Deneen, Operation/U.S. Director, and Sue, Executive Director, will be traveling to India and Bangladesh - the first international COBI trip in 2025! The three-week trip will offer women conferences, and leadership training in both locations.

Chennai, INDIA: March 12^th - March 18^th

Although India is a developing country, it’s also considered underdeveloped because of its high rates of poverty, pollution, outdated caste system, and gender inequality.
Chennai is the capital city of the southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu, and is a thriving hub of manufacturing, technology and healthcare industries
Population is 4,674,000
Hinduism is the predominant religion (80.7%) followed by Islam (9.45%) and Christianity (7.72%) (2011 census)
Chennai is known as “holy” for Christians since St. Thomas the Apostle was martyred here

Cornerstone Church in Audubon, PA was founded by Pastor Visuvasam Dhanaraj and his wife, Val, who are originally from Chennai. Cornerstone and COBI have a close relationship and the church knows the COBI ministry well. Val has scheduled our events in Chennai and will meet us there.

Dhaka, BANGLADESH: March 18^th - March 30^th (just a short flight from Chennai)

Located in Southeast Asia; mostly surrounded by the country of India
A developing country, it’s one of the fastest growing emerging market economies since rebounding from COVID; major exports in textiles; 37% of population work in agriculture
3^rd largest Muslim country in the world with more than 90%; most everyone else is Hindu. Only 0.5%-1.0% are Christians
Despite increasing persecution among Christians and converts, people are coming to faith in Jesus Christ

COBI has partnered with Raton, pastor of Hope Community Church (HCC) of Bangladesh, for the past 6 years. Most people in Bangladesh still live in impoverished communities. Our COBI supporters have generously encouraged our partnership HCC with funds during COVID when food was scarce in Bangladesh. Since then, we’ve raised funds for: a cow farm; goats to distribute to families in the community; Christmas outreaches and land for future worship building sites. More than 6,000 people attended recent Christmas celebrations to hear about the birth of Jesus, with more than 60 people coming to Christ!

Our COBI teams have been in Bangladesh previously for leadership and volunteer training, goat distribution, and teaching many women God’s truths through the COBI Beauty for Ashes conferences.

We are returning to Bangladesh for leadership and volunteer training, goat distribution, and more women conferences. Tucker Else, from Serving Leaders, will be joining us for the 4-day leadership training. His teaching focus will be Ruling Passions. Deneen will be sharing about spiritual formation and leading a day retreat.

India & Bangladesh

COBI International Trip #1

Team Members