From Unengaged to Biblically Adept
May 28, 2019
In Northern South Asia, most people are Buddhist or Hindu. These religions are fortified through South Asian culture and familial affirmations. Yet, another reason for this radical majority is that there is, by and large, no access for people in the Himalayan region to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to the Joshua Project, 264 of the 274 people groups in Nepal alone are considered unreached.
Acts is working to see these statistics changed. A current student in a Training Center shared that he came from a Hindu family that worshiped many idols. Upon hearing the gospel, he and his family put their faith in Christ. For them, this was not a subtle or unimpactful choice, but one that led his father into pastoral ministry in their village. However, his father is lacking biblical and theological education.
With a desire to serve his father and the Church, this student came to an Acts Training Center to be trained for ministry. He is taking classes that explain the nature of ministry, the role of the pastor, and the practice of preaching. When he graduates, he plans on going back to his father’s church to join him in pastoral ministry.
This village can no longer be called unengaged because there is a Christian presence through the faithful ministry of the church. What is better is that the people of this village will have a pastor who is well equipped to provide deeper biblical understanding, greater theological breadth, and help grow them up in the knowledge of our glorious Christ.
Stories like this one are common among students in Acts Training Centers. We believe that God is after His glory and His glory looks like a Church made up of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue declaring His praises. Yet, He will only be praised by those who know Him and none can know Him apart from being told and the sovereign grace of God. So, Acts continues to partner with God with the vision of every person in South Asia living within walking distance of a healthy Bible-believing church.