After the hectic pace of urban India, Melissa Sherman felt herself breathe more easily as she looked out over the site of the new Mission India Bible College.

“It had a quiet peace and stillness,” she said. “We knew it would be a great place to minister to people and teach the love of Christ.”

Sherman and other Stonebriar members were standing atop one of the new dormitories at the Mission India Bible College (MIBC) in Chhattisgarh, India. From their rooftop perch, they could see the college’s seven-acre site, surrounded by rolling pastures and lush green grass. The beautiful landscape is a good metaphor for the blessings God keeps pouring out on the Mission: India endeavor.

Four years ago, the Lord led Stonebriar Community Church (SCC) to focus its missions efforts on the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In March, an SCC short-term team traveled there to attend a discipleship center graduation and help dedicate the Bible college’s first two buildings.

Equipping 80 more disciple-makers

“Jubilant” is the word that best describes the 80 men and women who recently graduated from the Mission India Discipleship Center (MIDC). About 500 people attended the ceremony, and nothing could dampen their mood.

“The lights went out while the graduates were singing,” Sherman recalled, “but John [Singh, Mission: India director] urged them, ‘Just keep praising God. The enemy cannot interfere!’ They kept on. It was powerful. You couldn’t understand their words, but you knew they were just praising, praising, praising. They were happy to be alive; they were excited about the future.”

Counting these graduates, the MIDC has helped a total of 280 men and women earn one-year diplomas in theology. This year’s graduates, like their predecessors, now are equipped to start ministries throughout Chhattisgarh. Already, about 230 native missionary pastors are leading 750 churches and home groups; an estimated 20,000 Indian believers are involved in Stonebriar-sponsored churches and Bible studies; several church buildings have been built; and six Mercy Homes (orphanages) have opened.

David Chavanne, SCC senior executive pastor and elder, visited a church in eastern Chhattisgarh. That church’s pastor, an  MIDC graduate, has led many to Christ, and 20 of them have earned diplomas in theology. They, in turn, are leading their own churches. This is a prime example of the Mission: India vision—planting churches that plant churches in unreached corners of the world.

Building a Bible college

While God has advanced the work quickly, Mission: India still has far to go, according to Mark Fortney, SCC pastor of Missions and Outreach. The goal is to train 1,000 pastors, build 1,000 churches, and see 500,000 people won to Christ in just ten years.

With that in mind, Stonebriar and its ministry partners are ramping up the theological training available in Chhattisgarh. Fortney said the first class of 100 men and women will enroll this July in the new Mission India Bible College (MIBC) and begin studies toward bachelor of theology degrees or theology diplomas.

Located on seven acres in the town of New Raipur, the college campus offers an efficient, pleasant learning environment. The college’s target enrollment is 300 students. Its facilities will include two dormitories, a cafeteria, assembly hall, library, auditorium, staff and guest apartments, and two Mercy Homes.

The honor of cutting the ribbon at the dormitory dedication was given to David Chavanne. “I pledged, on behalf of the elders and church, that Stonebriar will see this work through to its completion,” he said.

Chavanne said he was overwhelmed by the people’s gratitude for Stonebriar’s involvement in God’s work. “I think we should change our motto from ‘One church can make a difference’ to ‘One church can make a big difference,’” he said.