Beginnings: 2000

In 2000 Imran and Rubina Manzoor began to hold worship services in South Asia with a small group of people in the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Khan. This group took action to effect a formal organization and moved into a rented building.  The aspiring organization held a constitutional meeting in August 15, 2000, and completed their organization on December 12. Their plan was to initiate an outreach ministry.  There were fifteen original members, the majority of whom came from various evangelical churches.

On the organizational day, Rubina Manzoor brought a sermon entitled “Why good deeds are not enough for our salvation and why Jesus came to die?”  The first weekly prayer meeting was also held at the Khan home on Thursday, May 24. It was soon decided to rent a small room in South Asia for $05.00 per month while looking for a permanent site. The first class in the young organization was held March 12, 2001. That same year the group became self-supporting and adopted the name The Discipleship Training Institute.

Expansion: 2000-2002

In March 2002 Imran began seeking ways to expand the ministry to include an emphasis on evangelism and worldwide missions. He announced his intention to lead DTI through a strategic ministry renewal process in 2003.  As a result, there was a shift to a team-based ministry structure, and DTI revised its constitution and bylaws.

In 2003 a mission became known as unreached ministry, but our story was not yet finished. DTI soon began to grow again. By 2010 the organization had established many new ministries, including Evangelism, Gospel Tract distributions, a 1-year Missions & Evangelism Program called (Certificate in Missions & Evangelism Program), an annual retreat, missions, and city-wide efforts to reach the unreached people for Christ. Thus, we were continuing to proclaim the Gospel throughout in South Asia.  

GROWTH AND REACHING OUT: 2000-2006

DTI began to initiate other projects during this time. We started working with other churches in South Asia, and quickly expanded into the large permanent facility in South Asia one year later. In the years following, DTI also sent missionary teams to various part of South Asia. Throughout these years, DTI designated a constitution Sunday on the first Sunday of August each year as a day to celebrate the history of DTI and to thank God for all He has done in our past, for what He is doing today, and for the plans He has for our future.        

CONTINUING TO SPREAD HIS WORD

As we look forward to what God will do in the future of DTI, we are reminded that DTI is more than mere statistics. It is a group of believers in Christ that have come together with a unified purpose: to share the truth of God revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ, and His Word.  DTI leaders have been working on the website, with intentions to launch soon. It will include an online archive of pictures, events, and the life of DTI.

DTI, originally known as Outreach International Ministry, was founded by the Manzoor to facilitate Christian outreach to the non-Christian community. Because the concept of biblical discipleship is not very effective among Christian groups around the world, people do not know what true discipleship is or what is its strategic role in growing believers toward Christian maturity. Imran realized that Christians are not reaching the unreached groups, and that unbelievers are dying without knowing Christ and becoming fully devoted followers of the Lord. Therefore, it is our responsibility to prepare Christians to reach out to the unreached people groups around the globe.

It is undeniable that we need Christ-like servants who have been trained and equipped by God’s Word and Spirit to reach the unreached groups with the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to follow in Jesus’ steps, as He said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21). One of the emphases in DTI’s approach is to train the local church in reaching out to the unreached community. Since 2011, DTI trainers have trained many South Asian Christians in this kind of discipleship and outreach.