The CDP GLOBAL NETWORK has developed quite rapidly over the last seven or eight years from just a Cassette Discipleship Program (CDP) activity in India, to a multi-national activity that is reaching out to many millions of otherwise ignored and forgotten villagers. This has extended to most of the developing countries of the World. This is especially poignant when one realizes that over half of the World’s population is “out there”!

            We are awed by this growth and great potential to reach out to these precious souls that often have been worshiping God the best they know how via many aspects of His creation! How great to see them come to the Lamb of God. Receiving His Salvation, Joy and Peace (sometimes even amidst turmoil all about them).

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
 for the CASSETTE DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM

   In partnership since 1988:       Galilean International Film & TV Services of  India      (G I F T S)  and M/E International, Inc. of USA

I.  Introduction:  

    The Cassette Discipleship Program (CDP) is organized in India by GIFTS of India.  The pilot project was undertaken in the district of Guntur in AP in 1991.  It  provided important experiences and insights to launch the program in other language areas of the country. CDP is now (2000  AD) established in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarath, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.

II.   Program Description

    Purpose:   

        CDP is designed to reach non-literate people in the villages, tribal
belts, urban slums and other village areas of the country, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and disciple them to become members of the BODY OF CHRIST  in and through Bible teaching church fellowships.

    Method of Outreach:

        Spiritually qualified evangelists are selected carefully, and trained
to use four program cassette modules to both reach others and further train himself to more effectively communicate the Gospel.  Each VE is provided a set of cassettes in his language of need, a cassette player and accessories and charged with systematically contacting all the villagers of his ten contiguous villages (10,000 villagers) for whom he is responsible.

III.      Administration of the Program

    The Board of Directors of GIFTS of India have established program
policies and procedures to assure effective organization and administration of the program.  They designate one corporate officer to oversee the program.
 They further delegate the CDP work of the various language areas to the
respective regional Boards of Directors of GIFTS  (for e.g. CDP Telugu is administered by the Board of Directors of GIFTS-AP).  The Executive Director of the Regional GIFTS will direct the program under the administrative control of the Regional Board.  Wherever Regional Boards do not yet exist, the National Board will administer the program.


IV.  Procedures                 (  Click here:  CDP - French Language )

    The following are the procedures to be followed by the Regional Board to
initiate CDP in the language area of its operation:

    1.  The Executive Director of the Region or the person designated by the
Board will convene a CDP-Planning Meeting of the Board and present the
demographic structure of rural, tribal and slum areas of the region,
assessing the number of districts and villages.  The salient features of the
CDP will also be presented.  The designated member of the National Board will
be present to guide the discussions.

    2.  The following steps will be taken at this meeting:

        .   Plan the translation of the 1st module of four tapes in the
language of the region, to be made from the master script in English kept at the National Office (also on the me-intl.org WEBSITE) and producing a master tape in the language of the region.

        .   Identify 50 to 100 or more contiguous villages in a selected
district of the Region to start a Pilot CDP  Project

        .   Work out dates for the training sessions as per the syllabus
prepared by the National Board.

        .   Pre-plan the launch of CDP,  involving the churches and
assemblies in nearby areas, also mobilizing prayer support.

    3.  The Executive Director will see that the minutes of this meeting is
sent to the President of the National Board, along with a time schedule of
the work to be done.  (Note: Release of funds will be done on receipt of
these papers).

    4.  The date for the program launch should be so planned to involve the
churches and assemblies in nearby areas as possible.  As many representatives
of the National and Regional Boards should be enlisted to attend the program
launch as possible.


V.  Recruitment and Assignment of Village Evangelists (VEs)

    1.  Job Description:             ( Click here:  CDP - French Language )

        A VE provides a ‘grass roots’ outreach, each being the voice of CDP
outreach with the gospel.  His leadership role is primarily that of a lay evangelist,
who will train 3 or 4 others  (clones of himself) each year.  In achieving this, he should:

        -   Communicate the Gospel verbally/orally through regular personal
contacts, systematically reaching out on a daily, weekly, monthly plan.

        -   Use the cassettes to propagate the Gospel, accelerate harvest,
and continue his own training as well. Discipline is his primary task.

        -   Develop good spiritual fellowship with all Christians, churches,
and assemblies within close proximity of his ten villages.

        -   Be a constant learner of the Word of God: thoroughly conversant
with the message in the cassettes.  He should find ways and means to develop interest in the Bible and the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

        -   Develop skills in leading and guiding the converts into baptism,
 membership in a fellowship or church, and into the deeper spiritual life.

        -   Explore ways and means to inculcate literacy by organizing formal
and informal classes for men, women and children -- introducing tract and
bible distribution where applicable.

        -   Develop constantly a spirit of unity with his fellow VEs.

        -   Submit to the authority of the Executive Director and give oral
and written reports on regular, periodic basis.

        -   Take utmost care in maintaining the equipment and supplies, such
as cassettes, tape-player, and accessories loaned to him.

    2.  Qualifications

        a.   A born again Christian, baptized in a Church or assembly and who
has a commitment to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

        b.  Should have a good fluency in the language of the area,  ability
to read and write that language is very desirable.

        c.  Should (preferably) be a married person.

       
    3.  Applicant Requirements

            Application in a prescribed form with recommendations from two
Christian leaders shall  be received from all applicants.  It is advisable to verify the antecedents of applicants from at least two referees.  The applicant will be interviewed by a panel appointed by the Regional Board of GIFTS before recruitment is completed.  This interview should emphasize the nature of a faith ministry such as CDP.


    4.  Training

            Selected candidates will undergo prescribed training before assigned for field ministry. During the training period the specific potential qualities of each VE is stressed.
            A group leader is selected from among the VEs every two months who will be
directly responsible to the Executive Director in reporting the ministry highlights of the group and receive on-the-job training in leadership and other skills. Normally, in a 10-month period, each VE has an  opportunity to serve as a group leader.  This process should provide continuous ministry training.  The Executive Director will hold periodic performance appraisal sessions and counsel each VE for spiritual growth and improved results.

CDP Evangelist’s Initiatory Training Course:

 A three full day training course is designed to achieve the following objectives:

1. To provide a period of spiritual preparation to the newly selected evangelists before they are sent to the harvest fields.

2. To inform them about the Biblical imperatives to qualify for the work of an evangelist.

3. To evaluate every evangelist - his/her goals, attitudes, aptitude for work, talents, planning skills, time consciousness, etc.

4. To inform the requirements on the handling of equipment and accessories provided.

5. To inculcate the uttermost standards of stewardship of time and talents.

The PROGRAM is so designed to emphasize the need for personal daily devotions, corporate worship, Bible study and physical health and hygiene. Ten 90 minutes sessions cover a set curriculum and syllabus of studies. The timetable is kept tight to keep the VEs on their toes.  Every effort is made to bring home the importance of the value and of management of time in their daily routine once they go to the fields with harvest as the focus.  The faculty members shall provide the notes of their lectures for students to carry home. They should also provide them with relevant reading materials to inculcate in them the habit of adding knowledge to their faith.

The following is the content of the program:

1. Bible Study: The study should cover the details of our Lord’s GREAT COMMISSION (Matt. 23:18-20). For this, either the first 8 chapters of the Acts of Apostles or any other portion or book of the New Testament is chosen and Studied in its entirety.

2. Session I: Evangelism Explained: Effective proclamation of the Gospel; reaching the unreached; people-wise evangelism; encouraging men and women to accept Christ and make them disciples; transforming new Christians into responsible members of the Church.

3. Session II: Who is an Evangelist: Biblical standards for evangelists- qualities and qualifications; stewardship of time, talents and treasure; aspects of discipleship.

4. Session III: Life- style of an Evangelist: Effective Christian witness and life: How to be an example to new believers and others? The use of words in Christian life-style.

5. Session IV; V; & VI: Audio Cassettes & Evangelism: Special features; personal and group evangelism through audiocassettes; CDP cassettes played and discussed.

6. Session VII: Methods of Bible study: Importance of personal daily Bible study; conducting Bible study sessions; 12 methods of Bible study.

7. Session VIII: Gospel Preaching: “Preach the Word”- How to prepare a sermon.

8. Session IX: Ministry of Healing and the Evangelist: An overview of health and hygiene from Biblical and scientific points of view; the importance of prayer therapy.

9. Session X: Dedication of the Evangelists and commissioning them to do CDP Ministry.

It is necessary that the faculty members and supervisors of the training course meet every night to evaluate the effectiveness of the day’s program and find remedies wherever improvements need to be effected. They should also evaluate the participants every day and offer help, guidance and counseling to individual cases who need them.

The importance of physical fitness needs to be stressed by explaining the meaning of Luke 2:52. Practical physical fitness program may be demonstrated by a committed Christian physical education instructor at the evening time allotted for the purpose.

Jesus trained His disciples for multiplication of disciples. Let us follow His footsteps and train our CDP evangelists to produce disciples for the Lord in their fields of activity.

VI. Finances for the CDP Project
     All CDP activities, here in the USA and all related countries (including country leaders, supervisors and VEs) are VOLUNTEERS or LOCALLY SUPPORTED.
     Cassettes and players are loaned by GIFTS to the VEs.  As needed and appropriate, some VEs will be loaned a bicycle to facilitate their covering the needed area in a timely manner.

VII. Forms to fill out

     CDP Questionaire for New/Proposed Area or Country - Click Here

       VE Data Form - Click Here

      CDP - French Language
 

THE  CDP  GLOBAL  NETWORK is “DOING IT”

• Thousands of VEs are Ministering.
• The Nationals are committed to the task and determined to do it for the Lord.
• Each VE reaching out to thousands – up to about 10,000 villagers.
• Most VEs minister without equipment.
• Only about 6% have players (each costs $50 for 6X the outreach).
• Only about 3% have bikes (each costs $100 for 12X the outreach).
• Players help bridge the literacy challenges.
• Bikes help bridge the distance challenges.
• Effective outreach is potentially multiplying by 4-to-1 each growth period.
• Without equipment, generally equivalent outreach can be accomplished by multiplying up through 3 or 4 added growth periods!

              DONATE ---  On-Line: WEBSITE:

www.me-intl.org  

 J. R. Jim Ford, President

     M/E International, Inc. . 

655 Shadow Lake Drive .  Brea,   California . 92821  

 714/624-3547     e-mail:   cdp767usa@aol.com