Bring the Word to pastors who had no way to study it.
Free theological training for pastors in India — in Bengali, Odia, and, in the future, Hindi. In some regions of the country, more than 90% of church leaders guide their communities without ever having had access to a seminary.
From a calling to the first groups
This project isn't a distant dream: the first classes are already finished in Bengali and Odia, and the network of pastors already exists. What's missing is the support to set it all in motion — and keep it going.
Service in India
Pr. Paulo Henrique P. Cunha serves on the mission field for five years. During this time, he founds an Indian mission in partnership with local pastors, and when he leaves the country, he prepares a basic training manual in English — a 60-page manual that, by 2004, had already become a 20-week in-person course with a certificate. It is the seed of today's course.
The return
Back in India, he saw the great need to offer more solid training to pastors who led entire churches without ever having had the opportunity to study theology in their own language. Faced with this reality, it became clear that a complete, free, and deeply Scripture-grounded course needed to be developed.
The meeting and Subject 1
A meeting with the partner network's leadership in India to settle the practical details — how the groups are formed, the calendar of gatherings, and the review flow for the translations. In parallel, the goal is to complete every video class of Subject 1 in Bengali, the first of the course's 22 subjects.
First groups
The first groups of pastors begin their studies and, in that same period, regular production of the Odia classes begins. This initial stage will make it possible to refine the methodology and the on-the-ground follow-up, paving the way for the training of hundreds more pastors and leaders.
A complete course, in their own language, free of charge
This project doesn't start from zero. Since 2005, the mission founded by Pr. Paulo Henrique P. Cunha in India has been steadily growing, and over more than two decades it has built a wide network of churches and pastors who now need more solid biblical and theological training. The mission's own leadership will be responsible for coordinating the study groups and closely following the development of the participating pastors and leaders.
A complete theology course already exists in Portuguese — used today by students in Brazil. In Brazil this course is sold; in India, it will be offered free of charge to pastors who could never afford to pay for it.
The classes are on video, short and clear, narrated in the students' own language — with the voice of an Indian pastor from the partner network, who lends his own voice to the project. The first classes in Bengali and Odia are already finished.
Watch the first lessons in Bengali, already on YouTube →
A short video, in the student's own language, is not an aesthetic choice. The record made in the field back in 2003 read like this: many of those who heard the Word in the villages could not read — or read very little, even in their own mother tongue — and the teaching had to be as simple as possible to be taken in. Twenty-three years later, it is the same reality that shapes the course's format: far deeper and more complete than any earlier material, but said in simple, clear, and objective language.
Why video, on a phone?
Because that's how these pastors can actually study: no traveling, no expensive internet, no leaving their churches and families behind — at the pace that life in the field allows.
A rhythm built for the field
Each pastor watches the classes on his own phone, at his own pace — no need for expensive internet or travel to study.
Once a month, small groups of pastors meet in person with a local coordinator to ask questions and strengthen one another.
At the end of each stage, pastors are evaluated, and upon completion they receive a full certificate of theological training.
Three languages, an ever-growing reach
Because the translation is done with technology that's already built and tested, each new language costs only a little more — the same investment opens ever wider doors.
One pastor reaches an entire church
Multiplied reach
Every student already leads a community — your support doesn't reach one person, it reaches congregations.
The investment isn't wasted
The entire course is already finished in Portuguese. What's left is translation work and human follow-up in the field, month after month.
Built to grow
Pastors trained in the first classes will be able to lead new groups — in West Bengal, in Odisha, and beyond.
An investment that grows with the project
The figures below reflect the current moment — the pilot with the first groups of pastors in West Bengal. As new groups are formed and the project expands into other regions and languages, the monthly need is expected to grow in the same proportion.
About half sustains the translation and preparation of classes; the rest covers travel, meals, and the groups' in-person gatherings in the field.
Figures reflect the project's early stage and tend to increase as new groups of pastors are formed. Everyone can contribute whatever amount they're able to — any contribution is welcome.
Make a Donation
We don't have automatic checkout live yet. Reach out to us on WhatsApp or by email to arrange a one-time or monthly contribution.
If you prefer, write to us by email.Learn more about Pr. Paulo Henrique P. Cunha and the Didasko Portugal Project
What you need to know before giving
Where does the money go?
About half sustains the translation and preparation of the lessons; the rest covers travel, meals and the monthly gatherings of the pastors' groups in the field.
How much does it cost to sustain a group of pastors?
About US$ 30 helps cover one group's monthly gathering, and about US$ 90 covers the full gathering, including travel and meals. These are initial-phase figures and will grow as new groups are formed.
How can I follow how the funds are used?
The accountability report on this page is updated every quarter, with aggregate figures — never with data that identifies donors without consent.
Can I give monthly or from outside Brazil?
Yes. The Pix code above is for one-time gifts; for monthly giving or donations from abroad, get in touch.
How does the project handle the FCRA, India's law on foreign donations?
The FCRA requires any Indian organization receiving funds from abroad to register in advance and restricts passing those funds on to others. The project is designed to respect this law and protect local partners; questions about financial management can be sent through the contact page. Learn what the FCRA is.
Why doesn't the site show names, photos or places of the pastors?
For safety. In 13 Indian states, teaching or sharing the faith can become a criminal charge. That is why the site never publishes names, identifiable photos or specific locations of workers — only broad regions. See what the anti-conversion laws say.
Can I help without giving?
Yes — and it helps a lot. Pray with the monthly prayer requests, subscribe to the newsletter and share the project with your church.
Accountability report
Updated quarterly. Aggregate numbers only — never data that identifies individual donors without explicit consent.
Learn more about the context of the project
PioneersPioneers and History
The lives that paved the way for the gospel in India — from William Carey to Pandita Ramabai.
DataIndia in Data and Maps
Demographics, peoples, languages, and the country's religious landscape, in up-to-date numbers.
CultureCulture and Lifestyle
Food, customs, festivals, and everyday life in a subcontinent-sized country — without the tourist clichés.