The movement to multiply faithful and generous stewards and to accredit churches and ministries for following standards continues to grow in South Asia. The region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

We chose this photo from our recent service in Nepal for two reasons. First, it illustrates the effects of corruption, which led to recent protests that contributed to devastation and brokenness. Nepal needs our prayers as the people rebuild and pursue life with accountability.

Second, this picture shows that the way forward requires hard work. When stewards in churches and ministries follow standards and pursue peer accountability, it often means cleaning up messes and putting God’s house in order.

Despite recent difficulties and natural disasters in the region, we report good news from program work in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as an open door to serve in Sri Lanka. We share our updates in three areas: stewards, seminar, standards, and steps.

Stewards

GTP offers on demand courses and has seen strong receptivity from stewards in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. For example, 11 stewards in India, 6 stewards in Nepal, and 10 stewards in Pakistan serve as Course Moderators. These strategic volunteers help others go through GTP on demand certificate courses.

They also assist with onsite program work and replicate trainings. Thanks to the service of volunteers, GTP has done program work this year in Dhaka, Bangladesh; in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, India; in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal; and in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Lahore, and Karachi, Pakistan.

While India has a peer accountability group accrediting churches and ministries, the other South Asian countries do not have one yet. Praise God that after events in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, He has raised up stewards to serve as accountability advocates to work with GTP to form peer accountability groups.

Seminar

GTP and CIM (Christian Institute for Management in India) partnered to host the International Consultation on Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). The four-day free virtual seminar from 6-9 May 2025 served 135 participants from 47 countries. Many more have since viewed the presentations and papers online.

To view a sampling of this seminar, click the titles to view the presentations and download the papers: Stewardship of Christian Accountability with CA Gina Detera, Stewardship of Character by CA Manju George, Stewardship of the Mission and Risk with Dr. Gary G. Hoag, Crisis Management and Communications by Dr. Chi-Chung Keung, Data Protection and Privacy Risks with Dr. Trevor Lui, and The Risks of Missions Funding by Barbara Shantz.

The event equipped delegates and participants to integrate an ERM framework in the administration and governance of their nonprofits. It also provided a theoretical foundation for researchers, while many presenters shared practical tools for application.

Standards

At GTP events in 2025, we thank God that stewards in Bangladesh and Nepal appreciated hearing about the standards of peer accountability groups worldwide. But they especially resonated with the NobleRank standards of India!

In Pakistan, the story of the formation of ECFA in the USA and its standards inspired many people to offer to join the working group to draft standards for churches and ministries to strengthen sustainability with accountability. The same response came from Bangladesh and Nepal.

In India, NobleRank has made significant progress in accrediting individual ministries to standards. A pilot group of 15 India Missions Association agencies has pursued accreditation. We hope their example inspires the other 311 IMA agencies to get accreditation.

Steps

In less than a year, we praise God that working groups in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan have begun drafting standards for peer accountability. Representatives from each of these countries will attend the GTP Global Gathering 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to gain insight for next steps.

In India, NobleRank will stay the course in accrediting organizations to standards. We both find joy in serving the growing movement of ministry workers eager to build trust and grow local and international support through accountability. Though India has a long way to go, word of the good work of NobleRank continues to spread.

Lastly, we rejoice in the progress in Sri Lanka. Representatives from Colombo Theological Seminary have taken GTP on demand courses and referred others. Recently, Christie Samuel, head of the Sri Lanka Missions Association, formally invited GTP and NobleRank to bring accountability teaching and generosity training in 2026.

Prayer Points

Praise God for the growing response to NobleRank accreditation in India. Pray for the working groups drafting standards for peer accountability in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. Pray for stewards in Nepal to replicate GTP trainings and for healing for the nation in the wake of the recent unrest. Pray for favor as GTP seeks grants to expand work in South Asia. Pray for the papers and presentations from the ERM seminar in May 2025 to serve workers worldwide. Thank God for the invitation to advance accountability and generosity in Sri Lanka.