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 begin strategically reaching one of the most difficult and unevangelized - and also the most densely populated - mission fields in the world. The Ganges River Plain of North India is home to over 174 million people, and as of 2008 was only 1% Christian. Today through our native Indian pastors and leaders, thousands of people who formerly had no access to the Gospel have committed their lives to Jesus, thrown away their idols, been Baptized, and are worshiping in hundreds of house-based 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 $20!

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

Sponsor a native church planter.

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 church planter, studying maps of the area to find the most strategic location for him to initiate the Lor'ds work.

2.  Getting Started
The church planter 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 church planter 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 church planter. 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 church planter in his evangelistic work. The church planter carefully disciples and lovingly mentors them. They eventually become the self-supporting Elders or Pastors for the churches.