Exloring Life Eternal

CHRISTIAN LEADERS CALL FOR PRAYER: over increased violence against Christians

Increased violence against Christians in parts of India recently has Christian leaders calling for urgent prayer.

...

"The Taliban used force to exert stringent control over the entire nation of Afghanistan," Gospel for Asia founder and president K.P. Yohannan said. "And that is exactly what is happening in India -- a radical minority is attempting to 'Hinduize' a nation of over one billion people."

Currently, 14 innocent Christians languish in Alirajpur prison without bail for the last two years. They are all accused of murdering Arjun Pal, one of the Hindutva brigades "martyrs." However, witnesses have said that many of the Christians were not even present at the scene at the time of the violence. Pal was accidentally shot by his own party people during the destruction of the mission school and the private property of Christians.

On Monday, February 27, high-profile Hindu Nationalist Party leaders, including Shivraj Chouhan from Madhya Pradesh, Vijaya Raje Scindia of Rajasthan and Narendra Modi will inaugurate the statue of Pal in Madhya Pradesh.

"I am requesting that you please multiply this prayer request so that on the 27th the demonic activity will be replaced with God's miraculous glory," a Christian leader in Madhya Pradesh said in an e-mail prayer appeal to WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK.

"The day these 14 are released from prison, I would surely feel I have accomplished my greatest goal on earth," she added. "Yes, only prayers would bring answers to our petitions and supplications for these victims, including the four other brothers and sisters, who are in Dhar jail."

Yohannan called upon Believers to fast and pray for the persecuted Church in India -- in order to see a breakthrough that will bring millions into the kingdom.

"Today, India is at a crossroads," he said, "and we as believers in Jesus have the opportunity to help make an impact on this nation that will last for eternity."

Samuel Thomas of Hopegivers International asked Christians everywhere to pray that revival would break out in India and that the enemies of the Gospel would be confounded.

"Please use your influence to prompt governments of other countries to say a word to our government leaders to provide protection for the orphan children in our homes, and for pastors and their families," he said. "We need justice for Christians in India."

"The believers in Christ in India are asking their brothers and sisters around the world to lift us up in prayer, as we face severe persecution," Thomas added. "We want to continue to brag about our Lord Jesus until our last breath. Pray, pray, pray, and pray more for the persecuted believers and leaders in India."

Prayer Points

Please pray:

The demonic forces driving these attacks against Christians to be thwarted. Pray that the increased violence against Christians will subside.

All Indian Christians who are in jail on false charges. Pray that God will sustain and strengthen them. Pray for justice and freedom, especially the 14 in Alirajpur prison.

The salvation of members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Pray that attempts by Hindu extremists to make India a Hindu nation will stop.

The persecuted Christians and leaders affected by the recent violence to continue to fix their eyes on Jesus. Pray that God will uphold and sustain them and that they would find comfort and refuge in Him.

Churches that have been targeted by Hindu extremists. Pray that God will give wisdom to those in positions of leadership as they seek to respond to these attacks. Pray also that God will give them grace to love their enemies. Pray that Christian churches will be safe places and not sites of vandalism or arson.

Christians in India who are under pressure to renounce their faith to stand strong. Ask God to give them faith and hope in the midst of such great difficulties. India has jumped from No. 34 to No. 26 in the 2006 Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer most for their faith. Pray that Christians will stay strong in the faith with the support of prayers and support from the West.

The call for a nationwide anti-conversion law to fail, and that anti-conversion laws in some states would be repealed. Pray that God will give people across India freedom to come to know Him and to worship God openly. Pray also that anti-Christian rallies will not inflame communities.

Christians in the media. Ask God to give them integrity as they report unfolding events. Pray that God will help them to exercise great wisdom and sensitivity in the way in which they report.

God to protect the innocent tribal people who have been faithfully following Christ, and for the missionaries who are ministering among them, bringing them God's hope for a new life that has been denied by the Hindus for centuries.

The House Church to grow in India. Pray that God will give House Church leaders wisdom, knowledge and understanding in shepherding their flocks. Pray for God's divine protection.

Sources: Assist News Service, Compass Direct, Gospel for Asia, Hopegivers International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors USA.

Written in response to someone who requested info about how to witness to Hindu's. Namely, what Hindu "bible" to read.

=====
Familiarity with the basic outline of Biblical history & then understanding the basic sorts of Hinduism would be MUCH MORE HELPFUL than trying to read Hindu anthologies since the Hindu "holy" book_s_ are rather extensive & encyclopedic.
Vedas.
Upanishads.
Poems, including: Bhagavad Gita. was popularized by street flower
peddlers. (A rather perverse work, actually.) ...
... These books roughly pile up like the Islamic Hadiths. Traditions
have a way of accumulating like that & becoming rather burdensome.

A simple Bible study that both gives an overview of Hinduism & answers
from the Bible. Prayer & meditating on the Biblical passages would
help in applying the significance of the Truth to conversations with
the doctor:
http://www.biblestudylessons.com/cgi-bin/gospel_way/hinduism.php

This site gives historical background on Christianity in India that may help understand how to reach the doctor better, understanding the barriers that are present:
http://www.hindubooks.org/sudheer_birodkar/hindu_history/christianity.html

I would highly recommend works by Stanley Jones who reached out to
Hindus (& others) in India. His biography, "Song of Ascents" has some
excellent material: keep a keen sense of humor & follow the Holy
Spirit's lead.

Books available @
http://www.christianbook.com/

Sharing Your Faith With a Hindu
By: Madasamy Thirumalai

To learn about what Hinduism is:
Responses to 101 Questions on Hinduism
By: John Renard

Hinduism, TM and Hare Krishna
- Zondervan Guide to Cults & Religious Movements Series
By: J. Isamu Yamamoto, James Bjornstad, Kurt Van Gorden

Some other divisions within Hinduism I did not see on the site above:
Different yogas / works / disciplines:
- Intellectual: Brainpower. Meditation. This sort of stuff is popular
in modern "academic" medicine & they even put on shows for people
demonstrating the ability to control brainwaves.
- Rituals & recitations: Elaborated in & enscribed in the the Vedas,
etc.
- Work: Traditionally, according to caste.
- Excercise: Sort of like the Islamic salat at the mosque & the American
workout at a gym or Chinese movements before work.)

Castes (partly job description in traditional society, partly limiting
opportunities for the "underlings" of today):
Priestly, Warrior, Workers, Farmers, Outcastes (Tribal Groups &
Christians have traditionally been put here in India. Ghandi endorsed
this approach when he helped set up "modern" India ... thus, he
actually set the course for contemporary persecution.)

- There are local demons that are worshiped in small shrines. (Tended
by a family member if it is for a family or a priest if it is for the
village.)
- Major events at the junctures of rivers in India. (Millions of
people.)
- Various holidays. (Some of which become orgiastic opportunities to
draw people in using Balaam's methodology.)
- Idolatry is typically a central feature & would need to be addressed,
even with most M.D.'s in the USA. Love of money, for example.

Hinduism is actually more like a nationalistic religion centered in
India, for most folk, though places influenced by India (Nepal,
Pakistan & Bangladesh, and Bali also has some Hindu-type temples.) It
is a very degraded & degrading religion, more so than Islam in some
ways.

The advice Paul gives the Galatians in chapter 6 seems rather relevant:
be careful not to fall into the same sin yourself in seeking to pull
them out. The "Galatians" were from a similar background as Hindus:
pagan idolatry.

Pray, pray, pray. Honest love & patient pursuit of the Great Physician tend to be a solid witness to Hindu doctors. Don't give up. Jesus is Lord. Hinduism will fall.

Also, there are some linguistically & culturally appropriate Christian films that were produced by Indians.

Peace in Christ,
Mert

Tibet – Pray for Christian Believers to find ways to express the Good News of Jesus Christ in ways that are meaningful to Buddhists.

Mongolia – Pray that the young Christian Church will be taught the Word of God and that discipleship training will transform their lives.

India - Pray for God's protection upon the Christian community of India and that they will be strong and faithful [to the Lord's testimony] in the face of this persecution.

Afghanistan – We pray for Christians in Afghanistan. We ask that you would bring them greater freedom to worship you.

Bangladesh - We continue to pray for peace, comfort, and an unwavering boldness for the family and friends of the late Tapan Kumar Roy and Liplal Mardi, Christian workers, who were murdered in July 2005.

Bhutan - In December, King Wangchuck announced that the first democratic elections would be held in 2008. Pray that it might lead to greater religious freedom.