Shepherding the Nations

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Lockdown Gives Opportunities to Unlock Hearts and Display Love in Action!

April 8, 2020 By Ryder Kumar

As the world is in the grip of crises, India is no exemption.

We have no choice but to confront it! Our STN staff has encountered with new challenges! Before this crisis cropped up, our faculty and regional directors were well equipped with the knowledge of His Word not to stand still but be still before Him to know how to address this horrible CRY of His servants.

Launching out with services of care and compassion

Pastor D., one of our first STN graduates in 2014, stepped out to serve the pastors who are being trained by him in his area.

These five students of BTCP, having no food or finances, were facing tragedy. Pastor D., who is pastoring the first STN church plant, took up the challenge with food. He provided grain and groceries for these needy families.

J.S., our Regional Director of North and Nepal, reports,

“Pr. A is an active student in BTCP Sitapur, UP group. He is from H background. His family is the only unit which believed in Jesus from his joint family ten years ago. His parents turned him and his family out of home empty handed as a punishment for becoming a Christian. Only income he receives is from the offerings and gifts offered by the believers on Sunday during worship and at other meetings. As the restrictions for gatherings started even before the lockdown, he ran out of money. The North Indian faculty, especially Br. D.C. took care of him and arranged for his needs.”

P., Regional Director, along with his wife, Deborah, volunteered to visit a pastor’s family sensing that there is no food at their home.

Bringing the rice bag from their house, this couple expressed their love to provide for this needy pastor’s family. They serve with a local church, pastoring an independent church near dump yard among rag pickers. When this need was talked over with the local pastor, he too contributed to give 20 Kg’s of rice. The family that received has been a example of sharing compassion with others.

Is giving needed food deviating for STN from our focus of teaching and equipping ministry?

On the right is U.K. – love in action!

No, but it is a ministry of compassion and care, learned from scripture. Pastor I.K. and his wife U. launched out along with his people to distribute with 125 food packets. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the meal distributed was a last meal to someone!

Here is what V.K., our regional director says: “Feeding the hunger became the desire of our hearts as we begin to observe the need. The lockdown brought unprecedented misery to our pastors who are undergoing our study programs. As we saw that there are no groceries left in the kitchen and no rice to cook even for a meal in pastors’ homes. I discovered that several pastors have no food. My wife and I were moved in our hearts to send a love gift of Rupees 8000 to six pastors. It was heart wrenching experience to hear the testimonies of these pastors. One pastor, Pastor M., shared how the amount was helpful to buy his regular diabetic medicines and some groceries.  Another Pastor J. who lives in the mountain area had a little amount that helped him, his wife, child, and an aged mother to eat just rice (having nothing else with it). But this money now sent is helpful. Pastor K. who is working in ‘A’ area was able to buy rice and groceries that will take them through for 15 days.”

Ladies get to listen God’s word online.

While all along Flory was ministering the Word at different locations and in local churches, it has been a great opportunity not to stop this due to lockdown but do it online. Those interested, please log on to hear by subscribing to El Shaddai Prayer House and type Flory Kumar. Before the unprecedented lockdown, Flory had been to several areas to minister the Word where the ladies didn’t know reading and writing. Today, these ladies are starving for the Word – having no online technology in their areas.

Launching out to contact in the field

Our regional directors and faculty are instructed to contact BTCP groups, leaders and participants located in rural areas.

V.K. was able to contact five Pastors from each training class and interact with them about their training class and understand their doubts and clarify certain issues. P. was able to stay in contact with his two faculty who would further keep in contact with the BTCP study groups.

J.S. says, “Some of the students were contacted over phone, email and social media to encourage them to be diligent in the systematic Bible study. Giving a feedback, one of the students from Kanpur, UP told that it is very interesting to study Bible by finding answers for the six questions of observation. He claims to understand the message of the passage which he studies. Previously ‘everything was vague and confusing while reading the Bible’. Now he is able to understand portions after portions of the Bible. Pr S.R. and P.R. of BTCP Sudha, Nepal Border is getting sufficient time during the lock down to practice what they studied from the Course #1 of BTCP. According to our faculty Br. D.C., both of them are ‘very seriously engaged in the study of Bible based on Course #1’.

Bro R. from Dumka BTCP, Jharkhand confessed that previously he considered the ‘yelling’ of the senior pastors as the Word of God. Bro F. of the same group also gave a similar feedback. They told that they also followed the same pattern of preaching in the local churches. They confessed that even after many years of ‘powerful preaching’ there is desperate decline in the church attendance. But now they are beginning to understand how the real Word of God should be studied and obeyed. They are want to preach the real Gospel in their fellowships.”

Work from home includes: J.S. was able to prepare 38 prayer partner list. V.K. prepared prayer list of 429. 

Learning During Lockdown

R.K. and his wife J. studying together the Book of Ezekiel

V.K., our regional director says: “Studying on the passage (Jeremiah 7: 32 “Topeth”) along with B.was edifying

Lockdown is a personal benefit says, J.S., “Lock down helped me to study a lot, from Bible and other books and to pray which were becoming very rare in my life. I also could communicate with many of my Christian contacts during this time of lock down to introduce the ministry of STN.”

P. reports, “I was able to learn through TMS, a course offered on Hermeneutics. This enabled me to get a broader understanding on the subject. I got into this online course along with our faculty member, Pastor P.P..  Reading Biblical Doctrine by John Macarthur and Richard Mayhue brought greater understanding and refreshed my understanding. Study on Soteriology was a blessing to observe on how God justified the man, the doctrine of Justification as it runs straight to the very heart of the gospel, and how Sanctification is the necessary fruit of justification.

Ryder Kumar had opportunities of teaching and preaching online during these days of turmoil. He will do again on Good Friday and the Resurrection Sunday – Yes online preaching. Bread from heaven to satisfy the soul is the need of the hour.

Prayer Requests:

  • Ryder Kumar will be ministering again online on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
  • Please pray for all the families of our Faculty and Esther Admin Assistant to International Director.
  • Pray for the safety of STN International Board living in the US as the country is most effected. For God’s wisdom as the board meets and makes important decisions.
  • STN India does planning to reschedule classes in several places from April 15th onwards.
  • For the comfort of the K. family whose father has been called to glory.
  • Pastors who are struggling to survive during these days of calamity.
  • Churches in rural areas that are unable to have online services.
  • LRI program that is scheduled to begin in June 2020.
  • Wisdom of God to the regional directors serving with the faculty, pastors and participants.

Filed Under: Field Updates, Kumar News, STN India, STN News

Sr. Pastor and Evangelist A.K. is in the Presence of the Lord

April 6, 2020 By Ryder Kumar

2 Corinthians 5:8 “absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord”.

A.K. now in the presence of the Lord
I have never seen him without a smile on his face. As I passed thru the roads of the area where he ministered to thousands, what echoes my heart is Pastor K. stepping into dirtiest of dirty waters. There was no option. That was the only water available to baptize whom he brought to the Lord. Many of wouldn’t dare to put even a finger into this kind of water.

It was a great opportunity to minister the Word of God at the funeral of A.K., a man of God who served faithfully until the end of his life. Many villages would witness about his visits to minister them. As a result, many have been born again and were baptized. During this time I did something I never normal do. I gave an altar call and many raised hands to accept the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord.

None of us knew that it would be the last time that our International Board from the US is meeting with Sr Pastor A.K. who we have known since 2009. 

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of LORD Is the death of His godly ones. 

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Randy with Pastor A.K. in October 2019 at our Expository Preaching Conference

Filed Under: Kumar News, STN India

COVID-19 Creates Crisis in India

March 30, 2020 By Ryder Kumar

Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us”.

crowds migrate in IndiaCry for the Word: A Pastor called me little while ago from North India where several hundreds gather for the church services saying, many in the surrounding  villages being in the lock-up,  are calling him to say how much they are starving for the Word as they are illiterate and cant read.

Cry to God: Our regional director from Vijayawada, V.K. said their church announced a 12-hour of chain prayer for March 28, 2020.

Conducting regular services: El Shaddai is conducting regular services on line. For the very first time, last week I spoke online for the church’s Bible study. I will continue the following Tuesdays. One sr. Pastor from Vijayanagar said, “By the grace of God we are safe. Locked down for a while and we are shut in as a whole family. As a family we are able to spend more time in prayer, praying for you too. BTCP classes are suspended.”

Continue to care: J.S., our regional director in the North and Nepal and also a local church pastor, had their worship service Saturday evening prior to the beginning of lock out.

Concern for the faculty: Without needing to ask the STN International Board, STN India was able to raise some financial support for three of our faculty. One Pastor who is also our faculty, said two days ago, “I don’t know how to feed my family, having no money at home.” Another faculty who was taking off from work in order to teach BTCP classes was laid off. Despite this critical time, he and his wife called me last night to say, “We are so thankful for timely provision. We were able to get our groceries having received 3000 rupees (About $40 US) and we cooked food…. No we haven’t had our dinner yet….”.

Caring for the needs: P., our regional director, responded by giving toward this emergency. I.K. our regional director said, “my wife, U. is willing to contribute too…..”

Comply with the requirements: No, it has not been a comfort zone to be locked in. Concerns, caring, and coordinating the emerging tasks have kept us to serve His people.

Filed Under: Field Updates, Kumar News, STN India

Multiplying in Obedience to the Mandate of the LORD

December 31, 2019 By sleinen

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.

Filed Under: Field Updates, Kumar News, STN India

The Word of God is Spreading

December 29, 2019 By pbrown

“But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” (Acts 19:9–10 – NASB95)

The Apostle Paul was a man devoted to equipping (training) people to go out and impact their world for Jesus Christ (see verse above and 2 Timothy 2:2). Paul would go to an area for a period of time, train up the people, commission them to train more people in their area, and then he would move on to another region. It is that model that STN is striving to emulate with our Bible Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP) institutes. For 5 ½ years we sent teams to India twice each year to train about 100 men in 5-day training conferences (50 in northern India and 50 in southern India). About 80 of those men graduated in 2014, and some of them became STN’s trainers. Because they are able to meet weekly in areas close to where the students live, and teach without needing a translator, they are now able to complete the BTCP training in about 2 1/2 years. What joy we experienced in October when about 240 people graduated from the BTCP training. It wasn’t just the number of students graduating that brought us great joy, it was the fact that not one of the classes were taught by people from the U.S. As we handed out graduation certificates to the students, we rejoiced in the fact that all of them were trained by people from their own country. At this time there are an additional 200+ students who are part way through the BTCP training, and there are a whole bunch of new classes about to begin with hundreds more.

Thank you for your prayers and financial partnership in this vital ministry. These students are growing in their ability to minister to others for the glory of God. Churches are being strengthened, new churches are being planted, and our Lord and Savior is being glorified. It is our prayer that as we train thousands more that once again, all who live in Asia will hear the word of the Lord.

Filed Under: India Trip Fall 2019, STN India, STN News

The Teacher Became the Learner: Lessons on Prayer & Worship in India

December 29, 2019 By pbrown

It was an incredible privilege for Diane to sing and for me to teach a series on “Spiritual Warfare” from Ephesians 6 at E.S. Church. The people are hungry to learn as evidenced by their willingness to sit on the floor for hours in their worship services. We met with them on 3 straight nights during the week, and then again on Sunday morning. When we arrived on Sunday at 9am they had already been praying and singing for over an hour. The part that we participated in went from 9:00am-1:30pm, then they fed our team lunch while they continued to pray and sing for another hour. During that entire 6+ hour period, the children met in a separate area of the church for their own time of prayer, praise, and study of God’s Word. After that they all went out to talk to people in the community for an hour or so and then came back so the youth could have their meeting from 4-6pm. Their commitment to make Sunday “the Lord’s Day” is instructive and challenging to our American approach to “church.”

The pastor of the church is a humble man that prays and prays and prays. At one point in the Sunday morning service he prayed for about 45 minutes for the people and specific needs in the church. They gave me a tentative schedule before the worship service began, and when I was about to begin the last sermon (there are 3 sermons in each worship service), we were at least 40 minutes late. I was prayerfully considering how to shorten the sermon when my translator said, “Take as much time as you want. If you feel the Spirit is leading you, go even longer.” I preached for an hour and then asked the pastor to close in prayer. He prayed for another 30 minutes over every point I had just made in the sermon. Later, when we were finished with lunch, the pastor and his wife came and asked me to pray for them. We have much to learn about prayer and worship from these precious saints!

Filed Under: India Trip Fall 2019

A Dream Come True

December 9, 2019 By sleinen

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

Filed Under: India Trip Fall 2019

What happened in Berea almost 2,000 years ago is also happening in India!

September 13, 2019 By pbrown

NCEP Prayer Card Cover

Not pictured but joining our team: Ryder and Flory Kumar, David Hegg, and Alan McDole

“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.” Acts 17:10-12 – NASB95

What happened in Berea almost 2,000 years ago is also happening in India! Not necessarily with Jewish people in synagogues, but with the Indian people who are hungry to learn from the Word of God. If you could go with us to the churches in India, you would see hundreds of people gathering and sitting on concrete floors for worship services that last 3 ½ hours! During that time, they sing, pray, share in communion, and listen to THREE SERMONS. There is a short sermon (15-20 minutes) on worship followed by singing and prayer, then another short sermon (20-30 minutes) on communion followed by more singing and prayer and partaking in the Lord’s Supper, and then a longer sermon (45-60 minutes).

That means there is a lot of preaching! Which is why our India Team is so excited to go to India next month and train pastors at our National Conference for Expository Preachers (NCEP). We currently have over 200 pastors signed up for our 3-day conference. Imagine that many pastors going back to their churches trained to teach and preach the Word of God in such a way that if the original authors of Scripture were listening, they would say, “Yes, that is what I meant and what I want them to do with it.” The ladies on our team are also thrilled to lead two Ladies’ Conferences on our trip (3 days in one city and 1 day in another). Over 100 ladies are signed up for the 3-day conference and over 80 for the 1-day conference. They will be equipped in the Scriptures and go back to their churches to be used by God to train others who will train others.

This multiplication process is what STN is all about (2 Timothy 2:2). We are committed to training and resourcing national leaders to reach their own country with the Gospel. And you can see that in the two graduation ceremonies we will have for the students who have completed our 2+ year Bible Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP) course. Between the two cities there are over 250 graduates who are excited about going out and training others who will train others. Existing churches will be strengthened and new churches will be planted as a result of what God is doing in India and Nepal. It is our hope that through the ministry of STN, the Word of God will spread all over Asia like it did in the Book of Acts (6:7; 12:24; 19:20).

Would you prayerfully consider supporting us? We need your prayers as we prepare for the conferences, graduations, meetings, and church services. We also need your prayers for safety in all our travels. We also need financial support as it will cost about $3,000 per person for airfare, housing, food, etc., and some additional funds for costs related to the conferences and graduations. Total cost (depending on the number of people going) will be between $25,000-$30,000.
If you would like to donate to this specific ministry of STN, please go to our donation page and choose the “Oct 2019 India NCEP Trip” donation designation. We so appreciate your prayer and financial support. If you have any questions, please email me at pbrown@tbbfchurch.org.

Filed Under: India Trip Fall 2019, STN India

Another Momentous Blessing for STN Southeast Asia: Regional Directors!

September 11, 2019 By sleinen

By Ryder Kumar, STN International Director

North India Regional Director

What can we call *J.S.? Cobra Killer? Principal of a school of 300 kids? Missionary in one of the most remote areas of Northern India? Ten-year faculty member serving STN India?

While all these are absolutely true ‘titles,’ so to speak, J.S. joined our first batch of equipping and training students in Lucknow and graduated, and was so motivated by the teaching and dedication of the visiting U.S. ministry team that he couldn’t wait to start his ministry of sharing the Good News of the Gospel in some of the remotest areas of India.

His reliance on the Lord in facing the difficult journeys and daunting challenges he has faced every day of his ministry has been an encouragement to all of us over the past several years.

Along with his wife, L.S., son (21), daughter, J.S.(16) is determined to live in the village where he bought a piece of land with his income that he received from the sale of his property in Kerala. Different kinds of venomous snakes, including deadly cobras, menace the area. Surrounding communities worship the cobra and won’t kill them out of fear, but call for J.S. to kill them if they become a danger.

Along with dangerous areas in Odisha, J.S. has dared to go as far as Jharkhand, Bihar and Nepal, in addition to his teaching in his own village in Uttar Pradesh.

Flory and I are humbled and honored to have this brother help STN India and Nepal as its Regional Director starting next month. Many thanks to the international team for recognizing his dedication and approving him for the task.

Central India Regional Director

central india The Lord is amazing in the ways of how He brought people to the Lord’s work who share a oneness of mind and are willing to focus on the vision God has given STN International.

E.Z., our good friend from Dallas Theological Seminary who is serving in Dubai, met P. who was, at the same time, working with the Bible Society in Dubai, but resigned his post to return to India to serve the Lord. P. and his wife, D., a Professor of English, have two daughters, 21, and 20, and would visit our home regularly to participate in our weekly STN prayer meetings.

Flory’s meetings with D., such as at the ladies’ seminar, created a strong bond, while observing the vision and burden of P. led us to accept him as an STN Regional Director in Hyderabad.

P. has studied theology in seminary and has joined me on several journeys I’ve taken to teach BTCP orientation classes. That experience led him to join the faculty of STN India to teach and equip more than 50 students in several remote areas across the country.

As the International Board accepted and approved the candidature of P. as one of STN’s new Regional Directors, Flory and I are very happy that we have a person known for his dedication and servanthood leadership to take up the task and help STN move forward.

South India Regional Directors

Both V.K. and I.K. first joined STN’s equipping and training classes in 2004 when the U.S. team began their regular mission trips to India.

The intentions of these two men were so different when they first stepped into the class. They are both living proof of how God works in people’s hearts.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”- Hebrews 4:12

While the team from the U.S. was laboring with love and commitment, the Lord was doing His work quietly and, as always in ways far beyond our comprehension.

Very soon, V.K.’s original intention of contacting Pastor Paul Brown via email in order to get financial help vanished through the ministry of the Word of God.

He had a change of heart and also brought his brother I.K. for the training and continued faithfully to undergo, and successfully complete, the entire five-year program. This brought about such a radical transformation that both brothers launched a Gospel teaching ministry that extends into five remote regions.  Many of the participants in the brothers’ ministry will graduate this year.

After spending much time observing the brothers’ communication skills, knowledge, and dedication to spreading The Gospel, the decision was made to name V.K. as Regional Director of the area with I.K. serving as Associate Regional Director, as well as STN pastor of a local church.

Flory and I have had several meetings with these brothers’ families and have seen their commitment to the Lord’s work. Flory has personally invested time in these precious lives. V.K. and his wife, P.K. have a son 15 years old.

We are very happy that the International board approved these brothers to undertake this responsibility.

The Ordination of our Regional Directors

A laying on of hands of all these new Regional Directors will be done by the elders, if God wills, in October. Please join us in praying for them as they embark on their new work in God’s service.

*Names and places have been omitted for security.

Filed Under: Field Updates, Kumar News, STN India

Shepherding the Nations Women’s Conference

September 9, 2019 By Ryder Kumar

One of the highlights for me on our short-term trips to India is the opportunity to teach God’s Word to Indian Christian women. If you had told me in my early 40’s that I would be traveling to India and teaching the Bible to women there, I would have laughed out loud! I never saw myself in that kind of role, but here I am, 14 years and four trips later and it has become my passion! Not only has the Lord taught me to study and teach, but He has given me a true love for His daughters in India. It’s this love that motivates me to go back every time there is an opportunity to bring the Word to those who desire to learn.

Women’s Retreat – Indian Style

This banner is used in India to promote the conference – note the headline – “Good news for those who delight to preach nothing but the Word” That’s me!

This year will be a little different from past trips where we have focused on a small group of pastor’s wives from rural villages. This year we will be teaching 125+ women during a three-day women’s conference, and then holding a second one-day conference for 75+ women the next week in a different area.  Our attendees will be Christian women who are coming from local churches. Flory, Tammy and I will all have opportunities to teach and there will be time for small group discussion, singing, testimonies and prayer.

This might sound similar to women’s retreats or conferences here in the states – except for the translation into Hindi and Telegu… and the cultural differences… and the political persecution against believers… and a whole host of life experiences and hardships that I would never experience. To be honest with you, we will really need your prayers and the Holy Spirit to open hearts and illuminate His Word to these precious women. What we all have in common is our salvation, the authority of God’s Word, and a high calling as the people of His church – and that’s everything!

2014 S.R. translates as Susan Teaches (Tammy and Flory in background; PC – Diane)

2014 – Pastors wives from remote villages during conference

2014 – M.M. translates as Susan teaches pastor’s wives in North India

My Topic – Contentment

The Lord has put the topic of Christian Contentment on my heart this year. It was the theme of our College and Young Adult camp this year and I had the opportunity to teach the young women on this topic. As every teacher knows, the first thing I had to learn was how much I had to learn! Praise God that He has changed my heart and helped me to grow in this area of my life and I am so excited to share it with these precious ladies in India.

What is Christian Contentment? According to Puritan preacher, Jeremiah Burroughs,

“Christian Contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

The Apostle Paul told us in Phil. 4:10-13 that he had “learned the secret” of contentment and that the strength to be content comes from Jesus Christ. May the Lord continue to teach me this secret and reveal it to those I’m called to minister to in India.

Filed Under: India Trip Fall 2019, STN India, STN News

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Ryder Kumar is serving as our International Director. As one of the founding members of Shepherding the Nations, it was Ryder's vision to see pastors trained and equipped for ministry that became the foundation of Shepherding the Nations.

Shepherding the Nations has identified qualified and called men who are already working in unreached areas of India and Nepal. We are providing the training to better equip them and the financial resources to support them in their ministries.

Our directors have been equipped to teach our ten-volume training curriculum. These key men are training indigenous pastors and church planters while also providing accountability, resources materials, and support.

During our training program, we provide our ten volume set of curriculum from the Biblical Training Centre for Pastors (BTCP) in their local language. We also provide essentials resources such as Bible Concordance and Study Bible. We have been able to provide these books to all of our pastors through the generous donations of our donors. These books can be purchased for about $10 each or an entire set for $100. Donate online.

There has been nothing so crucial to the on-going ministry of Shepherding the Nations as the continued prayer support of our sponsors and supporting churches. Those who commit to sponsoring our International Director, one of our Regional Directors, or a pastor, evangelist or church planter, will receive a photo and prayer requests so that you can be praying by name for those on the field. If you are not currently on our email mailing list, please consider subscribing so that you can receive prayer updates via email.

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