By Marcus Rowntree*

INDIA–A baby girl, only a few hours old, is carried to her execution.

The woman who holds her calls herself a midwife, but everyone in this Indian slum knows who she really is: the bringer of death.

As the woman approaches the pressure cooker, the baby’s mother does nothing. She has already paid, after all, about 30 cents for her newborn daughter to be boiled alive. Read the rest of this entry »

May 2 : Obedient Pastor. Recently one local pastor stood and taught more than 40 others how to share Christ among the D Muslims! This is an answer to prayer – to see others trained and rise to the challenge to train still others to make disciples from the D Muslim communities. This has been a rare occurrence due to the historic “separateness” between religious communities in India. Many Christians remain passive towards the Muslim community – but not this one pastor! God has given him a growing passion to see God’s glory cover the D Muslims as the waters cover the sea (see Habakkuk 2:14). Praise God for His answer to prayer: raising up others from within His church as laborers for the field – even training others to do the same!

May 3 : A Long Bus Ride. On the outskirts of a major city, with slum children playing nearby, 40 believers gathered for leadership training. Most had traveled by bus, some for as many as 12 hours, to receive training on church-planting strategies. Thank you so much for praying for these leaders. It was a new experience for many of them, as they were challenged by things they had never heard or thought of before. Please continue praying that they will apply all that they learned about things such as the priesthood of the believer, releasing ministry to the hands of believers, and making things simple so that they can be reproduced and lay leaders can plant churches and train others to do the same.

May 4 : Carpenter Seeks Jesus. Bijoy* is an 18-year-old carpenter who was building some kitchen cabinets when a Christian worker had an opportunity to share with him. After hearing the workers’ story and reading a tract about the Good News, he wanted to know more about Jesus. “He told me on the last day of their work that he wanted to have the kind of relationship with Jesus the Son that I was describing. We made plans to meet again Easter Sunday. That day we knelt at my living room sofa as a symbol of our worship during the most important decision Bijoy would ever make. Right before our eyes, the Easter message came alive! The Son who rose from the dead, conquering sin, and who lives today became a living hope to Bijoy 2,000 years later. He could have continued a pattern of worshipping idols and could have easily chosen to follow any guru of his former faith. Yet, the powerful drawing of God and the desire for internal peace beckoned him to the Resurrected One!” As you offer praise for this young man’s decision, please petition on his behalf for strength and peace in his new faith and for an Indian Christian man who can disciple him.

May 5 : Obedient Followers. This month, please pray for some new followers of Christ in Pakistan who are going back to their homes and villages throughout the country with a heart’s desire to tell their families about their new life in Christ. Ask for wisdom and boldness and for a faith that is lived out daily. Please pray that they will hold steady to the foundation of Jesus. Intercede that their families will come to make this same choice to follow Christ completely.

May 6 : Insight to Action. Please pray for five volunteers who will be coming to SL in May to train 15 to 20 national believers in house church-planting principles. Pray that they will be effective in sharing cross-culturally, in a way that connects with the trainees. Pray that the new insights that are learned will translate into action and that healthy, reproducing house churches will result all across the island.

May 7 : Dirty Water. T planned a baptism for a small group of about 10. He was going to baptize them very near where they live, but they all complained that the water was “dirty.” T asked them where they would like to go. They agreed that a not-too-far-away temple would be best. T told them that if they were not afraid to go there and be baptized, then he surely was not afraid. They went there and took baptism at the temple’s lake/bathing area, as many looked on. Pray that those choosing to follow Jesus throughout South Asia will continue to be bold witnesses for Him in all that they do and say and that many more will follow the Master obediently.

May 8 : Breakthrough. One urban church in the area where the D Muslims live has focused much time in prayer and energy to see them reached. This is an historic breakthrough in the body of Christ in their area. There is much to be learned – how to proclaim the Gospel without turning off the D Muslims is just the beginning – yet they are showing love to the Muslims in their area. They are praying for them. They are sharing the Gospel with them. Many believers tend to be apathetic, but not this church! Give thanks to God for the obedience of His church! Pray that He will lead them to “people of peace” (Luke 10:6) in their community. Ask God to bring a large harvest from that community into loving worship and obedience to God and His Word. Pray that those in the community who desire to harm the church will be thwarted in their efforts. Pray for victory for the church in the urban and rural areas, as they are in the midst of the struggle to obey Jesus, no matter how uncomfortable it may be to share the Gospel with others cross-culturally. 

By Rand Carruth*

KOLKATA, India—Bijoy* chose to follow Jesus on Easter Sunday. The 18-year-old former Hindu, an apprentice carpenter, placed his faith in Jesus as his Savior, rejecting worship of other gods.

I am sounding off an exclamation of praise to our great God! Will you join me? Read the rest of this entry »

April 25 : Discernment Needed. There are a variety of reasons why people come to Christ; God uses all of life’s circumstances to help people become aware of their need for His Son, Jesus. Sometimes people’s responses to evangelism are not for the pure reason to be forgiven…but for help. It really is difficult sometimes to know how best to move forward with such conflicting sets of information. Are people responding to the Gospel message itself, or are they responding to the messenger, hoping to receive some sort of help from them – or is it a combination of both? The church existing in India in the area of the Deccani Muslims faces these challenges. Some Deccani Muslims have come to Christians looking for financial help, for jobs and for friendship. Believers usually respond in love and kindness to these inquiries, but over time many have felt used and even exploited by some who have been presumed seekers. There remains a need to rely on the discernment of the Holy Spirit, which requires an active, listening ear on the part of the church. Please pray that God will help the Indian church to have a posture of being in a position to hear and respond in willing obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 26 : Faithful in Jail. In December 2008, you prayed for S, a Jat believer, when he was in jail. God used him during that time to lead several people to the Lord. In the past year, S has started a new church and has seen a number of people come to the Lord. In December, he was invited to the same jail where he had been incarcerated. The jail authorities allowed him to hold a Christmas program for the prisoners. He and Pastor S shared the good news of Jesus with more than 800 prisoners! Praise God for continuing to use a difficult time in S’s life for God’s own glory. Pray that many of the prisoners will turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. pr4punjabis@topicbox.com; http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 27 : Fragile Fruit Grows. “Praise God for His amazing faithfulness and steadfast love toward the K believers this winter! For the winter months, as you prayed for them, believers lived together, shared almost everything, and met for several hours every day to study the Word, worship and pray. A couple of young men were baptized, as was the daughter of one of the leaders. The daughters and wives of the believers also had a nightly worship and study of the Book of Matthew. God is so good and is finally forming them into the family of God we have been praying for! Please continue to pray for this new and fragile fruit in K. Pray that those who were baptized will continue to grow in faith and courage. Also ask the Father for any doubts or opposition from family members to be silenced by the power and witness of the Holy Spirit among them.”

April 28 : Holy Spirit at Work. Please continue to pray for Muslims in Mumbai whose hearts are being wooed inexplicably but for the Holy Spirit’s presence. Praise God for all He has done and continues to do among them – can we ever be grateful enough for His working in the hearts of those yet unreached? Pray for perseverance and for faith and fearlessness in the hearts of the Muslim-background believers who, weekly, shamelessly share their faith among their Muslim countrymen. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 29 : Finding Jesus. In the capital city of one south Indian state, many of the rickshaw drivers are Muslims. A young woman living here developed a business relationship with one who often picked her up and took her around the city. A few months ago, she gave him a Bible. After his father learned about this, he told the driver to destroy the Bible. Recently this young woman’s parents visited her. As the driver carried them around and watched this family, he became more interested in the Jesus whom they follow. Soon afterward, the driver also became a secret believer. This man’s story is not unique. Please pray for him and for others who have put their trust in Jesus, but who do not know how to tell their families and friends about this life-changing news. Also pray for the driver’s discipleship and need for a supportive Christian community. Ask for his family to tolerate his decision and also embrace Jesus. Recently another young Christian woman was visiting an Islamic bookstore for a research project. The young man working there asked her if she could get him a copy of the Bible. After many attempts, she finally was able to deliver the Bible to him. Please pray that his co-workers will not destroy the book or keep him from reading it. Also pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to his heart and help him understand and believe the truth that he reads. If he comes to faith, pray that he will be able to connect with believers who can disciple him. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 30 : Praise in the Punjab. In February, a number of pastors and leaders were trained in church-planting principles and practices. These pastors were taught how to train others in this material. Each pastor developed a plan of how to use this training material to see new churches started throughout Punjab. Praise God for the vision He is giving each of them to see their people come to a relationship with Jesus Christ! Continue to pray that these pastors will grow strong in God’s truth and that God will move mightily throughout Punjab. Pray for strong, healthy churches to be started, and ask that God will be glorified greatly. pr4punjabis@topicbox.com; http://www.go2southasia.org/

Baptist Press, April 12, 2010: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=32694

By Mark Kelly

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A Christian in Pakistan’s southern Punjab Province was murdered March 9 for refusing to convert to Islam. Rasheed Masih, 36, allegedly was killed with an ax by six Muslim neighbors who reportedly were business rivals.

The six men were charged with torture and murder and an investigation is underway, but the suspects have not been arrested, the Compass Direct news service reported.

Iqbal Masih of the Church of Pakistan told Compass Direct that Rasheed Masih and his brother Asi had been under constant pressure to recant their faith in Christ and become Muslims. Their constant refusal “gradually turned into enmity,” Asi Masih said. The police report two of the suspects had made threats of “dire consequences and death” for six months prior to the murder.

–30–

Mark Kelly is a Baptist Press assistant editor.

By Marcus Rowntree*

INDIA–“So how was India?”

I’ve been trying to imagine how I will respond to that question when I return to the United States, but I can’t even think of where I would begin. How do you describe something that has invaded every part of your being, wrapped itself around your heart, and entwined itself in the very depths of your mind? Read the rest of this entry »

April 18 : Great Commission Challenge. Everyday 65,000 people are born in India and 15,000 die, resulting in a net population increase of 50,000 per day. A Christian leader in India teaches his new believers the “Great Commission,” challenging them to make disciples, baptize and teach all the commandments of Jesus. His goal from April 1 through May 20 is to baptize one million. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move throughout India, convicting men and women of their sins. Pray that Christians throughout India will capture this “Great Commission” vision and be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. Pray that those who follow Jesus will become obedient disciples, faithful in word and deed. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 19 : Family Pressures. Pray for one of our health training teams, made up of national believers, that has been visiting a Muslim village for the past eight months. The team members, young unmarried women, have been facing pressure from their families to stop the work because it is preventing them from generating any income. The women want to continue the work but need to be able to contribute financially to their households. Pray that funding will come from the team’s local Baptist association. Pray that the women will not become discouraged and that their compassion for this Muslim community will grow. Pray that they will choose to continue in the work. Pray that the villagers will hear many stories about Isa alisalam (Jesus) from these women, and that the health training team will soon move forward into the next stage of the community-transformation process. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 20 : Discipleship Begins. In answer to your prayers, eight discipleship groups made up of 12 to 15 new believers are now engaged with Bible study and discipleship training at the hospital. These are students and staff members who chose to follow Jesus during the time of the revival and prayer movement at the hospital that concluded at the end of January. Pray for growth in faith, and pray that each one will tell others about Jesus. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 21 : Unreached in South Asia. Please intercede for O, who represents an unreached people group in the city. He is the first contact among this group that needs to hear the Gospel. Pray that God will draw O to Himself with His lovingkindness and that O will be a witness to his people. Pray for those who will be sharing about Jesus with him. http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 22 : Watching Closely. Bhutanese believers are watched closely – sometimes by government representatives looking for some reason to ostracize them, more often by their neighbors who just want to see how they are different. Pray that our Bhutanese brothers and sisters will exemplify the life described in Psalm 15: “Father, enable Your Bhutanese children to walk blameless before You and before men, giving them wisdom to do what is righteous, to speak the truth from their heart. Keep their tongues free from slander; keep them from doing any wrong toward their neighbors. Let them be men and women who keep their oaths even when it hurts. Steer them away from bribery and unfair business practices. As they live out the Christian life, let them dwell constantly in Your sanctuary and enjoy Your holy presence….” http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 23 : “People of Peace.” “Pray for a new opportunity to share the Gospel and open new relationships through the local tourist industry and wildlife preservation group. We have several short-term groups coming, and our long-term team is getting the chance this month to host several events. Pray for ‘people of peace’ (Luke 10:6) who will hear and respond to the Gospel and want to begin Bible studies.” http://www.go2southasia.org/

April 24 : Women Hearing Stories. Thank you for praying for a group of non-literate Bihari Muslim women who gather regularly to hear Bible stories. The women listened to a series of stories about the Christian life. When it was time to talk about the Lord’s Supper, they learned that this celebration is a special time of fellowship exclusively for those who have decided to follow Jesus. This led to an interesting discussion about whether the women in the group would be able to participate in the Lord’s Supper. Only one of the women had taken water baptism at that point. Praise God that it is not too hard for Him to reach Muslim women deeply involved in their worldview and culture. Pray for these Bihari women as they try to identify for themselves where they are in their spiritual journeys. Please pray that they will make true commitments to follow Jesus. Pray also for the salvation of their families. BihariBride@pobox.com

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–”By the grace of God I am a Christian, by my deeds a great sinner, and by my calling a homeless wanderer, roaming from place to place.”

So begins the 19th-century spiritual classic “The Way of a Pilgrim.” Read the rest of this entry »

By Dara Fullerton*

DELHI, India–Hoping to have their sins washed away, millions of Hindus go on pilgrimage to the four cities of the Kumbh Mela to bathe in their holy rivers when the planets are auspiciously aligned, making the Kumbh Mela the largest religious gathering in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are making their way to Haridwar, India, all hoping to wash away their sins by bathing in the Ganges River during this “auspicious” time. Please pray for the salvation of Hindus celebrating the Kumbh Mela now through April 28.
2. Authorities limit direct Christian witnessing during the Kumbh Mela, but Christians will be on site in Haridwar, praying for Hindu pilgrims and ready to pray with anyone who desires prayer. Please ask the Lord to protect physically and spiritually every Christian attending this year’s mela.
3. During every Kumbh Mela, Hindu pilgrims die. They drown in the rivers; illnesses overcome them; human stampedes crush them. During a 1986 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, about 50 people died when a bridge collapsed. Please pray for the safety and well-being of Hindu pilgrims attending this year’s Kumbh Mela.
4. While the main Kumbh Mela event takes place in Haridwar, the city of Ujjain hosts a smaller or half Kumbh Mela. As you lift up before the living God the Hindus on pilgrimage in Haridwar, please also intercede on behalf of those seeking inner peace in Ujjain, Allahabad and Nasik.
5. As Hindu pilgrims prepare to return home from the Kumbh Mela, please pray that they will grasp that they leave with the same emptiness and uncertainty they had when they arrived. Ask that they in turn will search for truth and will find it in Jesus, the Water of Life.

Download a 60-day prayer guide that focuses on Hindu pilgrims traveling to this year’s Kumbh Mela at http://www.go2southasia.org/all-features/kumbh-mela-pilgrims/.

Find ongoing prayer requests at www.imb.org/compassionnet. Search requests by “strategic ministries” and scroll down to the “South Asian Hindu Festivals” tab.

South Asia Insights Prayer Guides will help you pray for Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jains. View or download them at http://www.go2southasia.org/resource/printables/.

Tracts and other helpful resources for sharing the Good News with Hindus are available at http://www.go2southasia.org/resource/evangelism/ and http://www.4truth.net/site/c.hiKXLbPNLrF/b.2904151/k.D116/Hinduism.htm.