Shepherding the Nations

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Focus on Regional Trainers

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I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil. 1:3-5 – NASB95)

At a recent STN International Board meeting, we were discussing how faithful STN’s prayer warriors and donors have been since the very beginning. As an organization, we really don’t do a lot in the area of fundraising. We often wish we could do more, but our board is comprised of all volunteers and we don’t have the time to focus on that component of the ministry. That is why we are so thankful to God for all of you and the way you support this ministry. Some of you have been supporting STN since we incorporated 10 years ago. Words cannot express how grateful we are for your generosity. The gospel is spreading into unreached areas and churches are being planted because of your faithfulness.

Because of your sacrifice in giving, the Board feels very accountable to use the funds as wisely as possible. We prayerfully seek the Lord, research what the needs are around the world, and then focus our energies on what we believe will make the maximum impact for Christ. As the Lord opens new doors for ministry we seek Him to know how to best utilize the resources He has provided for maximum impact. Right now, that means we are focusing more of our attention and financial resources on regional trainers.

The First 100

In the early years, we were training 100 church planting pastors in India and Nepal, and fully financially supporting about 40 of them (including two medical doctors). It took us about six years to train those men and they are being used mightily of God in unreached villages. Over the past few years, the training ministry has expanded into more areas of India and Nepal, and we started new ministries in Bolivia, Honduras, Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Instead of training 100 men (twice each year at two training centers in India over a 6-year period), we are currently training 500 men in about 18 different locations in six countries. Because they are able to meet weekly, the training can be accomplished in about 2 ½ years instead of 5+ years.

chartThe Current 500

Right now, STN has over 100 people who have graduated from the BTCP training. Add in 500 people currently in training and we have a total of 600 who will be finished with the training by 2019. We are asking each of those people to find at least 10 more people to be trained. What kind of exponential growth are we considering? If we multiply by 10 every three years:

  • Year 2019 = 600+ trained church planters
  • Year 2022 = 6,000+
  • Year 2025 = 60,000+
  • 2028 = 600,000+ trained church planters going to unreached parts of the world where they can reach the lost, plant healthy churches, and multiply again and again.

chart showing projections

Why train so many pastors and church planters?

There are nearly 3 billion people currently in unreached people groups with little to no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those 600,000 church planters would have to each share the gospel with 5,000 people in unreached people groups to reach the 3 billion currently unreached. And more people are born every day!

The challenge with training that many men is not lack of vision, desire, or commitment. The challenge is the financial cost of supporting them after they are trained. Even at $100 per month per church planter (full support in the poorer areas of the world), the total cost would be staggering to the imagination. Just supporting 600 men would be $60,000 per month. Supporting 600,000 men would be $60,000,000 per month. Our current plan is to continue to support some of the church planters, but the future focus will be primarily on supporting the regional trainers. These regional trainers need our financial support so that they can each devote themselves to train, resource, and encourage hundreds of new church planters.

These men will provide on-going support and accountability to church planters as they go out by faith and plant churches for the glory of Christ.

Your Partnership

Please pray for the financial resources to support our current regional trainers as well as more of them in the future as the Lord directs. If you know of any individual donors, small groups, churches, and/or foundations that would like to get involved with STN, please send them our way. The Lord keeps opening doors into new areas of the world and we need a lot of ministry partners to join us.

Thank you again for your partnership in this growing ministry. We know that you are giving sacrificially, and we are confident that our God “will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). May you enjoy His goodness each and every day, and may His grace and peace be yours in fullest measure!

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STN graduation certificate brings release!

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When STN International board discussed the issue of giving certificates to graduates of STN India, nobody knew that one day a group of 12 brothers and sisters from a small remote village in North India who were detained by the police in a custody would be released because of this graduation certificate!

Pastor during training

Pastor A.K. receiveing books during Lucknow training in 2009

Pastor A.K. was one of those 35 who attended our Lucknow Bible training seminar for five years. It was difficult for him to go through the discipline of doing assignments, staying up late in the evenings to study, and finishing the five year program. But it has proved to be very rewarding! Not knowing what was coming the future, A.K. continued his studies and on October 31st, he received a graduation certificate which he kept carefully at home.

Pastor A.K. receives his graduation certificate in October 2014

Pastor A.K. receives his graduation certificate in October 2014

He went back to his village and continued to serve the Lord, taking care of his small congregation. On Sunday, July 23rd, something happened that is not uncommon today. Local police called A.K. to report at the Police Station.

He then asked his congregation of 65 baptized brothers and sisters who happened to be from “H” background, “Who would like to go with me to the police station to confront an ugly situation?”

Twelve faithful and bold believers stood up and said, “Brother, we will.”

All of these marched to the police station to be questioned on religion, conversion and to be confined in custody. The police officer asked, “Why are you converting people?”

A.K. answered, “I don’t, sir, but God does.”

The officer asked, “Why are you preaching religion?”

A.K. said, “I don’t preach religion but peace; I preach Christ, and pray for the country.”

Turning to the 12, the officer continued the questioning, “What’s happening with you all? Why are you changing religion?”

The simple brothers and sisters, uneducated and illiterate, replied, “Sir, our lives are changed, our testimonies have become different, as A.K. brought us message of the Gospel. We had bad things happening in our houses but we are delivered and relieved.”

The police officer then turned to A.K., “Where did you get education, is there any proof?”

Avadesh, called his son at home. This son was afraid because his family was at police station. He was crying. A.K. said, “Don’t cry, and just get the certificate of STN graduation.”

A.K.’s son quickly got hold of this certificate and ran to the police station. The officer looks at the certificate carefully and considered the situation. (What happened at this point is a marvel!) The police officer said, “This group is well educated, they have a certificate, just release them.”

Pastor A.K. and his wife

Pastor A.K. is financially supported by faithful brothers and sisters from STN International. These faithful supporters will have their reward in eternity.

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,  21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

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Prayer Requests – Sept. 17

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India / Nepal

  • For the 100+ men who have been through STN’s training program to faithfully apply what they have learned to their own lives and to their ministries.
  • For STN’s trainers to be safe in their travels and faithful in accurately teaching God’s truth to their students.
  • For the approximately 300 men currently being trained by STN to be diligent students. Also that they would apply what they are learning and teach it to others.
  • Wisdom in administrative and legal issues that must be done in the STN India office to comply with requirements of the government.
  • For the India government to approve the FCRA paperwork that was submitted recently.
  • For the STN India board to be a unified team and to work together effectively in carrying out the mission of STN.
  • For the Lord’s guidance in appointing directors who will oversee the ministry in specific regions of the country.
  • Safety in travel around the country. Driving can be very dangerous.
  • For Ryder Kumar’s preaching and teaching ministry in various churches to be fruitful. For many of these churches to become partners with STN in reaching unreached villages for Christ.
  • For Ryder’s full financial support to be raised.
  • For the Lord to provide monthly support for 8 pastors in Nepal who currently don’t receive any pay.

Latin America

  • For Pastor Eddie Bueno as he oversees this ministry for STN International. For good health, endurance, wisdom, and a good working relationship with the regional trainers.
  • For the leaders of the three training centers in Bolivia to be used mightily of God as they train people for future church planting ministries (Pastor Tito Montero in La Paz; Pastor Daniel Ortiz in Cochabamba, and Pastor Richard Buitrago in Santa Cruz). Pray for their 70+ students to diligently study & apply what they are learning.
  • For the leaders of the three training centers in Central America (Pastor Karel Golcher in Guatemala; Pastor Jose Antonio Pino in Honduras; and Pastor Marco Muñoz in Southern Mexico). Pray for their 100+ students to diligently study and apply what they are learning.
  • For the Lord to provide the funding for this ministry to grow and expand into other countries in Latin America.

Mission becomes productive as VISION is translated into MISSION

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STN India

We are blessed that our STN India board is very cooperative.  Board members live significant distances from each other and often in different parts of the country. This creates certain pragmatic issues. We are so thankful for technological help such as ‘what’s app’, ’email’, and ‘the phone’ as ways to stay connected.

Funds

Funds are coming from within India! This is a great encouragement as well as an answer to prayer! The first church to support STN financially is El Shaddai in Hyderabad where our team has ministered God’s Word from time to time. In addition, our STN graduates have been making efforts to raise funds under difficult circumstances.

Ministry in the North and Nepal:

I took a long-desired trip to Northern India in May 2017. A number of things were accomplished:

  • Faculty gathering: Three of STN’s graduates who are faithfully and diligently laboring in SEVEN remote areas of North India. They reported how the Lord has been making their ministry abundantly fruitful.
faculty meet

STN trainers meet in Lucknow

  • Odisha: One of the backward states of India in the Central region, and the place where the Australian missionary, Graham Stains, and his two kids, were brutally burned to death for their faith. J.S. teaches this group and several others. He was one of the many BTCP students who were profoundly impacted by the seminars of STN International and by those who taught them over a period of five plus years. J.S. has a deep burden for this area, so he travels a long distance by train to equip and train 32 students. He spends an average of three to four days in this area each month. This group was in BTCP Book #8 in May and hope to be done with all ten books this year.
Odisha Training Group

Church leaders are being trained in BTCP materials in Odisha

  • Bihar: Another backward state in North India where Buddha was born and received his “enlightenment.” J.S. has 10 students in this needy state who are studying Book # 6.
  • Jharkhand: This area used to be a part of Bihar but is now an independent state. J.S. has 17 students who were in Book #2 in May.
  • Basti: It is located towards the NE of the state, called U.P. J.S has ten students who were in Book #3 in May.
  • Sitapur: It is amazing that STN has a church plant in this area, the stronghold of Hinduism. The instructor is D., one of the STN graduates in 2014. He graduated on October 31st and started meetings with a small group of people on November 2nd (just two days after his graduation.) D. was so profoundly impacted by the training that he could not wait any longer to see a work begin in his area where he works as a principal of a Government Primary School. D. has ten students and out of this we have two ladies doing BTCL. The group was in Book #3 in May.

  • Unnao: This is another stronghold of Hinduism where one of our STN graduates, K.S., has a strong base of several hundred believers from a Hindu background. K.S. had mentored many people over the years, including D., who has 16 students (three of them ladies). This program meets twice every month.
  • Kanpur: Another man who was mentored by K.S. is L.P. who was a 2014 graduate of the STN training program and now teaches 14 students in his church facility. They meet twice each month for eight hours on Saturday and were in Book #3 in May.
Seminar participants in Kanpur

Seminar participants in Kanpur

  • Nepal: M.S., one of our STN graduates, came all the way to Lucknow to attend our faculty meeting. He left the meeting taking 25 copies of BTCP Book #1 to start a new class. The students are extremely poor and cannot afford the books or the food during the day when they meet.

Ministry in the South

STN holds seminars in the following areas:

  • Hyderabad: there are three separate groups meeting in Hyderabad: 1) Rehoboth with Pastor R. and T. They both graduated from STN’s training and recently completed teaching all ten books to a group of eight students. These students have now gone back to their regions to continue their ministries. 2) Pastor P.P. (graduate of TMAI’s training school in India) is teaching people in his church. 3)  Pastor P. A. is teaching 14 students at our STN India office every Saturday.

  • Konavaram: a remote area in Andhra is scheduled for seminars under the leadership of V.K. from Oct/Nov. This area happens to belong to a tribe that is involved in witchcraft, sorcery and is located in a very difficult place.
  • Palakonda: V.K. is training 37 participants in this city in Eastern India. Reaching the remote village of Palkonda was not easy where two of STN’S graduates have begun BTCP classes to equip and train 37 leaders. We did 23 hours in 3 days on the road.
training in palkonda

V.K., Ryder and Flory Kumar share with participants in Palkonda

  • Raepally: V.K. is teaching 25 students in this remote area.
  • Narsannapalem: This is another remote place where eager Pastors are being trained by J.J. (a graduate of STN’s five plus years of training).
  • We are so blessed to see productivity in all these locations. STN’s vision to reach remote villages where 85% of India’s population live is happening!

New Contacts

A large number of people are contacting STN India with a desire to network with us. Our most recent contact is a graduate from The Master’s Seminary with M.Div and Th.M degrees. Pastors from different areas are getting connected through the ministry of STN. People from all over India and Nepal want us to train them. Even in Delhi, we have people interested and eager to be trained.

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STN in Latin America

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I am thanking the Lord that everything is going according to plan! Shepherding The Nations is thriving in Central America and Mexico. Pastors came from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Dr. David Nelson and another pastor came from Miami, Florida to bring the training (January 16 – 19, 2017). They were all very eager to start and were greatly impacted. Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in this training as I had hoped, due to health issues. My desire and prayer is to be able to attend the start of classes of all three institutes – that is if God allows it and my health situation improves. Further BCTP training institutes started on Friday, February 24 with a minimum of 20 students per institute.

The three STN institutes in Bolivia took an end of the year break and started classes again in February, beginning with book #4. The zest and enthusiasm from the pastors has not diminished. Pastor Daniel Ortiz from Cochabamba has asked me if I would open another institute on an additional night in another area of the city. He said that there are about 10 students who would like to take the course but it would be easier if he travels to them.

1st row: Translator, Pastor from Guatemala’s wife, Pastor from Mexico wife; 2nd row: Pastor from Guatemala (burgundy shirt)
Pastor from Southern Mexico (blue shirt), ​Back row: CCI Guest, David Nelson (CCI), CCI Guest, Pastor from Hondoruas, CCI Guest

New Class in Guatemala led by Pastor Karel

New training class started in Mexico led by Pastor Marco

New training class in Honduras led by Pastor Pino

I thank God for everything that is happening in Latin America!

Blessings,
Eddie Bueno

The Kumar’s in India – 2016 Recap

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But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24.

When God stirred our hearts to go back to India and direct the STN program, Flory and I had no idea what to expect. We knew we would be challenged in one way or another but to quote China missionary C.T Studd, “Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell; I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell.”

15,000 Reached in India

Between September 2015 through December, STN India has reached approximately 15,000 people with the Gospel, directed by His hand alone. We were able to visit 25 churches in the North, South and Northwest parts of India, sharing God’s Word, fellowshipping with His people and interacting with STN graduates assisting them in promoting STN India.  In this endeavor, we have driven 8,000 miles. God has provided our home, transportation and divine appointments to minister both to the men and women in India.

In November Flory and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary and house dedication with the local church. We were able to obtain all the legal documents necessary to make our home in India and had our first STN Board meeting to establish the direction of the ministry.  There have been many opportunities for me to preach in local and village churches. In February, I was able to preach to a group of 3000 at an Annual School function and ministered to 20 Pastors in the outskirts of Hyderabad.

In late October-early November we had the pleasure of hosting Tammy Werth from our TBBF family. She attended several meetings in different locations, shared her testimony were Flory holds several of her regular meetings, and visited the STN India office. Tammy was able to visit a museum and did a little site-seeing.

Flory has been very busy as well. In December of 2015, Flory lead a group study at a ladies meeting in Kanpur, and then throughout the year she has been able to minister to children at a Christian Orphanage and an old age, gifting them with Bibles and books. She was also able to minister the Word at a one-day women’s retreat. At another one-day ladies meeting in a remote village, 65 ladies attended while Flory shared God’s good news! God has opened many doors for Flory to share with the ladies in areas such as Vijayawada, Patmos and Kallur! All in all, there were 12 ladies seminars along with monthly Bible studies at El Shaddai.

Below are several additional opportunities this past year:

  • Preached at EHOW
  • Meet with elders of local assemblies.
  • Toured West Bengal and met with STN graduates
  • Flory taught at a Ladies seminar where 120 ladies attended.
  • Baptized 7 individuals in September
  • Participated and led several counseling sessions via phone and in-person

In closing, we would like to end it by quoting the Apostle Paul, “and they reported all that God had done with them.”

To God Be the Glory,

Ryder Kumar

Tammy Werth – 2016 India Trip and Graduation

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by Tammy Werth

I left Los Angeles Thursday, October 27 and arrived in Hyderabad Saturday, October 30th. My first flight into Dubai was excellent but the second into India was crowded. After twenty-two hours, I was happy to see the smiles of Ryder and Flory waiting for me at the airport greeting area. Getting through customs didn’t seem to be a problem and it was such a blessing to see the Kumar’s for the first time in over a year.

My second day in India was Sunday and we attended worship services at Ravi & Shanthi’s church, Rehoboth House of Worship. Worship started at 10:00 a.m. and ended three hours later. Lunch and tea with the congregation and then a wonderful time with Shanthi’s ladies group. I could not have asked for a better day with brothers and sisters who love the Lord and His Word.

Ryder and Flory were full of hospitality and encouragement. Getting from place to place was always interesting and a bit time consuming but Ryder assured me the traffic was light.

Flory and I visited a church outside of Hyderabad for a children’s after school program and a ladies meeting. This church ran the program for local children who come every day for bible action songs, a lesson, tutoring and food. We started out with a few songs and half way through the songs the church was full of little ones singing the songs and doing the movements. Please pray for the children you see in the pictures. The Gospel is shared but most of these children are from Hindu families. My prayer is that God would use the pastor, his wife and all the after school workers to plant seeds that would grow in these children. After the children’s program, Flory and I were able to share with the sisters who attended the evening meeting until about 9:30 pm.
Mid-week,I spent time with the sisters at El Shaddai Church. I attended this church during my visit in 2014. Pastor Paul preached that morning and many remember him. Traveling around the city I visited the STN India offices that was dedicated to the Lord’s work a week or two after I left.

I also had the incredible opportunity to visit a Christian orphanage which was not what I expected. The children were beautiful, smiling and enthusiastic and the young couple responsible for helping heal these little ones hearts and shape their lives were obviously well suited for this special ministry. Please pray for this couple and the children in their care.

The highlight of my trip was the special graduation in Vijayawada. I was able to watch and participate in the graduation ceremony. There were 35 students and about 200 in the audience watching and cheering the graduates on. It was a delight to see the Kalapala family who are faithful to what they have learned and who are growing, training and disciplining others for the Kingdom of God. My heart was immediately joined to all these brothers and sisters and I will not forget them! I wish I had more time with this special family.

Commotion in the Country

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The Indian government announced that old notes will no longer be accepted at petrol stations after Friday, fueling anger over the elimination of high denomination bills which has caused an unprecedented cash crunch all over India.

Indians were originally given up to December 15th to use the old bills at filling stations but the government rushed the deadline two weeks early. This forced millions of commuters still using the old 500 rupee notes to spend them within 24 hours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked an uproar with his announcement on November 8 that all 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee notes (worth $7.5 and $14.5) would cease to be legal tender.

The demonetization policy could have been planned appropriately and then rolled out gradually, but instead, the government insisted the early elimination would fight and chance of corruption. However, the move only triggered chaos with long lines forming outside banks as people tried to deposit their old notes and exchange them for new ones.

The massive run to the banks in the 24-hour period forced Banks and ATMs to run out of cash and limiting the amount of withdrawals.

Response from STN: Ryder Kumar, International Director.

As I sit here to write about my convictions as a remedy for the present situation in India, my heart aches at the thought of several people dying, due to their inability to withdraw money from the bank. It has been about two weeks since the honorable Prime Minister announced his decision on demonetization of Rupees. This has caused many politicians to be divided in their views.

My personal convictions are based on the Statement of Faith shared by Shepherding the Nations. This is implemented in the endeavors of ‘Serving the Needy’ in India.

The teaching at STN India is done mainly in rural areas where 83% of India’s population now lives. The focus of our teaching is to bring conviction to the lives of those in the community. Consequently, the testimonies of our participants in their community have displayed a transformation of their inner lives reflecting moral, ethical and spiritual values. This in turn has resulted in healthy interpersonal relationships.

This inner transformation is also a display of renewing the mind causing us to be obedient to the government. STN India, however, has taken the responsibility to teach moral, ethical and spiritual values through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and by using the teaching material. In Acts 2:37 it says “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,” This verse refers to ‘hearing of the Word of God’. Another great illustration of this is how a lady named Lydia, a seller of purple fabrics and worshiper of God, was listening to the Word, “and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” – Acts 16:14

We are talking about real life changing stories in India. Lives are being changed and transformed through obedience and responsibility. With what has happened in the last several weeks many are putting away evil deeds such as being involved in ‘black money’ and evading tax payment. If this is not the remedy that comes directly from God then what is it?

While there is all sorts of commotion going on in the country, there is no one complaining or any confusion coming from our groups. That is because their financial records are clean. Taxes are paid on time and our conscience is clear from black money. Here is a photo of one of our groups.

img-20161202-wa0009As of, now our training programs are being held in several parts of the country. With over 110 people participating, these men have come from one of the remotest areas of the world. They have come to study and to be equipped so that they can teach others. These men desire to be a blessing in the country and community and to obey the government as responsible citizens.

STN India has a broader perspective in reaching how to train men, by equipping them for every good work.

2016 Ministry Summary

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I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. (Phil. 1:3-5 – NASB95)

Words cannot express the gratitude I have in my heart for you and your participation in the gospel with all of us at STN. Your faithfulness and generosity made it possible for hundreds of current and future church planters to be better equipped in 2016 to fulfill the Great Commission. And the Lord is opening new doors to us as we head into 2017! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

What happened in 2016? There is too much to tell so let me summarize:

India & Nepal – Ryder Kumar

  • Established a base of operations for STN India in Hyderabad.
  • Proclaimed God’s truth to and shared the vision of STN with thousands of people in numerous churches in different parts of India.
  • Worked with the church planting pastors we have already trained through the BTCP materials and provided further training to help them in their ministries.
  • Identified 13 men that will now be a part of the STN Faculty to train new church planters with the BTCP materials in different regions of India and Nepal. Some of these men have gone to seminary but most of them were trained by STN through the BTCP materials.
  • Identified new students that will be going through the BTCP training. Currently there are about 200 students who are being trained or will begin shortly. That number could grow to well over 300 in 2017.
  • Expanded the training to a new group of students in Nepal.
  • Helped two of the men we trained previously to complete the BTCP training of 35 new leaders in Vijayawada, India. They just had a graduation ceremony in November after completing all 10 books!
  • Published a commentary on the Book of Philippians.
  • Finalized all the documents and financial reports to apply for the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) that will make it easier for money to be transferred from the U.S. to the work in India. We are hoping it will be granted sometime in 2017.
  • Hired an administrative assistant (Prashant) who will work in the STN office as well as teach some of the BTCP courses.
  • And the list goes on and on. Ryder & Flory are working hard to advance the cause of Christ all over SE Asia!

Latin America – Eddie Bueno

Eddie has been getting requests from all over Latin America to provide the training for their people to go out and plant new churches. There are millions who are being misled by false religions and by the growing number of churches that preach the false “Prosperity Gospel.” Leaders in Latin America want to have answers and want to multiply the number of men who can go out and start new churches. STN is overwhelmed by the requests and unfortunately cannot say “yes” to all who are asking. But at this time we are focusing on 6 different cities in 4 countries:

Bolivia:

  • Facilitated the training of 3 men to teach the BTCP materials and then hired them to launch BTCP training classes in three different cities: La Paz (Pastor Tito Montero); Cochabamba (Pastor Daniel Ortiz); and Santa Cruz (Pastor Richard Buitrago).
  • There are 70 students now being trained.
  • These groups will meet 10 months each year (taking December & January off).
  • All four groups have finished the first 3 BTCP books and will begin Book 4 in February 2017.

Central America:

  • Eddie identified 3 men who will be trained to teach the BTCP materials and work for STN in three new locations: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (Pastor Karel Golcher); Tegusigalpa, Honduras (Pastor Jose Antonio Pino); and Tapachula, Mexico (Pastor Marco Muñoz).
  • These men will be trained in January 2017 and then will begin new groups with BTCP Book #1 in February.
  • There will be at least 20 students in each of the three groups.

Praise God for what He is doing through STN! What a privilege to participate in what the Holy Spirit is doing in these countries. It brings tears to my eyes to think of the men STN has equipped to plant healthy churches. There are now over 110 STN graduates and in 2017 there will be about 350 or more in the process of being trained. It is our hope that those numbers will grow exponentially in the coming years and that in a short amount of time we will have 10,000+ church planters going to unreached areas of the world.

How can you help us go forward?

  1. Pray. We need the Lord’s wisdom, protection, and provisions as we go forward.
  2. Tell others. Spread the word to other people about what STN is doing and challenge them to participate.
  3. Financial gifts. Would you prayerfully consider on-going monthly donations or a special year-end donation to STN? Many of our donors have continued to give monthly since the beginning of STN but others do it for a certain period and then stop. There are several specific needs right now as we have expanded the ministry of STN:
  • Provide training materials for one student. It costs approximately $100 to provide the curriculum for each student.
  • Ryder Kumar. We are still about $1500 per month short on Ryder’s support needs as the Director for SE Asia.
  • STN Pastors in India. We currently have 5 pastors at $60 per month and 6 pastors at $100 per month that do not have sponsors.
  • Latin America Regional Trainers. We now have 6 regional trainers at $450 per month (for 10 months each year) that need sponsors.

If you (or your friends) have any questions about these financial opportunities, please contact us and we will be glad to answer them for you.

Thank you again for your faithful financial participation and on-going prayers for this ministry. God has blessed STN super abundantly with opportunities to train workers to go into the harvest fields. What a privilege! Take a moment and give Him praise.

God Loves Multiplication!

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“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2 – NASB95)

God loves multiplication! He loves it in the local church and He loves it on the mission field. That is why STN is committed to training national pastors to not only plant churches but to equip others who will equip others… For many years, foreign missionaries would go out and do all the work themselves, but at this time in history it is critical that we train nationals to reach their own nations.

Let me give you a few reasons why:

  • Language. It is difficult enough to teach a missionary one language so they can minister in a foreign environment. But imagine a nation like India where there are 22 major languages and 780 dialects. It is much better to equip nationals that already know the languages so they can reach their own people.
  • Culture & Religion. Beyond the language barrier, there are a myriad of cultural practices and religious beliefs that are different than what we have experienced. STN strives to train people who already understand these beliefs and practices.
  • Politics. Currently there are a number of countries (including India) that are beginning to ask missionaries (or foreigners) to leave when their visas expire. Recently I was told by the vice president of a large ministry that his application for a visa was denied. It is imperative that we train permanent residents who can stay and keep the work going.
  • Finances. In many countries we can support anywhere from 10 to 60 nationals for the cost of supporting one American missionary. It is our desire to maximize the donations given to STN and get as many church planters out to unreached areas as possible. We still value sending highly trained American missionaries but primarily want them to be sent as national directors or regional trainers. In those positions they can recruit, equip, and deploy hundreds of nationals to reach unreached villages.
  • Effectiveness. Because of the reasons listed above we believe our effectiveness is increased exponentially by focusing on training and resourcing nationals in every country. And what joy it brings us to see them going out with a heart to MULTIPLY workers for the harvest fields.

Thank you for participating with us in the vital ministry of STN. Your time spent volunteering and praying is making a profound difference in India, Nepal, Bolivia, and beyond. And your monetary donations are making it possible for the equipping and resourcing of hundreds of workers who will ultimately be involved in planting thousands of churches. Please pray for us that we would be wise and faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us. To God be the glory great things He is doing!