India is one of the countries we are going to that is NOT a predominately Christian nation, so we need to cover this one in some heavy prayer.
Pray for:
Thank God for what He has done already.
-The restoration of political centrism has meant some increase in religious freedom, economic growth, and some changes in regards to the injustices of the caste system.
-“Praise for continued freedom for Indian Christiansto proclaim the gospel, despite efforts from certain communal and political forces to limit this freedom through legislation, intimidation, and persecution.”
-“Missions, church planting, and research initiatives in India have grown far beyond the humble beginnings in the 1960s, which were largely controlled by foreign groups. Today, over 1,000 Indian mission agencies and church-based initiatives have sent out over 100,000 church planters, evangelists, and social workers ” many of them cross-culturally ” and have planted tens of thousands of Christ-following congregations. Considerable thought and practice are now shaping an Indian Church and society that can follow Christ and live out the gospel in a contextualized fashion.”
Poverty
-“Poverty affects hundreds of millions, often as utter destitution that is far below any arbitrary income level mathematically calculated by international bodies. Recent economic liberalization and initiatives to assist the poorest communities will help India move further in the right direction to significantly reduce poverty.”
-The relationship between poverty and overpopulation. “Children are seen by many as future guarantors of assistance and income ” the more, the better. India’s population issues and poverty issues need to be tackled in tandem.”
The Caste System
-“The Hindu caste system remains a major issue. It has been only partly addressed through constitutional equality, the legal ban on discrimination and affirmative action favoring the underprivileged in education and government jobs. The rising demands by Dalits for their constitutional rights and for a share in the land and wealth of the country, and by tribals for protection of their ancestral lands and ways, are often met by obstruction, intimidation and repression”
-“Pray that the government may wisely handle the realities of casteism and the impoverishment of a large percentage of the population. This includes dealing firmly with violence against Dalit and tribal communities and applying affirmative action to all Dalits, irrespective of their religion.”
-Obviously this has a close tie to the poverty in India. “Most of India’s poorest are from the Dalit/Bahujan/Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, many of them surviving as landless farm labourers. Their landlessness and lack of guaranteed income often lead to debt slavery, which is passed down through generations. Pray for these peoples ��” may they see God’s justice and love demonstrated to them.”
-Pray that the caste system will be abolished and that the Lord will seriously change the hearts and minds of people in higher castes to love and accept people of lower ones.
-Pray that these “untouchables” will understand that they have worth!
Health Concerns
-“Around 40% of children under age three suffer from malnutrition, since inadequate sanitation and lack of clean water multiply the waterborne diseases that impact mostly children and the poor.”
-“In India, an estimated 900,000 people per year die as a result of drinking unclean water or breathing polluted air.”
-“The health sector is overstretched, under-resourced and prone to corruption.”
-“India has the world’s third-largest HIV-positive population and accounts for one-third of the world’s tuberculosis cases. Excellent healthcare and medical training were two of Christianity’s finest contributions to India; these are under threat due to Christian emigration/brain drain. Pray that this important legacy might be preserved.”
Women and Children
-“Children in crisis ��” no country can rival India’s staggering need. Of India’s 400 million children under 15 years old, possibly up to 35 million are orphans. Eleven million are abandoned (90% girls); three million live on the street. There are 20 million child laborers (including many instances of bond slavery to pay family debts)” some estimates claim 50 million. Up to two-thirds of children suffer physical abuse, and one-half some kind of sexual harassment or abuse. Over 1.2 million children are involved in prostitution; many of them are Nepali or Bangladeshi.”
-“Women and girls. Lower literacy and education rates, the dowry tradition, widespread domestic abuse and the evil tradition of temple prostitution all cry out for action. Society’s preference for boys, combined with the illegal application of ultrasound technology, leads to selective abortion of girls and to female infanticide. A female population deficit of 35 million ��” and growing ��” compared to the male population demonstrates the severity of the situation.”
-Pray for the orphans. Pray for the abused. Pray for the slaves. Pray for the prostitutes.
-“Pray that these desperate needs may be addressed through loving Christian ministries and state structures. Pray that attitudes and practices in society, especially toward those most vulnerable, might be changed to reflect God’s care for women and children.”
Hinduism
-“Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religious system. Hinduism, most broadly understood, is a civilizational dynamic incorporating every aspect of life, embracing those who live in or identify with India and its culture. As a religion, it is a pluralistic network of religious beliefs and systems ranging from the philosophical (self-realization), to Vedic-influenced rituals, to popular expression (idols), to village Hinduism (animism, occultism). It absorbs elements of any religion it encounters and is widely regarded as an inclusive religion, one of tolerance and peace. Its global influence is significant through movements such as yoga, Hare Krishna/ISKCON, New Age, Art of Living and others. Many concepts of Hinduism have become part of 21st Century postmodern culture ��” yoga, gurus, karma, dharma, reincarnation and transcendental meditation.”
-“Hinduism has strong cultural appeal, yet in their search for fulfillment and purpose, Hindus still long for true communion with the Creator. Pray that Christians (considered as “Westernâ€�) may demonstrate, in authentic Indian cultural expressions, true spirituality and the transformation Christ brings.”
-“The Christian response may be both biblical and Christ-like, ministering to all oppressed people while rooting out casteism within its own ranks. About 80% of all Christians are of Dalit or tribal communities, and the average Hindu associates Christianity with the underclasses of their society.”
-The churches. Pray that in their outreach they may be sensitive to the caste networks and facilitate people movements to Christ, and that in their fellowship they may work toward elimination of the dividing walls of society. Many churches are themselves guilty of caste-based discrimination.”
-“Hindutva extremism casts a baleful shadow over India. Militant Hindus of the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Durga Bahini, Shiv Sena, VHP and Sangh Parivar have infiltrated their members into every influential part of society, gaining a notable measure of political power and patronage. They are attempting to promote revisionist histories, to institutionalize discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and to control the media. The Hindutva ideology of “India is Hindu onlyâ€� is used to justify intimidation and violence against Muslims and Christians, stigmatizing them as “foreignâ€� faiths.”
-Pray that “communal violence might end, and its instigators repent and find Christ, Christians and Christian leaders might be united and courageous in the face of widespread and localized persecution. Attacks number over 1,000 a year. They are sporadic and concentrated in BJP-ruled states, the “re-conversionâ€� program of Hindu extremists might not succeed and that threatened Christians may stand firm in Christ whatever the cost. Pray that Christians may show the love and forgiveness of Christ to their persecutors.”
Our Ministry
-Pray that we will speak and minister with boldness.
-Pray for our protection as we do face the possibility of persecution.
-Pray that we will show God’s love and no partiality in a place so
-Pray that God will be lifted high above every Hindu god and that we will show grace and love to every Hindu that we meet.
-Pray that God will provide relief, peace, healing and love for those affected by the extreme poverty and disease found in India.
-Pray for salvations.
-LIGHT INTO DARKNESS.
Pray for:
Thank God for what He has done already.
-The restoration of political centrism has meant some increase in religious freedom, economic growth, and some changes in regards to the injustices of the caste system.
-“Praise for continued freedom for Indian Christiansto proclaim the gospel, despite efforts from certain communal and political forces to limit this freedom through legislation, intimidation, and persecution.”
-“Missions, church planting, and research initiatives in India have grown far beyond the humble beginnings in the 1960s, which were largely controlled by foreign groups. Today, over 1,000 Indian mission agencies and church-based initiatives have sent out over 100,000 church planters, evangelists, and social workers ” many of them cross-culturally ” and have planted tens of thousands of Christ-following congregations. Considerable thought and practice are now shaping an Indian Church and society that can follow Christ and live out the gospel in a contextualized fashion.”
Poverty
-“Poverty affects hundreds of millions, often as utter destitution that is far below any arbitrary income level mathematically calculated by international bodies. Recent economic liberalization and initiatives to assist the poorest communities will help India move further in the right direction to significantly reduce poverty.”
-The relationship between poverty and overpopulation. “Children are seen by many as future guarantors of assistance and income ” the more, the better. India’s population issues and poverty issues need to be tackled in tandem.”
The Caste System
-“The Hindu caste system remains a major issue. It has been only partly addressed through constitutional equality, the legal ban on discrimination and affirmative action favoring the underprivileged in education and government jobs. The rising demands by Dalits for their constitutional rights and for a share in the land and wealth of the country, and by tribals for protection of their ancestral lands and ways, are often met by obstruction, intimidation and repression”
-“Pray that the government may wisely handle the realities of casteism and the impoverishment of a large percentage of the population. This includes dealing firmly with violence against Dalit and tribal communities and applying affirmative action to all Dalits, irrespective of their religion.”
-Obviously this has a close tie to the poverty in India. “Most of India’s poorest are from the Dalit/Bahujan/Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, many of them surviving as landless farm labourers. Their landlessness and lack of guaranteed income often lead to debt slavery, which is passed down through generations. Pray for these peoples ��” may they see God’s justice and love demonstrated to them.”
-Pray that the caste system will be abolished and that the Lord will seriously change the hearts and minds of people in higher castes to love and accept people of lower ones.
-Pray that these “untouchables” will understand that they have worth!
Health Concerns
-“Around 40% of children under age three suffer from malnutrition, since inadequate sanitation and lack of clean water multiply the waterborne diseases that impact mostly children and the poor.”
-“In India, an estimated 900,000 people per year die as a result of drinking unclean water or breathing polluted air.”
-“The health sector is overstretched, under-resourced and prone to corruption.”
-“India has the world’s third-largest HIV-positive population and accounts for one-third of the world’s tuberculosis cases. Excellent healthcare and medical training were two of Christianity’s finest contributions to India; these are under threat due to Christian emigration/brain drain. Pray that this important legacy might be preserved.”
Women and Children
-“Children in crisis ��” no country can rival India’s staggering need. Of India’s 400 million children under 15 years old, possibly up to 35 million are orphans. Eleven million are abandoned (90% girls); three million live on the street. There are 20 million child laborers (including many instances of bond slavery to pay family debts)” some estimates claim 50 million. Up to two-thirds of children suffer physical abuse, and one-half some kind of sexual harassment or abuse. Over 1.2 million children are involved in prostitution; many of them are Nepali or Bangladeshi.”
-“Women and girls. Lower literacy and education rates, the dowry tradition, widespread domestic abuse and the evil tradition of temple prostitution all cry out for action. Society’s preference for boys, combined with the illegal application of ultrasound technology, leads to selective abortion of girls and to female infanticide. A female population deficit of 35 million ��” and growing ��” compared to the male population demonstrates the severity of the situation.”
-Pray for the orphans. Pray for the abused. Pray for the slaves. Pray for the prostitutes.
-“Pray that these desperate needs may be addressed through loving Christian ministries and state structures. Pray that attitudes and practices in society, especially toward those most vulnerable, might be changed to reflect God’s care for women and children.”
Hinduism
-“Hinduism is the world’s third-largest religious system. Hinduism, most broadly understood, is a civilizational dynamic incorporating every aspect of life, embracing those who live in or identify with India and its culture. As a religion, it is a pluralistic network of religious beliefs and systems ranging from the philosophical (self-realization), to Vedic-influenced rituals, to popular expression (idols), to village Hinduism (animism, occultism). It absorbs elements of any religion it encounters and is widely regarded as an inclusive religion, one of tolerance and peace. Its global influence is significant through movements such as yoga, Hare Krishna/ISKCON, New Age, Art of Living and others. Many concepts of Hinduism have become part of 21st Century postmodern culture ��” yoga, gurus, karma, dharma, reincarnation and transcendental meditation.”
-“Hinduism has strong cultural appeal, yet in their search for fulfillment and purpose, Hindus still long for true communion with the Creator. Pray that Christians (considered as “Westernâ€�) may demonstrate, in authentic Indian cultural expressions, true spirituality and the transformation Christ brings.”
-“The Christian response may be both biblical and Christ-like, ministering to all oppressed people while rooting out casteism within its own ranks. About 80% of all Christians are of Dalit or tribal communities, and the average Hindu associates Christianity with the underclasses of their society.”
-The churches. Pray that in their outreach they may be sensitive to the caste networks and facilitate people movements to Christ, and that in their fellowship they may work toward elimination of the dividing walls of society. Many churches are themselves guilty of caste-based discrimination.”
-“Hindutva extremism casts a baleful shadow over India. Militant Hindus of the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Durga Bahini, Shiv Sena, VHP and Sangh Parivar have infiltrated their members into every influential part of society, gaining a notable measure of political power and patronage. They are attempting to promote revisionist histories, to institutionalize discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and to control the media. The Hindutva ideology of “India is Hindu onlyâ€� is used to justify intimidation and violence against Muslims and Christians, stigmatizing them as “foreignâ€� faiths.”
-Pray that “communal violence might end, and its instigators repent and find Christ, Christians and Christian leaders might be united and courageous in the face of widespread and localized persecution. Attacks number over 1,000 a year. They are sporadic and concentrated in BJP-ruled states, the “re-conversionâ€� program of Hindu extremists might not succeed and that threatened Christians may stand firm in Christ whatever the cost. Pray that Christians may show the love and forgiveness of Christ to their persecutors.”
Our Ministry
-Pray that we will speak and minister with boldness.
-Pray for our protection as we do face the possibility of persecution.
-Pray that we will show God’s love and no partiality in a place so
-Pray that God will be lifted high above every Hindu god and that we will show grace and love to every Hindu that we meet.
-Pray that God will provide relief, peace, healing and love for those affected by the extreme poverty and disease found in India.
-Pray for salvations.
-LIGHT INTO DARKNESS.
