Our History

The Vision:
A Global Partnership

For many years, God placed the burden of worldwide missions and the call to train up leaders on the hearts of two individuals who lived half a world apart. Pastor Ryder Kumar spent 30 years shepherding the flock in India while Pastor Paul Brown was shepherding his own flock in the Los Angeles area. God brought these two pastors together in 2001 when Paul invited Ryder to plant a church for the local ethnic Asians at Shepherd’s Community Church (SCC).

Founder, Pastor Ryder Kumar says,

"The time to launch out into SE Asia is NOW. Millions in India need to hear the Gospel and thousands are waiting to be trained in order to do church planting across the nation."

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2004

Through Ryder’s experience-oriented leadership and key contacts in India, these two pastors traveled together to India for the first time in 2004 to lead Bible conferences to teach Indian pastors.

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2005

Through much prayer and the support of the local church, a second mission trip to India and Nepal in 2005 enabled more church leaders to go and experience the fruit of this vision.

the beginning of STN

2007

In June of 2007 the elders at Shepherd's Community Church (now The Bridge Bible Fellowship) approved the formation of a new missions organization known as “Shepherding the Nations.”

Randy Leinen preaching in Lucknow in 2012. (Mahavir bottom, right)

2007 - 2014

Our Bible teachers traveled to India several times a year and taught through the 10-book Biblical Training Centre for Pastors curriculum.

All Group Grad Lucknow

Fall 2014 - Our first graduation

80 pastors, evangelists and church planters graduated after having completed the 10-book BTCP curriculum.

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2016 - Latin America Courses Begin

Pastor Eddie Bueno trains and initiates first STN courses three different cities of Bolivia – Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba.

New Class in Guatemala led by Pastor Karel

2017 - New Countries Added in Latin America

New courses are started in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico

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2017 - STN Expands to Northern India and Nepal

New courses are taught regionally in areas of Northern India where Christians have historically faced much persecution.

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2018 - First Graduation in Latin America

Almost 50 students graduated from three different institutes. As a result four new churches have been planted in Santa Cruz by brothers that have graduated from the BTCP courses.

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2019 - National Conference for Expository Preachers

A teaching team from the US led a conference for 200 pastors in Southeast Asia. In addition 250 graduated from the 10-book BTCP program in Southeast Asia.

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2022 - Over 1000 students in training

Additionally over 450 students graduated in Southeast Asia and Latin America.

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2024 - Panama and El Salvador

Latin American courses expand as trainers are trained and new classes started in Panama and El Salvador.

Southeast Asia Pastors graduation

2025 - Graduations in Southeast Asia

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Tegucigalpa, Honduras

2026 - STN Latin America

As of this year, there are 10 training classes in 5 countries. 160 students have graduated to date and 11 churches have been planted.