NICO - North India Community Outreach

The headquarters for North India Community Outreach (NICO) is based in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh "the abode of idols" tucked away in the Himalayan ranges of northwest India that rises from 1,500 to 20,000 feet above sea level. It is host to about 6 million people of many tribes. The high peaks and plunging valleys isolate the people who may speak a different language from those in the next village.

Himachal Pradesh is a picturesque land of forests, breathtaking mountain peaks, narrow valleys, and snow-fed rivers. Terraced hillsides, apple orchards and flocks of sheep and goats reflect a restful, rural pace of life. Friendliness and good humor are common traits among hard-working Himachalies. Although the state of Himachal is the least likely place for violence or danger the people here live in a great spiritual darkness.

The "Land of Snowy Mountains" is the literal meaning for Himachal Pradesh. Every mountain peak is named and dedicated to a deity, which testifies to why it is also known as the "land of gods". The state is a major center for pilgrimages with shrines and holy places everywhere. The majority of its population is devoted to idol worship where witchcraft and spirit worship make up the belief system of nearly every inhabitant. The people of Himachal are Hindus, Buddhist and animists. Traditional rituals, ways of thinking, and believing, surround every decision of their lives.

The Beginning of NICO

In 1997, God gave Dinesh Chand a vision to return to his people group living in the mountainous northern Indian state, Himachal Pradesh. Dinesh and his family moved to the area and began to pray for strategic strategy from the Lord. For the next 18 months they sought the Lord for wisdom to reach the unreached people groups of the area. After a vision and confirmations they felt led to train the local indigenous people to reach the unreached areas of North India . By 2001, they had successfully trained 12 pastors that had planted six churches. With this North India Community Outreach was birthed. The growth was unexpected as many were saved and came to NICO’s headquarters sharing dreams and visions the Lord was giving them for reaching their communities. People that were radical Hindus and had been persecuting Christians for years were getting saved and coming into training for the full time ministry.

By 2006, NICO had trained 35 workers that planted 26 churches and witnessed over 2,000 people giving their lives to Christ.

The simple, agrarian lifestyle belies the spiritual darkness dominating this land. The Gospel message is often met with suspicion and resistance upon a first hearing, and there is a great demonic control that terrorizes and destroys thousands of lives; it can be seen in the superstitions and animism that pervade traditional beliefs. Himachal Pradesh is the least evangelized state in India, with less than one believer for every thousand residents. Thousands of villages are still waiting to hear the Gospel of Christ. The harvest is ready in Himachal but the workers are few. There is a true need to see the indigenous people trained to take the Gospel to the many unreached villages in this region.