The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
The India Subcontinent

How CCI expanded to an area where we had no plans to go
Greetings!

In 2007, I led a Teacher Training Workshop in Tampa, FL, with 30 pastors and workers present. One of the attendees, a missionary, shared his CCI training experience with the pastor of his home church, The Bridge Bible Fellowship, in Reseda, CA. A few months later, his pastor contacted me and asked me to come to Reseda to lead the workshop with the church's pastors.

In February 2009, Mindy and I traveled to Los Angeles, where we led the Teacher Training Workshop for the pastors of The Bridge Bible Fellowship. I learned then that they had also started Shepherding the Nations (STN), which was operating in India at the time. They had been training two groups of pastors, one in Hyderabad and one in Lucknow.

After the workshop, they invited me to go and train these pastors in India. I turned them down three times – in the spring of 2009, the fall of 2009, and the spring of 2010. In the fall of 2010, Mindy and I planned to travel to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The director of Shepherding the Nations India, Ryder Kumar, invited us to join him and his wife in India for Book 4, Preaching Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry. I had no more excuses. We were in Asia, near India, so we accepted the invitation.
David and Mindy Nelson with Flory and Ryder Kumar in India
Ryder and I taught these pastors together, and it became apparent that the Lord wanted us to expand in India. In 2012, he and I led a Teacher Training Workshop together in Hyderabad with 30 pastors. The ministry began to grow, and we had invitations all over India for training. I had the privilege of training most of the Shepherding the Nations trainers in India.
Now, 13 years later, we look back in amazement at all the Lord has done. We now have a team of trainers and coordinators under the servant leadership of Vijay Kumar, who passionately leads the CCI ministry in India. The Lord has also opened the doors for training in nearby countries. In January 2017, we added a Regional Director of the India Subcontinent to oversee the activity as we expanded into Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and more.
The India Subcontinent is vast both in mass and population. Some of our staff members travel up to 13 hours one way on a motorbike to teach in mountainous tribal areas. This region also poses a danger for our workers as Christianity is not openly welcomed, especially in Pakistan, North India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. To be a Christian in these nations means to face discrimination, persecution, or even criminal charges. But these workers of the harvest are fueled by the joy of the gospel and His commandment to make disciples to the ends of the earth.
In Their Own Words
***Identities have been concealed to protect participants***
Bangladesh
"I come from a tribal community. Without training, I had been pastoring our church since our pastor passed away, and we had no one to take on the pastoral responsibility. I'm a student of CCI and studying Book 3, The New Testament Survey. The first book, Bible Study Methods, helped me learn how to study the Bible through observation, interpretation, and application. The books are helping me deliver the message and teach in the church and understand more about Jesus, Jesus' disciples, and first-century Christians. Now I understand that God has chosen me for His glory, and I can reach more people and train them properly so they can train others. CCI courses have changed my life and helped me to grow spiritually and strive for the gospel. I'm strongly preparing day by day for the Lord. I'm also grateful to God and CCI for this training. After finishing the course, I'll join CCI and work for Lord. Thanks to CCI for equipping me with comprehensive training for effective ministry."
-CCI Student in Bangladesh
North India
"Praise the Lord! I thank God, who has given me this opportunity to learn the living Word of God. I thank my teacher and CCI, who have started the teaching ministry in my area and provided these wonderful books in my language. Praise God for His faithful servants who have been teaching in other places in and around my hometown. I desire to learn according to God and His ways. God bless you all." 
-CCI Student North India
Pakistan
"I am 40 years old and married with three children. Ten years ago, I was ordained as a pastor without formal Bible training. When I heard about the CCI class, I immediately joined. I am learning so many things through this training. It is a totally new study for me and very helpful for my pastoral life. Training has enhanced my teaching and preaching. Thanks to the Lord that I am growing spiritually through this CCI class and growing in the Word of God! I am praying for CCI, that God bless you all more for equipping and multiplying disciples."
-CCI Student in Pakistan
As I look back, I see the gracious hand of God upon all of this. He has done ABOVE & BEYOND all our expectations. Your faithful giving and praying have helped open the doors to expand into new areas—areas we hadn’t planned but where the Lord would direct our footsteps.

This November, we will gather our CCI staff at our Global Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The conference acts as a catalyst for future growth, alignment in all our fields, encouragement, and a time of grand celebration for what the Lord has done.

For these staff members to participate, additional funding is required for travel from their countries to and from Thailand, lodging, food, and local travel. The overall cost of the conference is about $75,000 to cover all these expenses. Please consider sponsoring our staff to attend this significant training event.

Staff will be coming from the countries listed below. You can help meet the need through a sponsorship donation. To give, please click here.
Albania
Australia
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Canada
​Fiji
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Laos
Mexico
Myanmar
Nepal
New Zealand
Pakistan
Philippines
Rwanda
Thailand
Uganda
USA
Vietnam
Thank you for your generous heart in helping equip leaders to spread the truth of Jesus!

Grace and Peace,
David Nelson
President & Founder
Crossing Cultures International
Announcements
We’d love for you to join us at our 2023 Global Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 4-12. You’ll also be able to attend our training sessions as we discuss discipleship, ministry expansion, and future endeavors. For more information and to register, please click here.
As a reminder, in April 2024, CCI is co-leading an inspirational tour in Israel. We would love for you to come and join us.
Click here to learn more.
For more information, contact Amanda Boston at aboston@cciequip.org.
Staying connected to CCI is even easier! Text the word CCI to 833-981-3459 or scan the QR code to receive communication alerts such as reminders, invitations, event communication, links to videos/photos, surveys, and giving opportunities.

You can also click here to sign up for text messages.
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