Thousands of people were in attendance at the conference, when the invitation was given hundreds came forward. There was concern about what would happen to these new believers as they returned to their villages, many of which had no pastor. Many of the pastors had no Bible training. Who would disciple them?

A challenge was given to pray for 3,000 national pastors so that they could reach the 35,000 unreached villages in one South Asian country alone.

Later at the event about twenty pastors were separated into a small group that met under a tree on the conference grounds. There an American pastor sat with these men talking to them about ministry. That picture was the answer to their prayer. The hope for the church of South Asia was pastors who were equipped for the ministry. That thought, coupled with the challenge given, was the birthplace of what is known today as the Timothy Leadership Institute. (TLI)