Rashid Emmanuel, leader of a Christian ministry in a Pakistani slum, and his brother Sajid were gunned down July 19 by suspected Islamic terrorists. The brothers had been accused of "blaspheming" Islam's prophet Muhammad.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=33384

Posted on Jul 21, 2010 | by Staff

FAISALABAD, Pakistan (BP)–Two Pakistani brothers accused of “blaspheming” Islam’s prophet Muhammad were gunned down by suspected Islamic extremists on July 19 in Faisalabad, the country’s third-largest city.

The brothers, Rashid and Sajid Emmanuel, both Christians, were arrested July 10 for allegedly distributing a pamphlet with “disrespectful material” about Muhammad, according to a BBC report on July 20.

Rashid Emmanuel was the leader of United Ministries Pakistan; its website was not operative on July 21. One source on the Internet described United Ministries Pakistan as encompassing several churches, a school and orphanage, a women’s program and other initiatives.

Emmanuel, on a Web profile page, had stated, “We are a group of believers, committed and dedicated to preaching the Word of God and have been helping the poor and downtrodden people of this area for the past 5 years.” According to a UPI report, the ministry was located in the Waris Pura slum, encompassing about 100,000 people in the Faisalabad metro area of 5.4 million people.

Emmanuel’s brother Sajid was described in news reports as a graduate student and one of the ministry’s leaders.

There are conflicting reports whether the brothers were gunned down prior to or after a hearing on the blasphemy charge and whether they were killed inside the courtroom or outside the courthouse. A police official also was critically injured in gunfire leveled by as many as five gunmen, all of whom escaped.

According to the Compass Direct News Service, the gunmen shot the Emmanuels five days after handwriting experts notified police that signatures on materials denigrating Muhammad did not match those of the brothers.

As recounted by Compass, “Expected to be exonerated soon, the two leaders of United Ministries Pakistan were being led in handcuffs back to jail under police custody when they were shot at 2:17 p.m., Christians present said.” The UPI reported, meanwhile, that the brothers were killed prior to their hearing on the blasphemy charges.

Compass reported that Sajid Emmanuel died at the scene of a gunshot to his heart; Rashid Enmmanuel, who was shot in the chest, died later.

The body of Rashid Emmanuel, a 32-year-old leader of a Christian ministry in a Pakistani slum, is removed from the courthouse where he and his brother Sajid were slain July 19. Photo courtesy of Compass Direct News Service.

The brothers’ murders sparked clashes involving ethnic Christians in the Waris Pura slum, police and Muslims, the UPI reported.

After the Emmanuels were arrested on July 10, several hundred demonstrators marched to the Waris Pura slum voicing demands that the brothers be executed, the BBC reported.

Concerning the blasphemy charges, the BBC quoted Atif Jameel, a spokesman for the Pakistan Minorities Democratic Foundation, as stating: “No one in his right mind would issue a derogatory pamphlet against the Prophet and put his name and address on it.”

Jameel added: “This appears to be a conspiracy against peace and religious harmony in Faisalabad.”

According to the BBC, no one has been executed under Pakistan’s blasphemy law, although “about 10 accused have been murdered before the completion of their trial, according to a BBC Urdu correspondent in Lahore. Dozens more are living in exile to avoid punishment under the legislation.”

According to Compass Direct, “The last known Christian to die as a result of a false blasphemy charge was Robert Danish on Sept. 15, 2009. The 22-year-old Christian was allegedly tortured to death while in custody in Sialkot on a charge of blaspheming the Quran. Local authorities claimed he committed suicide.”

Compass reported that the charge against Danish “led to calls from mosque loudspeakers to punish Christians, prompting an Islamic mob to attack a church building in Jathikai village [Danish's hometown] on Sept. 11 and the beating of several of the 30 families forced to flee their homes.”

On July 5, Compass also noted, a Christian husband and wife and son-in-law fled their home in the Lahore area after being accused of blaspheming the Quran. A mob of some 2,000 Muslims tried to burn their house, according to Compass, citing local Christian sources.

Rashid Emmanuel was 32; conflicting reports listed Sajid Emmanuel’s age as 24, 26 or 30.

Human rights and minority organizations in Pakistan have called for seven days of mourning for the Emmanuel brothers, UPI reported.

–30–
Compiled by Baptist Press editor Art Toalston.

July 18 : Medical Work Opens Doors. Dr. J, for whom you have been praying, continues to grow in her faith and is actively leading others to faith. The group that meets in her house is considering conducting some medical clinics in villages where there is no church or witness at present. Pray for wisdom in their planning, and ask that a volunteer medical team will come to work alongside them in the near future. Pray that this medical work will open many more doors in this rural area.

July 19 : Obedient Gurungs. There is a group of local Gurung believers who meet weekly to worship and make plans for their next trip into the villages to share the Gospel. Pray that they will continue to obey Christ in their passion to reach their own people for Jesus. Pray that those who accept Him will grow strong and share in their own villages, as well as those villages neighboring theirs.

July 20 : Family Follows Jesus. In May, you prayed for some new followers of Christ who were going back to their homes with a heart’s desire to tell their families about their new life in Christ. God heard this cry! Multiple people in one of these families made decisions to give Jesus full control over their lives. Please pray for this family as they learn what it means to live daily as a disciple of Jesus. Ask that they will have a strong foundation, and pray that many more members of their family, as well as neighbors around them, will make this same decision.

July 21 : Lost Souls in Sri Lanka. It was the Day of Prayer and Fasting for World Evangelization. Three children in an international Christian family sat around an outline map of their island. As they listened to Psalm 67, “May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You” (Psalm 67:1-3, HCSB), they began to list the names of everyone they could think of whom they knew in SL who did not praise Jesus. From former neighbors to guesthouse workers, tuk-tuk (a passenger motorcycle) drivers, Montessori teachers and classmates, soccer-field buddies, restaurant waiters . . . the list grew and grew. At one point, one of the children said, “That sure is a lot of names!” But it wasn’t just names, the mother explained. It represented souls of people who, should Christ come that night, would live an eternity without Jesus. Just as the children lifted up these names before the throne, would you call out to God on their behalf as well? You cannot see the names, but our Creator God knows each one of these whom He has been pursuing. Pray that seeds that have been planted along the way will produce a harvest that causes this nation to know the salvation of their Redeemer. Continue to pray for international Christians to learn the language in a way that better equips them to speak to the hearts of the lost.

July 22 : Overcoming the Fear Factor. A cross-cultural representative in Gujarat reports: “I was in a town Sunday of approximately 80,000 people that, until recently, had no believers. I met in a small room with 80 people, with another 70 people on the outside. We sat on the floor and sang spiritual hymns in their heart language, and then a pastor and I taught. Not all attending were believers, but many were, and most of those were fairly new in the faith. One challenge we face is the fear factor. Pray that these people will have a strong faith in God that overcomes fear and leads them to tell others the Good News.”

July 23 : Play Produces Fruit. Last month you were asked to pray that those who saw a play about the crucifixion of Jesus would seek to know more about Him. Give thanks to the Lord that those involved in the production of the play report that a Bible study group has formed from those who saw the play and asked for a deeper understanding. Also, they are continuing to receive phone calls and email messages from seekers who are asking to meet and learn more about Jesus. Please continue to pray for fruit to come from this sharing.

July 24 : Openness in Village. “In April, a team of volunteers conducted water testing and water health programs in a North Indian Muslim village. This is a community that our health-training team has been working in for the past year. Because the health-training team is made up of women, they interact primarily with the women and children in the village. Male volunteers were able to have good discussions with many of the men in the village, including community leaders. Many of them seemed to be seekers of the Truth and were very open to stories of Jesus. We rejoice in the openness of this village! Please pray that our health-training team and community-development workers will continue to be bold and wise witnesses in this community. Pray that families in this community will be restless until they know the Truth. Pray against opposition that has already arisen. Ask the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of these villagers, and pray that soon we will see a church of new believers planted in this village.”

July 11 : Chariot Festival. “On Tuesday, July 13, thousands of Hindu devotees will make their way to Puri, a city in India’s State of Orissa, to take part in Rath Yatra. Also known as the Chariot Festival, Rath Yatra features the movement of three large idols from one temple to another temple a little over a mile away. Hindus believe that to catch a glimpse of the main idol grants deliverance from the cycle of death and rebirth. The chariots carrying the idols are 43 to 45 feet high and must be pulled through the streets by priests using giant ropes. Thousands of spectators join them, hoping for special merit from their efforts. Every 12 years, the wooden idols must be replaced by new ones.” The prophet Isaiah warned Israel to forsake their idols of wood and turn to God and be saved. Pray that Hindus celebrating Rath Yatra will realize that their idols of wood cannot save them from death. Pray that they will learn about the one true God who loves them and does not require them to earn merit, but simply to believe in His Son, Jesus. “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22, HCSB).

July 12 : Expecting Fruit in Kolkata. Please pray for B, who is a young professional man in the city of Kolkata. Believers have been sharing with him about Jesus Christ for the last several months. Pray that God’s truth will bear fruit in his heart and that he will come to believe in Jesus. B is a Gujarati, which is a people group in the city that is not being reached.

July 13 : “This God Jesus.” Praise God for His amazing work in G city! Thank Him for answering prayer! A member of the strategy coordinator (SC) church recently returned from the city with an amazing testimony from the believers. A Hindu man in the city is an influential member of one of the Hindu temples. He had two sons, but the eldest inexplicably died. The father was distraught and asked the priest at the Hindu temple to ask the Hindu gods what he, the father, could do to keep his youngest son safe. The priest prayed and offered sacrifices for several days with no response. Then one night the priest had a dream while he was asleep. In the dream, he was face to face with one of the Hindu goddesses. He asked the goddess what the father could do so that the gods would keep his youngest son safe. The goddess said that the gods do not have the power to do that. She said that “only the god Jesus” could keep him safe! The priest immediately woke up. He didn’t know what to do. The next night he had the same dream. In the morning, he went to one of the Baptist churches in G city and asked if he could get the holy Scriptures that teach about “this god Jesus”! Please pray that this priest will come to know Jesus as Savior. Pray that God will continue to move in the city to bind Satan and to make His name known among the lost!

July 14 : Families of Peace. Several volunteer teams will be coming throughout the summer to serve in South Asia. Pray for safety in travel. Pray for open doors. Pray for “families of peace” (families who will open their hearts and lives to the Good News). Pray for house churches to spring forth for God’s glory throughout South Asia. “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:11, ESV).

July 15 : South Asians Everywhere. Have you noticed South Asians living and working in your city? Their clothing and thick accents seem to make them stand out as unique, but in fact, their numbers are growing. Millions of South Asians have emigrated to the United States and Canada, the Caribbean islands, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Please pray for volunteer teams this summer who are making contact with South Asian immigrants through Vacation Bible School outreach, Scripture distribution, medical clinics, sports activities, distribution of “JESUS” film DVDs, and nightly worship and preaching. Please pray that the Father will give many South Asian immigrants to Jesus (John 6:37), and that Jesus will build His church among South Asians wherever they live.

July 16 : Dreaming Big. This spring, the leaders of the team ministering among Bihari Muslims were invited to write their dreams for the Bihari ministry in a project proposal. Hesitant and with little faith, they started writing and adding up figures, growing more excited as they went on. Surely God’s dreams for the Bihari people are far bigger, and He can make it happen. Recent unexpected political changes for the Biharis suggests that the time is ripe for the Biharis. Please pray that God will bring to pass all things that He has in store for the Biharis. Pray that Christian believers from different organizations will be alert to the new opportunities for the Biharis. Pray also that the Biharis will be open for social, cultural and spiritual change. BihariBride@pobox.com

July 17 : Bihari Child Still Lives. You have prayed faithfully throughout the years for P, a Bihari Muslim-background believer who serves the Lord joyfully, and for his family and their health. When their second child, M, was born, your prayers sustained the family when doctors could not figure out why the baby was vomiting incessantly. After the diagnosis that her tiny body could not absorb fat and protein, you continued holding up the family in prayer, asking for healing and good medical care. Give thanks to God that M is nearly 7 years old and is completely healthy! Now she and her older sister, F, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their newest sibling. Please pray that P’s wife, V, and the child she carries will remain in good health and that the delivery will go well. Ask that the child will grow to love and honor the Lord. Pray also that every Bihari child born will hear the Good News. BihariBride@pobox.com

July 4 : Attacker’s Heart Softens. S graduated from the Leadership Equipping and Development (LEAD) program years ago and has become a well-known and well-respected Christian leader. He has been instrumental in equipping many young men to serve the Lord as pastors and church leaders. In late 2008, he and a team were showing a film about Jesus in a village when a group of radical Hindus attacked them, damaging the vehicles and equipment and physically beating S and his co-workers. They were charged with converting people and faced the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. The court proceedings have dragged out for months, but in the meantime, the heart of the leader of the attackers has softened and he has become friends with S. The charges may be dropped. Praise God for how He has used this situation to His glory, and pray that all the attackers will come to know and love the Jesus whom S loves and serves. Pray for S and his wife as they continue to serve the Lord faithfully without reserve.

July 5 : Perseverance Needed. There are more than 25 million Sindhi people in Pakistan, but there are very few believers in Jesus bringing the Good News to those who are lost. There are Sindhi seekers who want to meet and study the Bible but who live far from believers. Please pray for access for laborers and for more like-minded co-laborers for those involved in the Sindhi harvest. Please pray for perseverance for the laborers, who often are enduring power cuts for 13 hours a day in temperatures of up to 125 degrees. Praise God that Sindhi believers are meeting together for a special fellowship this month, in answer to your prayers!

July 6 : Pakistan Landslides. Landslides are a common occurrence in North Pakistan in spring and summer as winter snows begin to melt. On Jan. 4, a major landslide occurred near a remote mountain village. The landslide took the lives of 20 villagers and left many more homeless. The Karakorum Highway leading to China remains blocked while teams work to clear the debris and repair the road. The landslide blocked the flow of the Hunza River, and a lake currently more than16 kilometers long and 100 meters deep has formed upstream of the site. Engineers have constructed a spillway to reduce the possibility of a sudden outflow of water, which potentially could cause severe damage to villages located downstream. For the time being, the spillway seems to be working and is not eroding as quickly as officials first thought. But there will continue to be a possibly catastrophic flow of water throughout the summer and fall of 2010. Please ask the Father to use this for His good purpose and draw many to Himself. Pray that those who have lost loved ones will seek out the one true Comforter. Pray for believers in this area to have the wisdom to know how to help and show the love of Christ to those who are hurting.

July 7 : Summer Students. Pray for the 40 students who have committed to serve throughout India this summer. Ask the Father to strengthen them, speak through them, change them, and use them for His glory in this country. Pray that the seeds planted by the students will grow to fruition in His time, and petition for good follow-up in the months to come. Pray that these students will return to the United States as ambassadors for the King among South Asians living in the United States.

July 8 : Stories for a Purpose. Everybody loves a good story, and in South Asia, stories are the very heart of the culture. That is why telling and training nationals to share stories from the Bible is so well-received. In the month of July, one national, A, will be conducting two different story trainings. He will share Bible stories and teach others to share Bible stories and, in so doing, share the greatest story ever told. Please pray that much fruit will come from these trainings. Pray that the lost will be found and churches will be planted among the V.

July 9 : Guide Their Steps. Summer in the United States always brings teams to Mumbai. But Mumbai is in the midst of the monsoon season, with a potential for flooding and days without the ability to move through the city. Please pray for those whom God has called to come to Mumbai on short-term teams this monsoon season to be entirely submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit – from the moment they say yes to the team. Ask God to lead each one to “men and women of peace” (Luke 10:6) in whose hearts God has already been at work. The city is filled with people who are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Parsee or Buddhist . . . filled! Regardless of where the teams travel in the city, or who their planned contacts and focus people are, pray that God will place them face-to-face with those who have been waiting to hear the Truth. Pray, too, for follow up, for without someone to return to those who hear, much fruit may simply disappear.

July 10 : Tumbling Walls. When you look down the street, do you see men wearing turbans, strolling with women in saris? In three new suburban housing areas west of a major city in Canada, approximately 25 percent of the new residents are expected to be South Asian immigrants holding to one of three major world religions. There are spiritual walls separating immigrant people from Christ, and even from simply hearing the Gospel of Christ. By keeping mostly within their own ethnic and religious networks, they have minimal contact with those who love Jesus and are His witnesses. On July 9-17, a volunteer team from North Carolina will sow seeds by distributing multi-language “JESUS” film DVDs and Bible portions to the 5,000 new homes. They also will serve neighborhoods by providing “family fun” activities at the parks. Please pray for these volunteers to be given physical and spiritual strength, safety in their travel, and opportunities to share the words of Jesus and what wonderful things He has done for them. Please pray that as God did at Jericho, He will again cause “walls” to crumble and fall, and that each home will receive the Good News of Jesus. “Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, HCSB).

June 13 : Faith Like Potatoes. “One time . . . what would it take for Bangladesh’s millions of Muslims to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel just one time? We need access, we need bold witnesses for Him, we need materials, but most of all, we need a move of God. There is a great movie entitled ‘Faith Like Potatoes.’ In the movie, the main character says, ‘The condition for a miracle is difficulty; however, the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.’ It is impossible for us to get to each of Bangladesh’s millions with the Gospel. However, with God, nothing is impossible and, thus, we are praying for a great move of His Spirit to cover Bangladesh. Pray with us that the millions lost in their sins will have at least once chance to hear of the awesome God who died for their sins and came to rescue them from the clutches of death. Pray Isaiah 60:1-3 for Bangladesh: ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.’ May Bangladesh rise out of the darkness and into His light. May the harvest be ripe and the workers be plentiful, for His glory.”

June 14 : Tharu Need Jesus. Followers of Animism, Tharu families will offer the blood of pigeons or chickens as a sacrifice to their gods. Many also use the blood of a male family member; in ritual ceremonies, superficial cuts are made to the forehead, arms, throat, legs or chest. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict the Tharu of their need for a Savior so that they may fall on their knees, crying, ‘What must we do to be saved?’ (Acts 16:30, NASB). May God’s Word be the light for their paths to reveal to them that it is through faith in His Son that they are saved.

June 15 : Spirit At Work in the Slums. A group of new believers has started to gather together in a slum area outside of a major city. The pastor who began working with them lives in another state and is unable to meet with them consistently. Please pray for the quick development of leaders within the group. Also pray for many other groups to form as these believers share throughout their area. pr4punjabis@topicbox.com

June 16 : Fruit in Bangladesh. In recent years, a few Bihari Muslim men and women have come to faith in Jesus and confirmed their faith by following the Lord in baptism. Considering the hard ground of a 100-percent Muslim people group in the Indian subcontinent, this is a miracle. Each new believer has his or her own story, and each has paid a price for his newfound faith. For several reasons, it is difficult for them to meet together or even to keep in touch with those who have led them to Jesus. Many have very little knowledge about God’s Word. Please pray that their hearts will not grow cold. Ask that they will find opportunities to meet with other believers. Pray for faithfulness and creativity as Christian workers try to bring encouragement and teaching to the new believers wherever they are.

June 17 : Bangladesh or the Beach? Summer 2010: College students with a mission halfway around the world. Multitudes of people, millions of rickshaws and a Muslim majority make Dhaka, Bangladesh, a little off the tourist circuit. However, to those whose hearts are sold out to God, it is a field ripe for the harvest. Two groups of university students have answered the call and are coming to spend their summer investing in the lives of Dhaka’s university students. Though Bangladesh is known for poverty and Islam, its university students are seeking an opportunity to spread their wings and fly. They have one foot in their homeland and tradition and the other foot in the West, where they believe anything is possible. It is a moment in their lives where they are open to new things and willing to test the waters to find out what is real and true. They are the nation’s future, and now is the time to influence them for Him. Student volunteers will brave the crowds and stares to befriend these young people and show them the love of Christ. Please pray that God will do God-sized things through their obedience and willingness to follow Him to the ends of the earth. Pray that doors will be opened for future university ministry in the city. Pray that God’s Spirit will bring these university students to Himself and that a nation will be changed because of it. Summer 2010: An opportunity to influence a nation for Christ. Wow! Who needs the beach?

June 18 : Undivided Mind. “Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name” (Psalm 86:11, HCSB). Pray for new believers in Bhutan as they learn more about God and His ways. Pray that they will understand His Word and apply it to their lives. Ask God to give them undivided minds so they will ever and only worship Him.

June 19 : Seeking in Canada. He hopes to be a medical doctor someday. His family emigrated from Pakistan when he was a boy, and now H is a pre-med student at a university. Brought up to follow a major world religion, he is wary of Christians who try to “convert” him. However, at the urging of R, a good friend of like faith, he dropped into a small-group Bible study and discussion on campus. The topic was “Who is Jesus? What did He say?” from the Gospel of John. The mixture of spiritual and intellectual ideas discussed in an informal atmosphere attracted H. Off and on for the past six months, he has visited the weekly study and discussion. He recently said, “I thought the main idea of the Christian message was to embrace a religion. Until I joined this study, I never knew that it was about following Jesus. I want to learn more about Jesus.” Please pray that both H and his friend R will be given the faith that comes from hearing the message about Christ (Romans 10:17). Pray that their eyes will be opened to see Jesus as the only way to the Father. (John 14:6)

Baptist Press, Oct. 30, 2009: http://bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=31574

By Staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Lives are being turned from darkness to light in more than 30 countries through WorldCrafts, an ongoing artisan ministry coordinated by Woman’s Missionary Union.

WMU encourages Southern Baptists to consider WorldCrafts, to support a ministry that has helped thousands of neglected women embrace fulfilling careers as artisans. Read the rest of this entry »

By Lincoln Willett*

“When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you” (Isaiah 43:2b, NASB).

JHARIA, India–How long has it been since you walked through the fire?

Maybe you have recently watched someone you love battle addiction or sickness. This is certainly a fire to walk through. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dara Fullerton*

MUMBAI, India–Agni* is 12-year-old boy who is innovative and musically gifted but sadly also nonliterate.

His mother is a housewife, his father an auto rickshaw driver. A poor family, they live in a small, single-room home in the middle of a slum. Piles of trash border the slum where women dig deep, hoping to find something of use. Read the rest of this entry »

By Dara Fullerton*

DELHI, India–Halfway through his music set at a popular club in India, blues and rock musician Sean Michel began to play his soulful rendition of Amazing Grace, strumming his guitar in his blues-style fashion for several chords before piping out the lyrics to the famous hymn.

“We just try to connect with the spiritual part of a person through the music and hopefully to communicate the truth of the Gospel after we’ve connected with them,” Jay Newman, Michel’s manager and friend, said. Read the rest of this entry »

May 23 : Drawn to Jesus. In a small Gujjar (pronounced goo-jer) village, children and women gather in a hut to learn to read and write Urdu, the national language. All the women are non-literate, and the families have no money to send their children to school. Besides, there is so much work to be done that the children don’t have time to go to school. Every day their herds of water buffalo have to be milked, the dried manure chips have to be gathered for fire fuel, clothes have to be washed and hung to dry, and food has to be cooked for the family – all before they can sit down for their lesson. Representatives have been visiting this village for some time and are well-respected. Recently representatives were able to show the “JESUS” film to the class, and even some of the men of the family joined in to watch. As they have seen love lived out in the life of Christ, please ask the Father to draw them to Himself, and pray that through His Spirit, His church will be established.

May 24 : Census Begins. On April 1, 2010, India began the process of counting and fingerprinting every citizen in the country as part of the 2010 census. The Home Minister states, “This is the first time in human history that an attempt is being made to identify, count, enumerate and record . . . 1.2 billion people.” Praise the Lord that our heavenly Father knows every one of these people and sent His only Son to die for their sins so they might have eternal life! Pray that each one of them will have the opportunity to hear the Good News.

May 25 :  New Opportunities. Praise God! He is leading Christians to begin a new project in India that has the primary goal of impacting marginalized people with God’s love. The project is in a city where many Bihari Muslims reside. It will include a school for children who live in a slum. An Indian church-planting partner who lives near the slum will oversee the operations of this school. The overall project will provide access to hundreds of families who need to hear the Gospel, an education for children who need freedom from the cycle of poverty, and sustainable income-generating projects to improve the quality of life for these poor families. Please pray that the commitment of these Christians will provide an open door into the hearts of the families and meet both physical and spiritual needs. Pray that they will find godly teachers and staff who will truly minister in the name of the Lord.

May 26 :  Seeking Obedient Students. “We have developed a comprehensive teaching on how to reach Muslims in North India and are now actively looking for places to teach the material and interested people to teach. Although we would love to have 100 percent participation, we would much rather teach this course to people who will put it to use. The full course is four days per month for five months. Please pray that committed people will be taught and that God will bless their efforts as they go out and reach people for Christ.”

May 27 : Family of Peace. In March, three groups of pastors, lay leaders, and church members were trained in how to plant churches. During the training, the trainees were asked to come up with a list of people and places that need to be engaged with the Gospel. Give thanks to God that the trainees took this seriously, made lists, and are seeking ways to engage these areas. One woman in particular asked representatives to go to a nearby village and have an evangelistic meeting. A “family of peace” (Luke 10:6) offered up their home for that meeting. Please pray for the salvation of that household. Pray for a church to be started in that village and for leaders to be raised up from among the villagers.

May 28 :  Greatest Story Ever Told. Stories are important to the V people. They represent 20 percent of the population of one state, and all of them are oral learners. Many are non-literate and uneducated. Because of this, there is a huge need to share the Good News through stories in a way that the stories can be told and retold, and passed from person to person. In the coming months, some leaders will be training national partners in how to “craft” Bible stories. That means taking a story from the Bible and putting it in the story form of the people, using words they recognize and understand, so they will learn it and tell the story over and over. Please pray for the three places where this training will begin. Ask the Holy Spirit to be the guide, and pray that because of these efforts, many will have a chance to hear and respond to the greatest Story ever told.

May 29 : Hospital Growth. Thank you for praying for the meeting of the hospital’s Governing Board. The board members were positive about the work of the hospital, its growth, and the physical and spiritual care it is providing to a large population. Pray for the hospital leaders as they carry out the decisions made.  Pray for a new chaplain who is joining the staff of the Pastoral Care Department of the hospital.  Pray for his witness, ministry to patients and staff, and his leadership in these coming months.