Over the past year, the Ethnic Church Planting Cohort has taken meaningful steps forward in equipping ethnic church planters serving among the nations in our region. What began last year as a small experimental effort—with only one Chinese‑speaking student—has now grown into a diverse and more robust training cohort. This year, we are encouraged to have seven students, representing a blend of Chinese and South Asian Indian leaders, preparing to plant and strengthen churches within their ethno-linguistic cultural communities.
A key strength of the cohort is its practical, immediately applicable training designed for ethnic leaders. Each session focuses on helping planters integrate what they learn into their everyday rhythms of their families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and emerging church plant.  At the same time, the cohort provides essential tools for engaging the major worldviews ethnic planters regularly encounter—including Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims—equipping leaders to share the gospel with clarity, cultural sensitivity, and compassion across belief systems.
Future Plans (some already happening)
- Expand Enrollment Across Additional Ethnic Groups– Broaden participation to include leaders from additional Asian, African, and Middle Eastern communities to strengthen our regional network of ethnic church planters.
- Develop a Pathway for Advanced Training– Create a second-year or advanced cohort for deeper development in leadership, contextual evangelism, and multiplication strategies.
- Strengthen Partnerships with Local Churches– Increase collaboration between ethnic planters and established DBA congregations to provide mentoring, resources, and potential mother‑church relationships.
- Create More Field-Based Learning Experiences– Integrate additional community mapping, cross‑cultural engagement outings, and collaborative evangelism opportunities among ethnic church planters, existing ethnic church pastors, and leaders.
- Work alongside NAMB in getting the Ethnic Church Planting Cohort content (in multiple languages) online via their learning platform.
Conclusion
The growth from last year’s one‑student pilot to this year’s seven‑member cohort highlights the expanding need and tremendous opportunity before us. The Ethnic Church Planting Cohort remains committed to raising up leaders who disciple faithfully and plant churches that reflect the rich diversity of the mission field God has placed in Denton County and beyond.