thrilled every time heaven erupts with joy over one sinner on earth who repents (Lk. 15).

Our STN Board misses Duane and Ralph.

Please pray that the Lord would send us more people like them to join us in this ministry. And please join us in praising God for the work He accomplished through His two choice servants. “Men of whom the world was not worthy.” Heb. 11: 38

By STN President, Paul Brown