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9 Things Your May Not Know about Shepherding the Nations

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by Pastor Randy Leinen, STN Board 

1. Founded by The Bridge Bible Fellowship

In 2007, Shepherds Community Church and Heart of the Valley Community Church merged into one church, and became The Bridge Bible Fellowship (TBBF). At that time, the newly formed TBBF created a new missions organization, called Shepherding the Nations (STN). Although STN is technically a separate Non-Profit organization, it continues to be a vital missions ministry of The Bridge.  

2. Mission of STN

The mission of STN is “To glorify God by training and resourcing indigenous pastors to plant healthy churches in unreached areas.” There are many pastors or potential pastors, worldwide, who do not have the resources to be trained to effectively preach and teach God’s Word. So, STN focuses on training these kinds of local pastors, evangelists and church planters so that they can reach their own villages and regions with the gospel.

3. Bible Training Center for Pastors (BTCP)

Before STN was formed in 2007, Pastor Paul, Pastor Ryder Kumar, and I went to India on a few short term mission trips with our wives. We had the privilege of teaching God’s Word to a couple thousand men and women. It was during these trips that we developed a burden to help these men and women who were so hungry to learn God’s Word, and to teach it to others. After researching a number of different types of curriculum we found a series of books called Bible Training Center for Pastors. This curriculum consists of 10 books that have been translated into 42 languages (with 9 more in progress). BTCP was the perfect fit for the people we were working with in India, who speak Hindi and Telegu. So, in the Spring of 2009 we went back to India and began to train a group of pastors using these materials in their own language. 

4. Class of 2014

In the Spring of 2009, we started training 50 men in Northern India, and 50 men in Central India – 100 total. Over the course of the next 5 years several of us traveled to India and taught through the 10 BTCP books. And in November of 2014, we held one graduation in Lucknow and another in Hyderabad, India. A total of 80 men were the first STN graduates. They immediately began planting churches and training people in their local areas.

5. Southeast Asia

Since 2014, the initial graduates of STN have been training hundreds of their own people all over India and Nepal. In 2022, having been taught by those first graduates, 450 new trainees became graduates of the BTCP course. And in 2023, the total number of graduates has reached over one thousand. There are 38 Study Centers in cities and villages all across India and Nepal.

6. Latin America

Pastor Eddie Bueno joined us on one of the trips to India. He saw the opportunity to bring BTCP training through STN to Latin America. Training has been ongoing there in the countries of Bolivia, Mexico, and Honduras. People from El Salvador and Panama are also interested in beginning the training. In Latin America, so far, over 200 pastors and church planters have been trained.

7. God’s Connections

An interesting connection was made in the country of Panama. Our new Pastor Marc Boeker has a son named Carter, who is a Freshman at The Master’s University. Carter started dating a young girl from Panama, named Laura. Her father, Ivan, is a deacon of a local church in Panama. Pastor Eddie contacted Ivan and the pastor of the church and told them about STN. This month, Pastor Eddie is heading to Panama to begin training a new group of men. The Lord orchestrated all of this from Pastor Marc, to Carter, to Laura, to her father Ivan, to Ivan’s pastor, to Pastor Eddie. Praise the Lord for allowing STN to keep expanding into Latin America. (See update about Panama institute below.) 

8. 100% policy

One of the key principles that STN wanted to adhere to from the beginning was to have 100% of the donations go to supporting the pastors (their churches and their training). We did not want to accept people’s donations and then take a cut out of that for administrative costs. We can do that because the STN International Offices are in a church building and run by volunteers. We do not take a percentage of your donation for administrative costs. The minimal administrative costs for our International Office are covered by donations specifically targeted for administration.

9. You have a part to play

How can you be part of STN? Here are a few ways: First, you can pray for the ministry. In many of the locations where STN training is happening there is serious persecution. Many of our trainers are faithfully proclaiming God’s Word in places where they are not welcome. It is tough and they do it anyway. Pray for their safety and God’s continued blessing. Second, those of us who serve on the STN International Board do it as volunteers. And we can use more help, especially as STN continues to grow beyond our wildest expectations. If you are interested in potentially being part of the board, please talk to Pastor Paul Brown. Third, please consider supporting STN financially. Most of the time those who are being trained cannot afford the cost of the books. And those who are doing the training are usually men who need financial assistance. Would you consider contributing to such needs?

Uniting for Growth: The Inaugural PENIEL Virtual Conference

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By Pastor Marc Boeker

    “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth…that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” – John 17:19,20 (NASB)

This spring, a momentous event for Shepherding the Nations – India (STN India) went down in the history books. On May 17-18, 2024, STN hosted its first virtual conference for pastors and leaders across India, Nepal, and Myanmar.

Ryder Kumar, International Director, was looking for a way to provide further training to graduates in the BTCP program (Bible Training Center for Pastors). A conference would provide an excellent platform to include crucial church topics for further growth and development of the indigenous churches. Out of this desire, the PENIEL Conference was born.

Persuading to Equip and Nurture Indigenous Evangelical Leaders

Months before the conference, STN began working on visas to bring several Indian pastors to The Bridge Bible Fellowship in Reseda, California for in-person training. With much prayer, invitations were sent requesting these men to be allowed to come to the United States for an intensive time of discipleship. Their presence at The Bridge would have been both an encouragement to them as well as to their brothers and sisters in Christ who have been supporting the work in India for over 15 years. Paperwork was completed. Consulate visits were made. And they waited. And waited. And waited…

Even through waiting, one can now see God was preparing the way for a change of plans – a change of venue, a change of schedule, and a change of participants – all changes which ultimately led to an unexpected exponential increase in the number of pastors and leaders who could benefit and participate in the training. God has told his followers in times past, “the heart of man plans his way, but Yahweh directs his steps” (Psalm 16:9). The STN board’s plans were laid out, but God’s sovereign direction was needed to go beyond what was currently envisioned and provide training into homes and locations that far exceeded the STN board’s initial expectations.

While Zoom fatigue was a real thing for many during COVID, the advances in video conferencing technology that it provided have been a huge help to proclaim the truth of God’s word. In places seemingly impossible to visit, we can now sit “face-to-face” and interact on a much more personal level. For many purposes, virtual meetings can provide an opportunity for equipping the saints where an in-person meeting is out of reach for the attendees or threatens the existence of the church.

Enter PENIEL Virtual. Paul Brown, Senior Pastor of The Bridge and founding STN member was eager for this conference to continue, but with only three (3) of the original invitees able to get visas to US, the plans had to change. Moving to a virtual platform could provide the desired training along with an expanded reach inherent to a virtual conference. Excitement began to build as plans fell into place for the restructured virtual conference.

As Ryder invited church leaders from across the country one of his desires was to expand the reach of STN and the BTCP program. Many of the groups he contacted are well-educated, mature, and sacrificially serving which could serve to enhance the ministry of STN. All of the participants were encouraged to connect more closely to STN as they applied what they were taught in the conference.

By God’s grace, the gathering together of over 60 men across four countries became a reality on May 17-18. Due to the 12.5-hour difference in time zones, India experienced the conference over two days, while in the US we began welcoming guests at 5:00 AM on Friday and said our final goodbye near 11:00 PM.

In India, the conference began in the evening where three sessions were presented, each followed by a Q&A time with the participants. Randy Leinen, Executive Pastor of The Bridge began the conference with a session on transformation groups. These are small groups of 3-5 participants that provide a strong focus on bible study, accountability, evangelism, and prayer. Pastor Joe Leinen followed this by talking on the importance of small groups in the local church. Both of these ideas are somewhat foreign concepts in the Indian church. The evening concluded with a challenge toward church planting from Patrick Carmichael, Senior Pastor of Christ Bible Church.

After a night of rest, Saturday morning in India saw the pastors once again start logging in and talking together as they eagerly anticipated the final three sessions. Mike Vos, ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor, began the day with an introduction to Biblical Counseling. Thinking about what the Bible has to say about life’s problems was a solid start to the day, followed by many questions from the men. Pastor Paul completed the conference as he taught the two final sessions on Conflict Resolution and Leadership Development.

What joy it was meeting with these beloved men – leaders and teachers – eager to grow in their knowledge of the Lord and strengthen the local churches across Asia. Through God’s Spirit, we were not only friends but also brothers caring for one another as we toil for the Lord and his Church. This is the very mission of STN. God, in his sovereignty, took our humble plans for a conference to become a jumping-off point for future opportunities to provide solid biblical training and church development across Asia as he continues to unite His family around the globe.

The First Church Planted by STN Graduate is a Model

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By Ryder Kumar, International Director, SE Asia

While church planting is on-going by the graduates of STN in India, we have a model church that is standing strong against all storms and challenges. Motivated and equipped with teaching for 5 years by the international team of STN, Brother D, who has been working as the principal of a principal of a public school, ventured into the mission of church planting immediately after his graduation in 2014. This was the first graduation in India. The Lord made this abundantly fruitful. 

Brother D has established a church in one of the most heavily populated and hostile states in the country, which is H-dominated. Initially, the church had only about 10 members, including Brother D’s wife and 8 unbelievers. However, the church has now grown to 200 members! Additionally, there are now four different church locations under Brother D’s leadership, with each location having attendance ranging from 15 to 50 people. Despite facing challenges such as Covid and persecution, the churches continue. Approximately 80 to 90 individuals have been baptized through Pastor D’s ministry, and many have heard the Gospel message. Furthermore, three leaders who are graduates of STN were trained by Brother D and sent to different locations.

Pastor D at an outdoor church gathering

Latin America Institutes

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by Eddie Bueno

Earlier this year, I planned to go to El Salvador to train a pastor to start a new STN Institute. Unfortunately, the pastor needed to undergo back surgery and we had to postpone the training. The pastor is recovering well from the surgery and will be joining me in Panama in late May where I will train him and some other men from Panama. The plan will be to launch new STN Institutes both in El Salvador and in Panama this summer.

In addition to the new Institutes, all the existing institutes have now resumed classes. Join us in praying to God that this year will be a great blessing and tremendous time of learning for all the students. As always, I ask for your prayers that God guides and encourages and opens the doors so that healthy new churches can be planted that teach biblical doctrine honoring our Savior and Lord.

Please pray especially for Tapachula, Mexico, as there is beginning to be a lot of persecution of Christian churches. Also, pray for the immigration problems since Tapachula is on the border of Guatemala.  This is the pathway of entry into Mexico for that all the people who try to reach the United States. This is bringing a great crisis to Tapachula.  But Pastor Marco wants to take advantage of this situation to share the word of God with those who need it most.

El Alto, Bolivia, BTCP Book #6:

Santa Cruz, Bolivia Book #5:

Tapachula, Mexico, Book #3:

Honduras, Book #3:

Santa Cruz – Bolivia
Pastor: Richard Buitrago  Students – 30 Book #5 

El Alto – Bolivia
Pastor: Jhonny Villarroel  Students – 31 Book #6 

Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Pastor: José Pino  Students – 25 Book #3 

Tapachula – Mexico
Teacher: Marco Antonio Muñoz  Students – 16 Book #4 		Posible New Institutes:
San Salvador, El Salvador
Pastor: Jorge Burgos Classes will start this summer

Panama
Classes will start this summer

Discovering Unity and Growth: Reflections from My First India Mission Trip

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by Joe Leinen

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to travel to India and spend time with STN graduates and visit a number of churches and believers there. Although I had heard many stories about India for years through my parents’ travels, this was my first experience in the country.

I had the privilege of teaching, preaching, and leading in worship many times over the course of 2.5 weeks. In that short time there were so many great experiences, wonderful people, and lessons that I learned.

One of the most wonderful things that I experienced was the joy of gathering with fellow believers in Jesus. My first Sunday in India, I attended El Shaddai church. Although I didn’t understand the language, hearing these precious people sing joyfully to the Lord and pray to Him was overwhelming. I had never met these people before, and yet I knew that we had everything in common that mattered, because of Jesus. Every opportunity to gather with believers provided a similar sense of unity, which is hard to put into words.

The Lord also taught me many things, and exposed areas of weakness in my own life. God used this trip to expand my view of the way that He is reaching the nations. I was often in situations that were far different than I was used to, and this caused me to rely on Him through prayer more than I ever had before. The traveling challenges and long days made me realize how weak I truly am, and how desperately I needed the Lord’s strength. The Lord also grew my love for the people I met, and I am praying I can return again to see them. It was truly a life-changing trip, and I’m so thankful to God for this opportunity.

The privilege of serving on the STN board

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by Mike Vos

As I read Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, ” What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” How could the apostle Paul continue to go to Jerusalem after being warned several times about the impending danger awaiting him? I was struck by the understanding that love is stronger than fear. The apostle Paul’s love for the Lord and love to obey Him was stronger than any fear of danger, harm or sacrifice he may encounter.

As we grow in our love for the Lord, we become less and less concerned with ourselves. Christ demonstrated perfect love and He is our example. Serving on the STN International board is an opportunity for me to love the Lord and be used by Him to further the Gospel and multiply mature disciples around the world to know and love Jesus Christ.

God has called us in Matt 22:37-40 to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are designed by God to love Him and one another. True joy is found in our sacrificial serving and loving others. Serving on the STN board honors God and helps reach others with the love and truth of Christ.

Mike and Mara VosI don’t face danger when I serve on the STN board like the apostle Paul did as he headed to Jerusalem in Acts 21; but I do experience joy as I honor the Lord and obediently help spread His love and truth around the world through the STN ministry. I get to see first hand how God faithfully blesses this ministry with the resources to proclaim Him and His truth. I hear of the many sacrifices our students and teachers make to grow in their love and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a blessing to be part of STN and bring God’s truth to those who are thirsty to consume and apply God’s word.

Ultimately, just as the apostle Paul understood the blessings of serving the Lord far outweigh any sacrifices we make for Him. Serving on the STN board alongside faithful brothers and sisters these past several years has been a privilege as I watch God amazingly working through this ministry to glorify himself and expand His word to different parts of the world. It was also a blessing to have my wife Mara Vos join the STN board in 2022 and to serve with her in this important ministry.

Concern for the Local Churches

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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.”

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

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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:

  1. to discuss and reestablish the priorities of STN in the Bolivian cities where we had started this ministry;
  2. 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

Santa Cruz, Bolivia

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

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.”

Multiplying in Obedience to the Mandate of the LORD

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by Ryder Kumar, International Director STN.

In accordance with the Scriptural mandate given in Matthew 28:19-20, “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.”

The main focus of STN has been to magnify the LORD by seeing the local churches become healthy through the preaching and teaching of the Word. 2 Corinthians 2:17, “For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”

National Conference for Expository Preachers

Observing the desperate need of the local churches in the regions, our hearts were moved to hold a gathering called, “National Conference for Expository Preachers.” About 200 were selected to attend our National Conference for Expository Preachers during October, 2019. Testimonies of the participants were staggering in many ways. One pastor said, “Not a single eye was without tears at the end of the last session.” Another young pastor said, “this is the first time I heard such marvelous teaching.” Yet another from our faculty, soon after the last session – literally crying – fell on my shoulder expressing the way he was blessed and motivated. Two pastors who were leaders of the application sessions have decided to have an on-going ministry of helping each other to prepare expository preaching. Everyone present at the three-day seminar was glued to the speakers. All who attended received in abundance.

The Team of Speakers

Paul Brown, Randy Leinen, and David Hegg taught with a practical and relevant approach to the culture. Paul with his passionate tone and tears ministered to people as he began and closed the conference. The enlightenment from the teaching, guidance and training received through the Word to proclaim the Word has made the participants to be blessed in heart and mind as they left the conference rejoicing.

As he has in prior trips, Paul Brown had a multi-task ministry. He not only taught NCEP sessions every day, he also preached in the evenings in a local church and three times at Sunday service. His wife, Diane, ministered through her melodious voice. What a moment of blessing it was! Added to these significant activates, many came to Paul requesting prayer.

Randy Leinen with his ‘gift of giving’ did it again! He brought MacArthur Study Bibles that were so much appreciated by several pastors who received them individually. With all his admin skills, he provided dynamic service in guiding the STN India ministry. Along with these involvements, his passionate teaching every day during the sessions transported blessings form God in abundant fruitfulness. One example is new groups in “WhatsApp” have been created to help/teach/develop one another. His zealous preaching at evening services and on Sunday have developed a relationship in a new church giving us a new task of follow up. We are so grateful to the Lord for keeping Randy and his wife Susan in our midst as a great impact in the lives.
The board with 20 brothers and sisters met together several times since 2017 to pray and plan for NCEP. God answered prayers and rewarded the labors. God provided for our needs, including the venue, weather, administration, unity and above all abundant fruitfulness. Joy, excitement, enriching experiences, fellowship and to focus on multiplying is echoing in all our hearts! Would you please continue to pray.

Multiplication

Let me begin with a testimony of J. S., our newly appointed Regional Director for North India and Nepal. He says,

“A. M. of Kanpur (North India) was a participant of NCEP 2019. He attended the conference along with his newly wedded wife L.M. She participated in the Ladies Conference that went on in the same venue simultaneously. The teachings in these conferences made such a strong impact in both lives that they have committed to learning and teaching the pure Word of God to others.”

Not keeping the blessing to themselves, this young couple poured out their burden before A.M.’s brother from a different state that has desperate need. His brother plans to organize a BTCP group with 18 to 20 participants. The story goes on and on, as more doors are being opened; this is happening in the heart belt of North India where the “H” community is thickly populated.

A similar testimony from V.H., our director, soon after his appointment in South India launched into ministry and says,

“On 25th November we have conducted STN Training Orientation Class in G. Village. 35 pastors, leaders and pastor’s wives have attended. I invited graduates to share their blessings of this training.  I shared about STN’s vision and how it has grown.”

Graduation of 249 in South and North India

Presently we have 11 on-going training centers with anticipation to see another 39 centers during 2019-20. The presence of STN is felt in six different states of the country while groups in about 20 states are still waiting for us to launch out into their states. 249 graduated in October from various centers of North, Central and South India.

Nepal Outreach

Six congregations in Nepal have been established through a simple witness, prayers and love from one couple who got trained by STN.

BTCP courses are taught in two different areas in this country. There is a desperate need to see financial support for our brothers who are laboring to meet the needs of these congregations. To reach these areas we go through the mountains and cross water and mud. But it is worth it to minister to groups that are waiting to be fed, who are both hungry and sacrificial.

Please Pray

  • Significant growth over the years and multiplying of groups has brought greater tasks of administration. New regional directors have been appointed by laying on hands by the elders. We are anticipating 500 to be undergoing our training. Our goal in 2020 is to see 50 areas of ministry including existing 11 centers.
  • Pastors in Nepal need financial assistance.
  • Travel to remote villages has always been a challenge.  One of our graduates of P. village lives on the hills had to walk for two
    hours to get public transport that takes another two hours. He has never failed to be on time.
  • Goals and targets for 2020 are very high. Without His enabling we cannot proceed in this training and equipping of several hundreds in many remote villages and towns.

A Dream Come True

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By Mika Kaltoft

Missions Trip to Africa

After arriving in Zambia, our team began traveling from village to village preaching the gospel in the open air. Many of the people in the villages had never seen white people or heard the gospel before. By God’s grace, they were eagerly listening to our message and we saw many come to know Christ. I particularly remember a Catholic man who was radically saved after one of our preaching events. The day after the event, the man came back, asking how he could start a church in his village. His face was shining as he told us about his desire to see his friends, family and whole village come to know Christ. I was thrilled about his passion for sharing the gospel, but deep down, I thought to myself, “Who is going to disciple this man and equip him to start a church?” I didn’t have an immediate answer to my question but kept pondering on it in the back of my mind.

A Seed Planted

The mission-trip to Africa had a profound impact on me. The Lord didn’t call me to pack my things, move to Africa and become a missionary, but my time of ministry in Africa kindled a desire in me. I wanted to teach and train men and women in their own country to fulfill the great commission by preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations.

I kept asking myself, “How can we equip these believers for ministry?” But as life went on, my dream to shepherd the nations slowly faded into the background. Little did I know that the Lord had not sung the last tune on that song.

Discovering Shepherding the Nations

Moving forward about six years, I providentially began working at The Bridge Bible Fellowship in California. As I got to know my new church family, I learned that several of the pastors and church members had started a non-profit organization named Shepherding the Nations (STN) back in 2007.

I went to look at STN’s website and found their missions statement:

“To glorify God by developing a global partnership which trains and supports indigenous pastors, who will be involved in planting healthy churches that know Jesus Christ and make Him known.”

Say what? If I’m not mistaken, it sounds a whole lot like the dream the Lord placed in my heart years before in a small dusty village in Africa. I began to talk with Pastor Randy about STN, and he shared with me the impact the ministry is having in the lives of hundreds of believers in India and South America.

Shepherding the Nations in India

Our talks about STN led to planning and our planning led to the purchasing of airplane tickets and the purchasing of airplane tickets led us to India. In October, I came home from a two-week mission trip to India with STN, where we have been training more than 300 men and women to minister the gospel more effectively through the teaching of the Bible.

National Conference for Expository Preachers

During our time in India, we held a three-day National Conference for Expository Preachers. I was encouraged to see the hunger for God’s Word in India—the same hunger I saw in Africa. The men who attended the conference were eagerly listening as they were learning about expository preaching, and they were passionately engaging in their discussion groups after each session. No one sat passively listening; everyone joined the discussions with much excitement and commitment. There was so much to learn. So much to take away from the teaching. So much to consider, reevaluate and embrace. It was incredible to watch.

The men traveled from far and wide to attend the conference. A couple of men traveled an uncomfortable 25-hours in a train to make it to the conference. Other indigenous men came from a rural and dangerous area where militant Hindus daily persecuted them and where Christians have been burned alive in the past.

Many of the conference attendees expressed their thankfulness for the time, energy and resources we had sacrificed to come across the globe to teach God’s Word on how to become better preachers and leaders in their churches. A man told us the enormous impact the conference had on him as tears were running down his cheeks. He said that he had learned so much at the conference that will help him become a more faithful minister and preacher of God’s Word to his congregation.

BTCP Graduation

The day after the conference, we held a graduation for 200 students who had faithfully spent more than 500 hours working their way through the ten BTCP books to receive a solid biblical foundation on which to build their Christian lives and ministry. The following week, we went to Northern India, where we graduated an additional 41 faithful students.

Several of the graduates will be planting new churches to reach and disciple more Indians in the near future, but their commitment to Christ doesn’t come without a cost. The threat and persecution of these Christians is a daily reality in India, and our brothers and sisters in Christ need our prayers as they remain faithful to the Lord in reaching the lost in a raging storm.

Only God knows the ultimate impact of the conference and our ministry in India, but I’m confident we will see the effect for many generations to come.

The Future of Shepherding the Nations

I’m excited to continue my work with STN in the future. I’m eager to see how the Lord is going to continue to expand the ministry, its reach and the number of believers equipped to teach God’s Word and plant healthy churches.

How Can You Get Involved?

If this article is stirring a desire in you to train believers in impacting their country for Christ through STN, I ask that you take a moment and prayerfully ask the Lord to show you how to get involved with this ministry either by praying or giving financially.

 photo credit: Alan McDole