At REAP India, we believe church planting is most effective when indigenous leaders are equipped to disciple others and multiply. Our Online Learning Platform (OLP) initiative is helping us do just that as part of our Academy for Church Planting & Leadership.
This platform is more than just a website. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to train and equip local leaders in ways we never could before.
What Is the OLP?
Think of the OLP as a central hub filled with resources for our certified trainers, trainees, and church planters. Through it, we’re making academic and practical training materials available in the heart languages of our students across South Asia.
These resources, ranging from videos and lessons to discussion guides, aren’t just meant to be consumed. They’re designed to help each leader we train become a trainer themselves, multiplying the Gospel’s reach far beyond what our staff alone could accomplish.
Why Is This So Important?
In South Asia, many people learn best through oral and visual methods, and adults especially thrive when they can learn alongside others in discussion. But with the sheer size of the population we’re engaging, traditional classroom models just can’t keep up.
The OLP bridges that gap. By using video, audio, and interactive tools, we can:
Equip church planters to disciple others in ways that match their learning styles.
Offer structured, credible training—without relying solely on large institutions.
Keep training “under the radar” of anti-Christian opposition by using secure, online channels rather than public broadcast media.
Most importantly, the OLP is not just about content—it’s about connection. Discipleship isn’t a classroom project or a degree program; it’s about relationships that encourage Christ-like living in real-life contexts. The OLP simply provides the tools leaders need to foster those relationships.
Where Are We Now?
Right now, we’re in the exciting development stage. Here’s what’s happening:
Audio-visual lessons are being recorded in five languages by experienced mission practitioners and biblical scholars.
Translations and study materials are in progress so every student can fully engage with the lessons.
Qualified instructors are being recruited and trained to guide students, both online and in person.
We’re also setting up our first studio for video and audio production, and we’ve already raised $18,400 of the $32,400 needed to complete this stage. Just $14,000 more will get the studio ready to launch.
What’s Next?
Once the studio is complete, we’ll move on to cloud storage and web development so students can easily access the materials and instructors can provide live and recorded teaching.
In total, the cost to get the OLP fully operational is $82,500. Here’s where that funding goes:
Faculty Development & Training – $4,750
Content Development – $22,500
Translation – $16,750
Studio Setup – $16,000
IT Equipment – $16,400
Web & Data Management – $5,400
Miscellaneous – $700
While that may sound like a big investment, the OLP will actually fund future church planting once it’s up and running. With just 110 students enrolled each year, paying $75 annually, we’ll recover the full cost in 10 years, and every dollar earned after that will go straight toward planting more churches across South Asia.
How You Can Help
The OLP is more than a project, it’s a way to see the Gospel multiply faster than ever, equipping local believers to make disciples and plant churches in places we could never reach alone.
Right now, the most urgent need is to finish funding the studio setup so we can launch the first wave of lessons and translations. Your support will help us close the $14,000 gap and take this critical step toward equipping hundreds of future leaders.
Together, we can make this vision a reality—training leaders, planting churches, and seeing lives transformed across South Asia.
