Training Statement
To train, disciple & mobilise both nationals and foreigners in Hindu contextual understanding. We also seek to train, recruit, develop and multiply new teams under Friends Network’s covering within South Asia. We also want to partner with other YWAM individuals and teams reaching out to Hindus inside and outside of India.

Is the University of the Nations (U of N) Connected to Friends Network?
Friends Network entry programme is the School of Hindu Studies (SHS). SHS is registered with the University of the Nations (U of N) College of Christian Ministies and College of Humanities as CCM/HIS 338/339. We also have registered a Hindi Language & Culture (HL&C) programme for those who wish to work long term with a Hindi speaking people group. The University of the Nations is YWAM’s global training arm.

What is the School of Hindu Studies?
SHS is the entry school for long-term participation with Friends Network and assumes a certain background of cross-cultural training, preferably a YWAM School of Frontier Missions (SOFM) or equivalency. SHS plays an important role in training participants to understand Hindu culture & community, to be able to effectively communicate good news within Hindu community, to develop self-multiplying Christ-centred Hindu people movements and to incarnate themselves within the Hindu culture and community by following Friends Network ministry values.

How does the Hindi Language & Culture Acquisition Programme (HL&C) work?
Typically School of Frontier Missions (SOFM) or SHS interns who lack adequate Hindi speaking skills and Hindu cultural understanding join on a two-year basis. Interns are placed with Hindu families to enhance learning by immersion, while Hindi speaking classes, grammer classes, team activities, evangelism & discipleship times with Hindus round out the learning process. While working on Friends Network staff the interns work on gaining a University of the Nations degree as well as can attend a local university for recognised language learning certification. The whole course is designed for the person to ‘learn Hindi while doing ministry’!

What is the Gurukulam Discipleship Training School?
DTS is an accredited five month course on knowing God and making Him known. The emphasis is on understanding biblical concepts, developing spiritual attitudes and applying what is learned. The DTS course is recognized by all registered University of the Nations (UofN) centers worldwide, regardless of governmental recognition. These courses are modular, field-based and can be taken in different locations both in India and abroad to earn a degree through one of the UofN colleges. We refer to this DTS as a ‘Gurukulam’ because in ancient times disciples would come under the teaching of a guru. The place where a guru lived and taught the students was a gurukulam. Our DTS is a Christ centered gurukulam, seeking to experience, understand and share our Guru Yeshu’s love among the unreached Hindu people groups. To dowload a GDTS application form click the link: GurukulDTS.app.doc [75.50KB]

We also currently provide contextual Worship & Devotion, Evangelism, Church Planting, Language Learning & Cultural Aquisition training for indigenous teams and YWAM training schools. If you would like us to host your outreach team or travel to your location to teach contact us at: info@hindustudy.com

To download an SHS or HL&C Application Packet click the link: GurukulDTS.app.doc [75.50KB]