Brick by Brick

 How do you build a Bible training center?  One brick at a time.

Steward came from the Christian state of Manipur, India as a missionary.  After serving in other areas of Assam he came to Likabali.  Here he met Nyapu, the daughter of a bi-vocational pastor from the town.  She knew better than to be interested in a poor missionary - but all the same - God brought them together in marriage and ministry.

Steward and Nyapu with a recent graduate

Living in a mission built home next to the church, training began of students so they could take the good news of Jesus to the many tribes of northeast India.  It quickly became clear this arrangement for living and classroom space would not be the best.  Nyapu's family had a large amount of land in the area, including a hillside plot which was given to Nyapu.  With very little money, and very little experience the two of them began - making bricks.

construction of new women's dorm

Bricks take nothing more than cement, sand, stone and a simple box mold.  Daily the two went up to the property and began making bricks.  Then they started going up with the students God entrusted to the center.  And each day a little more work was accomplished. This was 2004.


Now it is 2015

Chapel (white) and men's dorm building

Ten years later, they have a lovely simple home, a chapel hall for teaching and worship, a one room dormitory for men, a guest house for teachers, a storeroom, and now a woman's dorm nearing completion.  Beyond these permanent structures there are traditionally constructed thatch buildings for cooking, eating, and the soon the be retired women's room.   They build what they have the funds, energy and help to build.  There is no master plan, no strategic initiative, no 5 or 10 year goal - just a vision to train willing servants for the work of God.

Since starting the training center, over 300 ministry workers have graduated from this program.  Becoming pastors, evangelists, teachers and in countless ways building up the kingdom of God.  And it happened because of God's call, and a couple willing to start making bricks in faith.

This year's graduation - 12 more workers for the harvest fields