Training church leaders India

Equipping Church Leaders in India

Mission
NET Foundation was founded to provide biblically grounded education and training to pastors, evangelists, youth leaders, and women’s ministry workers. Many of these leaders are unable to access full-time theological education due to distance, financial limitations, work responsibilities, or other circumstances. NET Foundation is committed to equipping them through accessible training that strengthens their knowledge, skills, and ability to serve their churches and communities.

India
India, the most populous country in the world, still has millions of people who have never heard the Gospel. At the same time, the Christian minority faces increasing challenges, including discrimination, social exclusion, and persecution. Churches face opposition, pastors are under increasing pressure and many believers experience isolation within their communities. Despite these challenges, the church in India continues to grow. This growth creates an increasing need for well-equipped church leaders. Many pastors and evangelists serve in demanding circumstances with limited access to theological education and ongoing support. Investing in their training is therefore essential for the spiritual health and sustainable growth of the church in India.

Project
NET Foundation has been active in India since 2018 and currently works through six study centres and a network of trusted local partners. Training is provided in Tamil, Hindi, and Nepali, allowing church leaders to study and apply God’s Word within their own language and cultural context.

Through ‘Serving in God’s Vineyard’, a ten-course training programme developed by NET, pastors and church leaders receive biblical, theological, and practical training through study centres, conferences, mentoring, and online education. Building on this foundation, NET is also developing ‘NET Harvest’, an initiative that helps churches bring together discipleship, evangelism, and practical care for those in need. Through these programmes, local churches are equipped to become centres of hope in their communities—places where spiritual and practical needs are addressed, and where the love of Christ becomes visible through both word and deed.

“The training has helped me better understand God’s calling for my life and put biblical knowledge into practice as I serve others.”— Samuel Bernot Legra

Project Costs
All donations raised for this project will be used to support theological training, mentoring, teaching materials, trainer support, conferences, project coordination, ongoing coaching of church leaders, and Bible distribution in India.

The total project budget for 2026 amounts to $145.000. NET and MissionInvest are jointly committed to raising the funds required to meet this budget. NET will contribute $58,000, while MissionInvest is responsible for raising $87,000 through its network, of which $45,000 has already been secured by MissionInvest Netherlands.

Impact
Currently, around 500 pastors and church leaders are being trained and supported through NET’s programmes. On average, these pastors serve local house churches of approximately 30 members. Together, the ministry of these trained leaders reaches around 15,000 church members. Through biblical teaching, believers are strengthened in their faith, encouraged in discipleship, and equipped to be a witness of Christ in their communities.

NET’s goal is to equip 1,000 church leaders in India by 2028. As churches grow in spiritual maturity and practical service, this transformation becomes visible in the lives of their members. Families grow stronger, care for vulnerable people becomes an important part of church life and new opportunities emerge to share the Gospel and introduce others to Christ.

As more pastors faithfully proclaim repentance and faith in the Gospel, God’s Kingdom continues to expand. Soli Deo Gloria.