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

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STN’s Strivings in the State

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

The state of Odisha in India.

The state of Odisha in India.

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

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

2019 Odisha graduates

2019 Odisha graduates pictured above

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

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

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.”

India Women’s Conferences October 2019

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When I think about the incredible opportunity and priviledge I’ve been given to travel to India with my husband and the STN team, I am truly humbled and grateful. In so many ways I’ve been ‘grafted in’ among these gifted people. STN’s ministry is to teach and train. So the Lord brought together a band of incredible teachers. The men’s conferences are rich in biblical teaching from Paul Brown, Randy Leinen, Ryder Kumar, and sometimes others. The men come away saturated in God’s Word and deeply motivated to take their training to their churches and villages.

This past trip, as in years past, we have included a women’s conference. Susan Leinen, Flory Kumar, and Tammy Werth brought great teaching to the ‘sisters’ in Lucknow and in Hyderabad. I bring what help I can – in the way of photograpy, practical support to my husband and the team, and ministering in song. What a joy!

Below are some gathered thoughts and encouraging notes from our team and also from a few of the ‘sisters’ to whom we ministered. I hope and pray these give you a glimpse of the work and fruitful fruition of our STN efforts given to us by our Lord Jesus. Also, please enjoy a few photos of our latest women’s conferences and these beautiful women – the ‘jewels of India.’

“My ministry goals for the trip in India were quite a challenge – preparing three messages and teaching to more than 200 women in India, trying to understand the needs of people with a completely different culture, language, and education, and being an example in love, prayer, humility, and team unity. It was clear from the very early planning stages that the only way to operate was in the strength of Christ and the prayers of our supporters. He was able to accomplish all of what we hoped and much more in the lives of these precious women. Please continue to pray for these ladies that they would put in to practice all that they learned and share it with others.” – Susan Leinen

“We all did what the Master had us do. It was an incredible blessing – a treat of the Word. The ladies in the churches normally get textual messages. However, in the conferences, the impact was topical and practical messages filled with illustrations, fun projects as reminders, and encouragement to carry out the biblical teaching on a daily basis. Diane, your singing was appreciated – taking them to the next level of worship. And, as one sister puts it, ‘I was mesmerised by her voice.’ Our staff assistant shared what she had learned about habitual sin to her village Sunday School children. A boy went home and told his mother, ‘my teacher said robbing a pencil is sin. I will not do it again.’ (Villagers don’t have very nice things and tend to envy or rob.)” – Flory Kumar

 

“Our heartfelt thanks to you all for spending your valuable insights, time, energy, and money by coming all the way from the US to us. May God bless you.”

“I personally was so blessed to hear from you these wonderful biblical truths. The topics shared are most needed, yet most neglected, and considered casual. That’s why God sent His word through your team. You all were so humble and stood as an example for us. I thank God for you all. Surely we will live for God s Glory.” – From our Indian sisters

God’s Transforming Power Clearly Seen – Jose Simon

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Jose

Jose Simon stands to read during early BTCP conference.

Jose Simon (along with his wife) sold land given to him by his parents in South India. With this money he bought another piece of land in North India. The place is not only far from his culture, language, and family but it is in a remote village where nobody wants to live. Jose’s purpose was to spread the Gospel.

To have income he established a school. Having no formal training in theology he was desperate to receive training. When he approached STN India he was rejected at first because he was not a pastor. But his intensity in pursuing this training persuaded our coordinator to enroll him for the BTCP study course. Jose did not just attend classes but watched the lives of teachers who came from the US, interacted with them, and became a diligent student. He was challenged by the lives that he watched. His hard work, discipline and dedication enabled him to do well and graduate. The five long years of study was of great value. His life has been transformed. Jose, with his meager earnings from the school that he established in the village helps the poor students to buy BTCP books. He spends long hours in traveling as he travels with low budget and leads two groups in remote villages in two of the most backward states of North India.

Ryder (left) with pastors during conference in Lucknow in January 2016. (Jose Simon is on the right.)

Ryder (left) with pastors during conference in Lucknow in January 2016. (Jose Simon is on the right.)

Jose is also helping STN India as a board member.

God Is Working in Nepal

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Meeting-Lkw-Jan-2016Our great God is known for awesome deeds. In His provision, plan and purpose, He chooses people. One of them happens to be Mahavir Kumar Sah of Nepal. Following his family traditions, he and his family have been bowing before idols and worshipping them until KB, another Nepali met and confronted him. KB, one of our STN graduates, presented the gospel with all simplicity as is his style. Mahavir didn’t take much time to throw away his idols from his home. Both Mahavir and his wife, being convicted of sin, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In order to mentor Mahavir, KB brought him to Lucknow to attend STN seminars. Mahavir, with great interest and diligence studied the courses and graduated in October 2014.

Mahavir’s church, which is planted in Joshipur is growing. Mahavir baptized about 12 people; there are 22 in the congregation. Mahavir was equipped and trained at STN seminars. Now he is ready to launch out to see many transformed by being equipped with BTCP training classes. He can’t wait to see this happen and is anxious to begin the training ministry.

Mahavir

Temporary move prior to permanent one!

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Hebrews 11:9-10   “By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Several Moves

At the age of 17 I moved from the city of Hyderabad in South India to North India. It was not for pleasure but a step of faith for a purpose. Since then I have made several more moves. The move from Hyderabad to North India led me to many minor moves and two major ones. The third move was the biggest of all – the move from India to the Chicago in the US. The next move from Chicago to California is a move that took place 15 years ago. Perhaps this was the most significant move with the loss my wife of about 25 years. That move brought a church plant that became a church with growth and stability, formation of Shepherding the Nations in the US, and Shepherding the Needy in India, my marriage to Flory, my son’s marriage, two grandbabies and lots more.

Prior to moving to the US, I would jokingly tell people that the US is a land of promise because of its riches. But now as my wife and I move from the US back to India I would say that I feel as if I am an alien and foreigner moving to India. Am I tired of moving? I can hardly wait for my final move – to reach that “city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Toughest Move

After serving the Lord for over forty years, most of them being in India reaching out to tens of thousands in villages, then being with my son and family for several years in the US, turning to go back to India appears to be the toughest move. While there are those who feel it is not a right decision, a senior pastor in the US recently said, “We would salute you as no one after staying so long in the US would do what you are doing.”

Why did we decide positively on this toughest move?

The reason is not complicated. God who was in control of my life forty years ago is still in control to lead and guide. After much waiting on God, it has become very clear to accept the unanimous decision of International board of STN. Godly men and women that are on the board have prayed and saw the needs of countries such as Pakistan, India and other SE Asian countries.

It is not just the 75 pastors who were graduated recently that need spiritual leadership but there is a cry from all over to have similar equipping training programs in order to combat the challenges that these countries are confronting. So here we are to take up a move to India and not having a property of our own we look for a rented place to live, build up the ministry across the country, visit SE Asian countries and oversee the ministry established by STN International.

Prior to that final move to the “city that has foundation” there are many plans to be accomplished and a goal to see healthy churches planted with the Lord’s enabling. This move gives me an opportunity to be a Pastor to the pastors while my wife Flory labors with alongside me using her gifts and talents.

– By Ryder Kumar International Director, STN International

Tammy’s First STN Mission Trip

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tammy-werthTammy Werth will be joining us for the first time for our upcoming short-term mission trip to India. She writes the following about her decision to join our team:

“God has given me a passion for India and I feel as if I am already connected to many on the other side of the world; I am humbled by this life changing opportunity. God called me to support the ministry of Shepherding the Nations with my organizational and accounting skills shortly after STN received non-profit approval in 2007. I pray for the pastors, know their profile pictures, have the joy of finding sponsors for them and have enthusiastically read every field report for many years. How gracious God is to allow me to finally meet these men and their wives face to face.”