1. Vision Set For Informal Training

HBI has three levels of training – Formal, Non-Formal, and Informal. Formal is the college with masters and doctorate level courses. Non-formal are the village church planters that we speak of so often. Those church planters are under the leadership of HBI though INEC (India National Evangelical Churches).

The Informal training is basically the same training as the non-formal, except these pastors are from other evangelical church networks or denominations. HBI has trained many of these pastors to plant more churches. Because they do not report to HBI, statistics cannot be kept. But we know that the number is quite large (having done this for many years) and is most likely larger than our non-formal training.

From April 2024 to March 2025, the goal is to train 8,285 men and women from 60 districts in 12 states of India via the informal training model.

2. The Story of One

Here is one story of informal training as an example. “Boncy,” not affiliated with INEC, had completed formal training that was available through one of our training centers and had received bachelors and masters degrees. While there, he decided to go through the informal training and learn how to accomplish saturation church planting. As a result, Boncy has gained a vision for his entire state.

He began by targeting an unreached people group in a remote and poor area, teaching uncared-for children while their parents were working the fields, and eventually getting them into schools. Because of the trust he built with this people group by doing this, he led the entire village to Christ. This catapulted him to plant eight village churches throughout the region and train over 200 young men in discipleship and church planting. 

3. Construction Progress for Education Center

The excavation work is almost completed. The next stage is the laying of M-Sand (manufactured sand), plain cement concrete, and water proofing. Please continue to pray for safety and protection of all that are working on site. Pray for God’s provision for this project. Some of you may prayerfully consider investing in this project. This facility will elevate the potential for a broad range of ministry for years to come.

What Defines a Church?

When you hear that the 1400 church planters of HBI have planted 16,500 churches in India, what goes through your mind? No matter how you look at it, it is a miraculous movement of multiplication church planting.  But the one thing that it is not, is “complicated.”  In fact, the simplicity of it may be the secret. There are many aspects to discuss, but let’s start with, “What is a church?”  Simply put, it is an assembly of people gathered for worship. Acts 2:40-47 is generally seen as the Early Church model of “church.”  In the villages of India, the description is quite similar.  Many of them meet from house to house and sometimes together in a larger context.  This is not just a strategy; it is a necessity.

A church is not defined by its size or by the kind of facility in which it meets. Though the average church size is not just a handful of people, it may start out that way. Basically, a church is a gathering of believers where there is worship, the word of God, fellowship, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership. A healthy church will have healthy leadership submitted to Christ, the head of the church, and to other leaders who are submitted to Christ, a divine yet practical connectivity and accountability within the body of Christ. The pastors and church leaders of HBI are connected to an organizational network called INEC, India National Evangelical Churches. INEC is the church planting arm of HBI, though it is its own NGO (non-government organization).

In the Indian village context, a pastor (leader) who has been and is being discipled (trained) may plant and oversee many churches in different villages that meet in a smaller context. They are led from week to week by approved elders who have been and are being discipled (trained). The more discipleship (training), the more leaders you have to do the work, and the more effective the growth. You may be a businessman or schoolteacher who has been trained to lead a church that meets in someone’s home. You are under the leadership of a pastor (elder) who oversees a number of these smaller local churches. He is also under the leadership of regional leaders who lead him.

But when it comes right down to it, the success is not just based on the structure. It is about the heart. It is the Holy Spirit-filled heart of these simple, sacrificial leaders that is the motivation behind this miraculous movement.

“Oh Lord, that we might learn from what You are doing on the other side of the world.”

One of our partners who has a heart and burden for winning and discipling the nation of India through the planting of churches has offered a matching gift of $50,000.

This means that every dollar you give for the training of church-planting pastors between now and “Giving Tuesday,” November 28th, will be matched with the same.

This is an incredible opportunity!!! Please pray about how you might participate in this heartfelt challenge. There is power in partnership. No one person can accomplish the mission.

Chandra has already planted his first church, even while working daily as a wage laborer to meet his own needs. His mission is to raise up a new generation of Christ followers specifically among the youth. Chandra has no formal education beyond high school and is highly motivated to be trained to grow in his leadership calling.

You can help these young leaders to fulfill the Great Commission in their regions. They have no lack of calling and passion. Their need is to be discipled and trained to reach the unreached.

Any amount you contribute will be a blessing. AND IT WILL BE DOUBLED!

Click HERE to donate. Or you may write your check to HBI Global Partners and put on the note line: “Church Planter Training.” Send your checks to HBI Global Partners, PO Box 3037, Broken Arrow, OK 74013.

You and I are a link in the chain of fulfilling the Great Commission. Thank you for being on the team together with us. The reward is the increase of God’s Kingdom and His glory!!!

Fulfilling His mission together,

Director of National Mobilization
HBI Global Partners

One of those who met with the ordination committee to be interviewed was particularly sharp, answering theological questions with great perspective and quoting many scriptures to support his answers. We will call him “Victor.” They were very impressed with Victor’s knowledge and understanding—and then discovered that he did not know how to read or write!

The training Victor had just completed included over 5,000 hours of classroom work spread over seven or more years. In between classes he applied his training, discipling people to Jesus Christ and planting several churches. Some plant five to ten churches during that time, before they are ordained.

How did Victor achieve this challenge without the ability to read or write? How did he retain the information? Obviously, he had memorized all that scripture without the ability to read. His response was simple. He listened. And at home, his son would read to him and write down what his dad told him to write in preparation for the class work.

“And when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.” (Luke 10:21)

“…God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Victor gave no excuses, no apologies, and exhibited no victimization. These are the kinds of men that you faithfully support in partnership. You pay for their training. They are world changers.

By the way, Victor presents himself with a Bible in his hand. Think about it!

Fulfilling His mission together,

HBI Global Partners
Director of National Mobilization
HBI Global Partners

To give you can scan the QR code below or click here. You can also send your check to HBI Global Partners, P.O. Box 3037, Broken Arrow, OK 74013. Mark on your check “Church Planter Training.”

Simply pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray: “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)

We would also ask that you consider a sacrificial donation to help offset rising costs in India. Due to inflation, it will now require an additional $20,000 above the original budget to provide travel, room and board, and other conference expenses for these 800 leaders. Every gift, large or small, makes you a partner in what these leaders will do this year for Christ and His kingdom.

To give you can scan the QR code below or click here.

Thank you for partnering in prayer and giving. It takes all of us working together! Look forward to a full report on the conference in our September letter.

Fulfilling His mission together,

Director of National Mobilization
HBI Global Partners

PRESENT WITH POWER

They disciple people to Christ. They plant church after church. I don’t know the percentage, but a large number of these churches are planted after these men pray for unbelievers in their homes. There are many healings and other answered prayers. It doesn’t always happen right away, but it is common.

“Why there and not here so much?” People in the U.S. regularly ask me that question. I don’t know the answer. But I have often wondered….

Is it because they are discovering the Bible for the first time and simply believe what it says? I’m sure that has something to do with it.

Or is it because the need is so great and without viable alternatives? Does the sense of desperation call for a persistency in prayer and faith that is uncommon to us?

Whatever it is, it is a living demonstration that what Jesus said to His disciples has come true.

“Assuredly I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death til they see the kingdom of God present with power.”  Mark 9:1. What we are seeing is a near reenactment of the book of Acts.

Fulfilling His mission together,

Director of National Mobilization