The day was unexpectedly warm for February in Northern Virginia. Satish Moses did not know what to expect at the ministry conference he was driving toward. A local pastor had briefly mentioned a church planting conference, but Moses had forgotten to pre-register. That morning, his wife, Salome, encouraged him to go, since conferences, if not full, sometimes allow same-day registration. When Satish arrived, only staff members were present. They assured him he was most certainly welcome. Because he had arrived early, the conversation quickly moved beyond pleasantries and into personal backgrounds.
Satish Moses was born into a Hindu family in a farming community in India. The family was lower-middle class, having lost some of their previous prestige and wealth. Moses’ father invested all his remaining hopes in his son’s future through education. Moses excelled in school, pursuing an engineering path, and for most of his life he seemed on track to make his father proud.
However, while attending a university nearly 800 miles from his home, Moses encountered a group of unusual students. More than the typical student, they seemed more pious and studious and wore fewer ornaments. These students spoke openly about their faith in Jesus. During a conversation with one of them, Moses explained that he had recently shaved his hair to debase himself and earn favor from the Hindu gods. Her response startled him: “If you are going to earn the gods’ favor in this way, why not go farther? Why not cut and scar yourself and make yourself completely ugly?”
That question, along with continued interactions with Christians, eventually led Moses to place his faith in Jesus.
For Moses, salvation and calling were intertwined and instantaneous. He began to focus his entire life to following Christ. His family reacted with shock and shame at his conversion. Viewing Christianity as a religion for the lower castes, Moses’ new devotion to Christ shattered his father’s dream of his son’s future lucrative business earnings.
Moses did not immediately abandon his studies. He came to the United States to pursue graduate studies in computer engineering and married his pastor’s daughter, Salome. For a time, Moses and his wife worked full-time in information technology while trying to have a ministry primarily for South Asian students at George Mason University.
Trying to balance full-time careers, a growing family, and ministry quickly became overwhelming. Eventually, Moses decided to leave his IT career to focus fully on ministry. Raising ministry support proved challenging, especially within his cultural group. He sought ministry partnerships, but several attempts were discouraging.
On that warm day in February 2025, Satish Moses attended the SBC of Virginia and Send Network Virginia Church Planting Summit. Throughout the day, vision casting and church-planting training opportunities were presented with a strong emphasis on partnership. One message, in particular, resonated deeply with Moses: SBCV’s reminder, “You Are Not Alone.”
Within weeks, Moses applied to become a Send Network Virginia church planter, connected with a sending church, Impact Church in Chantilly, Virginia, and was on his way to a Send Network Assessment. After receiving a “ready” designation, Moses began training with the Send Network D.C./NOVA cohort.
One year later, their church, Agape Church in Chantilly, Virginia, is steadily building its foundation and developing leaders. Already, Moses and Agape Church are working with Staples Mill Road Baptist Church to multiply another South Asian church in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Moses describes his connection with SBCV as God’s way of adding depth and understanding to the missional zeal God had already given him. Through partnership with SBCV, he has received leadership training that will equip his emerging leaders to avoid some of the early struggles he faced while ministering alone.
He loves SBCV’s church planting vision and the reminder that the missionary task is not to start a worship service first but to engage the city with the Gospel. Satish Moses would love to share his testimony and passion for ministry multiplication with your church. ●
