CHURCH PLANTING

"I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

A national church planter went to a village and asked the leader of the village, "Do you know Jesus?" The man looked puzzled. Presently he said, "Nobody by that name lives in my village. Maybe the person you're looking for lives in that other village over there."  This is the situation in many areas of the world. The people haven't even heard the name of Jesus. those who have still have no access to church. One may travel for miles and miles, through village after village and not find a single church.

In 1997 the Lord enabled TellASIA to start in one of the most difficult and unreached - and also the most densely populated - mission fields in the world - the Ganges River Plain of North India. Today through our native Indian pastors and leaders, thousands of people who formerly had no access to the Gospel now have committed their lives to Jesus, thrown away their idols, been Baptized, and are worshiping in hundreds of churches.

THIS IS AMAZING

In the United States, cost per new Believer baptized is $1,550,000. Even in India, the average cost per new Believer baptized is $9,803. HOWEVER, according to our current track record, TellASIA’s cost per new Believer baptized is only $16!  

Above:  Believers worship their Lord in a village church

Below: Baptism is done in secret due to persecution

You might not be able to “Go” personally into these remote unreached areas, but you ARE able to “Send” a local Christian worker – a Church Planter very much like the early Apostles. This is your opportunity to participate in bringing the light of the Gospel to the darkest areas of the world.

Sponsor a church planter - $80  

Other options to bring the Gospel to the Unevangelized people - CLICK HERE

District Sponsorships – You, your church or business can adopt a whole District of this unreached area of the world. This allows us to personalize your relationship with specific people laboring to bring the Gospel to a specific area or cultural group. You would commit to at least a 12-month sponsorship of several Church Planters families along with one or more Discipleship Schools. Recommended commitment: $500/month. Once you select your District we'll send you colorful digital photos and maps to help you know and pray for your District. Your monthly sponsorshp can be done either by check or automatic bank transfer. Please email us to get started!  

VIDEOS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Below, see a video of one of the "LIFE CENTER' church buildings being dedicated. The video was made in appreciation of the donor.  Most of our churches are being established where there are NO churches and the people have no other access to Christian discipleship. These facilities are being used not only for church meetings but also for teaching reading and writing to destitute village children and other rural development programs. 

HOW WE PLANT A CHURCH WHERE THERE FORMERLY WAS NO CHRISTIAN PRESENCE

1.   Prayer & Planning
We spend time in prayer and discussion with the new CP’er, studying maps of the area to find the most strategic location for him to initiate the Lord’s work.

2.  Getting Started
The CP’er then makes several visits to the community to find a one-room apartment to rent, all the while praying and listening for God’s specific word and direction.

3.  Building Relationships
The CP’er concentrates on building a relationship with at least one influential person, who is both respected by others, and open to the Gospel. This person is sometimes referred to as the “man of peace”** or “woman of peace” and is often the key to the future establishment of a strong, indigenous Church.

4.  Prayer Cell
The new friends are gently discipled through informal house-based fellowships where their emotional and spiritual needs are ministered to by the CP’er. More people gather to receive prayer in Jesus’ name, and to hear the Gospel shared in a friendly, interactive, entertaining way.

5.  Baptism and Discipleship
The first new Believers are baptized as soon as they fully understand their need to repent from sin and be saved through the blood of Jesus. They are immediately taught that now they have two new, great purposes in life: 1) Obey the commandments of Jesus and get to know Him intimately as His Disciple, and 2) Share their testimony, lead others to Christ, and start more Prayer Cells in neighboring villages! Thus from their very birth into Christ, they are equipped with the “spiritual DNA” for evangelism, and starting Prayer Cells is as natural for them as going to covered-dish dinners is for Western believers!

6.  Church Plant
From among these “first fruit” new Believers, some show potential as leaders. They are passionate about the Lord and keen to study the Bible. They also voluntarily accompany the CP’er in his evangelistic work. The CP’er carefully disciples and lovingly mentors them. They eventually become the self-supporting “Elders” or Pastors for the churches.

7.  Multiplication
Because starting new Churches has been highly celebrated and encouraged from the very beginning of their life in Christ, the new church as a unified body will be keen to send out their young men and women to do part-time evangelistic work. Their goal is to plant a new Church. Thus the church multiplies itself spontaneously into nearby villages.

YEAR 2007 SUMMARY:

Location: the Ganges River Plain and Himalayan areas of North India, known as one of the least evangelized and most difficult mission fields in the world.

Churches and Village Prayer Cells: over 1,100
Self-Supporting Pastors and Leaders: 406
Baptisms just during Year 2007: 3,255
New Believers just during Year 2007: 17,000
Discipleship Training (future leaders who completed leadership and discipleship programs during 2007): 95
Administrative Offices: 2
Full-time (paid) evangelists and Bible teachers in India: 70

Sponsorship of a church planter - $80  

Other options to bring the Gospel to the Unevangelized people - CLICK HERE

District Sponsorships – You, your church or business can adopt a whole District of this unreached area of the world. This allows us to personalize your relationship with specific people laboring to bring the Gospel to a specific area or cultural group. You would commit to at least a 12-month sponsorship of several Church Planters families along with one or more Discipleship Schools. Recommended commitment: $500/month. Once you select your District we'll send you colorful digital photos and maps to help you know and pray for your District. Your monthly sponsorshp can be done either by check or automatic bank transfer. Please email us to get started!