Despite Growing Hostility Towards Christianity, Some CapMin Ministries Are Growing in Asia
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How does the Gospel take root in a nation that is closed and even hostile to Christianity?
We got a glimpse of how God may provide the light to ignite hearts in dark places at our Asia Recruiting and Training Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 30-Oct 4.
At that conference, CapMin leadership taught 23 men from 9 Asian countries the time-tested methods of how to establish, launch, lead, and sustain discipleship Bible-study based ministries to their political leaders.
Some were new recruits who were completing the required training before being certified to begin their ministries and others were established ministry leaders who were honing their skills.
One ministry leader who completed training last year shared that he had visited the home of his nation’s president, had been granted a hearing, and had invited him to participate in a Bible study.
“This ministry leader was given encouraging news,” said Pastor Brian Hanson, CapMin international global director. “The president said he would be interested in studying the Bible ‘out of curiosity.’”
We pray that out of curiosity comes a disciple of Jesus Christ.
We heard something similar from a high-ranking political leader who was among several public servants who traveled from Asian nations to participate in the conference. The prominent public servant who was Hindu, said he was interested in learning what the Bible has to say. With his permission, CapMin leaders prayed with and over him. A ministry leader from his nation invited him to a weekly Bible study.
“If the leader accepts Jesus Christ as his personal savior, everyone in the nation will listen whether they agree or disagree—Daniel 3:28–30,” said Pastor Kumar Singh Praja, CapMin’s Asia global director. “The leaders at the conference said this is a significant mission in the political sphere because the Gospel can spread quickly through political leaders.”
Many of the nations these ministry leaders are from are adverse to Christianity, but that has not dissuaded these Bible teachers from joining with us to make disciples of Jesus Christ in the political arena of the world.
“Other ministry leaders shared that even though some of their countries are closed to Christianity, they believe God will give them an open door and that they are willing to persevere and to be bold,” Pastor Hanson said.
And recent history has proven this hope of the heart to be true.
“It is amazing the doors of opportunity that God has opened for Capitol Ministries in Asia,” Pastor Hanson said. “Just one year ago, we did not have one ministry on the continent and as this training conference comes to an end, we now have 23 national and local government ministry leaders from nine different countries who have joined hands with us.”
The new ministry leaders are from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and India.
As is true of other CapMin training conferences in the U.S. and around the world, many new recruits were not aware of the biblical directive found throughout the Bible to teach God’s Word to political leaders in first order of importance.
After learning this directive through the Scriptures, the recruits were inspired and eager to begin their ministries. “It was good to hear one man tell me that he felt inspired for ministry in a way that he has never felt before,” Pastor Hanson said.
A new ministry leader who is a pastor, marveled that while he was a student of the Bible, the directive to teach God’s Word to political leaders first in importance was new to him. “Why have I never seen this before?” he said. “It is so obvious!”
Pastor Praja said, “The men were engaged during the entirety of the conference and many said that the theology of the ministry was the first time they were exposed to the specificity of the call to political leaders as found in Acts 9.”
In Acts 9:15, the Lord reveals his mission for the Apostle Paul. “He is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” In this verse, the affinity sphere of “kings” (also referred to in Scripture as all who are in authority) is designated as a priority group along with Gentiles and Jews.
One new ministry leader said, “In all my years of ministry, I had yet to be challenged like I was this week to answer the call of God on my life. I am moved beyond measure.”
Instruction at the conference was provided by Ralph Drollinger, president and founder of CapMin and Pastor Hanson. They taught how to launch and sustain discipleship Bible studies to political leaders, biblical teaching methods, the value of discipleship and relationship building, the priority of evangelism, the importance of leading public servants toward maturity in Christ, and why CapMin does not engage in political activism and lobbying, and much more. CapMin methodology is essential for successful ministries.
Pastor Praja led a devotional on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) and encouragement, (1 Samuel 17:28–49). The conference was organized by Pastor Praja and Jon Cassel, assistant international global director. The majority of the new ministry leaders were recruited by Pastor Praja.
As they are doing in the United States, CapMin leadership also encouraged the new ministry leaders to work within their churches to establish discipleship Bible-study ministries to their local government leaders.
What follows are comments about the conference that were made by participants.
“The session was an eye opener, blessed, and a great opportunity to be a ‘vessel, a chosen instrument of Christ’ to carry His name not just to Jews and Gentiles but to Kings and all in authority!”
“Overall, it also taught us a proper lifestyle, conduct and etiquette to be the ‘Ambassador of Christ.’ I thank God for making us worthy for this great call.”
“My deepest gratitude to the entire team of Capitol Ministry for the incredible work through this ministry. The unwavering dedication to spreading the love of Christ and bringing hope to those in need is truly inspiring. All glory to God!”
“Praise the Lord and Shalom. Firstly I would like to thank Our Almighty Lord Jesus Christ for his mercy upon us, lots of thanks to Pastor Kumar for organizing this platform for Capitol Ministries. We learned lots of heavenly wisdom and are equipped with tools to be the best examples of Christ Jesus and to become the best testament to Jews and Gentiles and kings and all authority. Thank you.
“Greetings to our beloved teachers who provided wonderful teaching about how to reach into political areas and make disciples. I am expecting more teaching from CapMin in future also. Thank you.
“This was a wonderful conference and blessings for all of us. We are zealous to work in the coming days. Thank you.”
“The training in Kathmandu was very good. I got the inspiration to discuss the Gospel with political leaders. Many blessings have been received.”
“Three days of ministry leader training in Kathmandu was enriched, inspired, and well equipped me to bear the name of Jesus to political leaders in my nation.”
“Thank you so much for your kind invitation to the conference. I am really excited to do this ministry in my country. But now the riot/revolution is going on, so it is really difficult to approach leaders in the political arena. But when all these riots are gone and settled, we can do it.”
“Thank you very much for your love and prayers. Excellent & Excellence.”
“Dear prayer partners, thank you so much for your concern that was shown in your wonderful teaching. It is so great.”
“It is such a beautiful training. I was filled with double blessings.”
“Thank you Kumar and the entire team of CapMin for providing great training in Kathmandu. It helps me understand more about how to lead Bible studies with political leaders.”
“The training was wonderful. I did not receive such training before to reach political leaders for the Lord. This training is an eye opener for me that someone needs to reach the political arena of our own country.”
We praise God for the work that was accomplished and begun at this conference. We ask that you join us in praying for these new Bible teachers, that the leaders of their nations would be receptive to God’s Word, and these new discipleship ministries will bear much fruit.
