Supreme Task International
Our History
Eighteen years ago Laurel and I along with our four-year-old daughter Lindsay, stepped out of our role of sending Missionaries, into being sent ourselves. Even five years as Missions Directors of a highly missions-minded mega church could not have fully prepared us for the radical yet rewarding experiences we encountered as Missionaries to some of the least reached people on earth.
Though numerous countries made a deep impression on us - Egypt, Israel and more than 25 others, it was India that branded our hearts forever. However, I can still hear the words of one seasoned missionary warning us of the dangers of working in northern India. "If you go to India- don't go to the north. It is too hard, you'll have too little fruit, and it will cost you too much." Though the warning was justified we are glad we did not heed the intent of those well-meaning words.
Because of faithful supporters, the next seven years Supreme Task International mobilized ministry teams throughout northern India training more than 15,000 Pastors and Christian leaders in over 35 Seminar of the Spirit leadership conferences. Alongside of this was the March for Jesus which blew the minds of the religious community. Even the local Hindu governments gave us full police protection! Hundreds of the pastors and their workers who attended the SOS were later sent to south India for further training where that Bible School literally burst at the seams. It also revealed the desperate need for a place for students to be trained in the north.
That resulted in pioneering Supreme Task Bible Training Center (STBTC) in Nawanshar, Punjab, the first Training Center of it's kind in northern India. Though the school had to move four times (once a year to accommodate the growth) more than 300 mission-minded students graduated and were mobilized to fulfill their destiny among the unreached in every state of India as well as Nepal, Burma, and Thailand. The reality soon set in that we could not handle everyone wanting training in one central location.
A new concept in training was birthed at that time - Supreme Task Discipleship Training (STDT). This 30-day intense training course was initiated in four states with 14 schools, which provided basic training for almost 350 students within the first year alone. At the same time we had breakthrough we had a setback. Resources dried up and most plans had to be put on hold for some time though ministry continued.
While the ministry in India continued, we had the privilege of working with Victory World Church in Atlanta, Georgia over a two year period where we engaged in launching Victory World Ministry Training Center for Pastors and Missionaries. As time passed we realized that we could not sustain a staff position and the outreaches that still burned in our hearts for India. Consequently our church released us back into full time missions to pick up where we left off with their full blessing. We returned with a renewed urgency and passion to carry out the final thrust of our call - to reach the unreached.
Laurel and I are moved by the hundreds if not thousands of young people across northern India ready to be mobilized to reach India's masses. Their greatest need is training.
Since January of 2005 we have witnessed more than 1,500 new believers trained and discipled in our Supreme Task Discipleship Training schools now scattered throughout northern India. Many churches have exploded in growth and many others are multiplying as they turn believers into disciples. One Pastor in Bihar who just finished hosting an STDT told his congregation, "these students have learned more in 30 days than I could teach them in 5 years."
Because of the quality of the graduates, many other pastors are requesting training to run schools in their area. The potential is phenomenal.
Once a year a Strategic Leadership Summit is held for training key Pastors "how to" conduct an STDT in their area. If we continue at our current pace in 2006 we will graduate more than 2,000 students within one year almost doubling our original goal!
Our five year goal is to conduct an STDT in every state, then in every district of every state in northern India. Already the fire is kindled. If we fuel the fire, widespread revival is inevitable!
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China has 7% of the world's land. India has 2.4%. | |
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