Pastors
We currently have almost fifty sponsored pastors who are working in the field in India and Nepal, pastoring churches and planting new churches in rural villages.
Regional Directors
Our regional directors have been identified through the long-held friendships and common ministry goals of our International Director, Ryder Kumar. These selected individuals have proven character and a self-less love for the people in their ministry. They have already been working in this capacity for many years and understand the responsibility of supervising the pastors and church-planting missionaries under their care.
This dear couple (S.M. and M.M.) serve as our regional directors in the northern part of India and have been involved in ministry among the pastors in the rural areas of Northern India for many years. Their humble hearts and self-sacrifical service have ministered to many for the sake of the gospel through the years.
International Director
Ryder Kumar….
Bible Training Conferences
One of the main focus points of Shepherding the Nations is our Bible Training Conferences. Pastors from the poorest rural areas of India are transported into main cities and taught during five-day Bible Conferences. We use Bible Teachers Centre for Pastors(BTCP) curriculum in order to give a comprehensive, yet practical understanding of Biblical theology, doctrine, and Christian living. (For more information about this curriculum, see article below.) Many of these men have never been to a Bible college and have no access to any resources other than their own Bibles, which is often not even in their native tongue.
Over 700 men and women have been trained and equipped with systematic teaching from God’s Word. These men and women are continuing to serve in their local church throughout one state in Southern India and seven states of North India as well as the country of Nepal.
Provision
When our donors sponsor our Bible Conferences they are providing for the feasting of spiritual food as well as physical food. Because of the poor conditions of the villages in rural Asia, many of these men are used to eating only one meal a day. We provide them with three generous meals a day as well as transportation to and from the conferences, lodging, and all of the materials for their study.
Curriculum
Most of you who have been following STN know that we have undertaken a challenge – to train and equip 100 pastors from India. The BTCP (Bible Training Centre for Pastors) courses and materials have provided us with excellent tools that are
helping us to accomplish this goal.
Our goal is to complete the training with these men in 5 years according to the schedule that you see below:
- Bible Study Methods and Rules of Interpretation
- Old Testament Survey
- New Testament Survey
- Preaching Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry
- Bible Doctrine Survey
- Personal Spiritual Life
- Church Ministry / Administration / Education
- Teaching Principles and Methods
- Church History Survey
- Missions / Evangelism / Discipleship
All of this training occurs while the men are in the midst of pastoring their churches. We provide them with two one-week training conferences each year. These incredibly committed men of God have already completed their first year of training and we believe that it was an overwhelming success. Having been taught how to study the Bible for the very first time and then learning about every book in the Old and New Testament has provided the men with a great foundation for their future ministry.
The BTCP courses are very well done and offer a complete Bible curriculum, in their local language, at an affordable price ($10 per course). Without BTCP, it would be much more challenging to provide this kind of training to these godly men who are in such great need. And even though many of the men are lacking a serious educational background, these challenging materials are greatly assisting them in becoming more effective as pastors who are empowered by and useful to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Worship
Worship is an important part of our Bible Conferences. Native pastors lead in worship in their own languages and songs from their own culture. Praise focuses our hearts on the God of the Bible and the amazing works that He is doing in our lives and the lives of all his children around the world.
Fellowship
Fellowship is another important aspect of our conferences. Some pastors bring their wives and children and we can minister to them through sessions for the women, question and answer sessions, prayer times and fellowship among themselves.
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.