Dengue!

Delhi is facing a Dengue Fever outbreak. This time last year, there were 4 reported cases of Dengue. This year, so far, there are 674 reported cases of Dengue. Dengue is a mosquito-born virus that is sometimes called "bone-break fever." It has rained more this month in Delhi than it has in the last 15 years! All of that extra water is making a lot of puddles and making many breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Please pray for the the people of Delhi during this time. Please pray that the outbreak of dengue will be squelched. Pray that the Christians of Delhi would find ways to help those that get dengue and show them the love of Jesus.

Commonwealth Games - Displacement

Many people are going to be displaced before and during the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The authorities in Delhi are evicting roadside vegetable sellers, cobblers, presswallahs (those that iron clothes) and food vendors that aren't officially "legal". Many people will not be able to work for a full month. Many people will have nowhere to go. Those people are very worried and stressed about what is going to happen during this time. A majority of those people live day-by-day from the money they make each day and aren't sure how they are going to provide for their families.

Please pray for those displaced workers and families in Delhi. Pray that local Christians will reach out to them and show them Christ's love. Pray that those that are displaced that are believers will have a peace though the hard times that they are going through and reach out to their other displaced friends and families. Pray that the government changes this plan and allows those people to work during the games.

Raksha Bandhan

Today is a Hindu holiday called "Raksha Bandhan". It is sometimes called the brother-sister holiday. On this holiday, sisters tie a Rakhi (a bracelet like seen above) on their brothers wrists. The brother then offers a gift to his sister and promises to look after her and protect her. She will also give sweets to her brother.

This holiday, like many holidays, family members get together and spend time with each other. Sometimes sisters will travel a far distance to see their brothers. This is a great opportunity for the Gospel to spread in Delhi and outside of Delhi!! Pray for those sisters and other family members that are Christians. Pray that they are bold in sharing their faith as they travel to see their family. Pray that they aren't afraid to share with unbelieving family members! Pray for the brothers that are believers too, pray that they share with their unbelieving families during this time also!

Muslim Women of Delhi

During this season of Ramadan, please pray for the Muslim women of Delhi. Many Muslim women don't get many opportunities to get out of the house, but during Ramadan many get more opportunities than they normally do. Many women are out in the mornings because they aren't having to cook the day-time meals. Please pray for these women as they are out of their houses. Pray that they will meet Christians that will share with them the hope of Salvation. Pray that the Christian women of Delhi will intentionally try to meet with and talk to their Muslim friends and neighbors and tell them about Jesus. Pray that these Muslim women will be open to hearing about Jesus. Pray that they have dreams and visions that will lead them to a relationship with Jesus Christ!

Friday Prayers

In Islam there are the 5 daily prayers, but there is also the Friday prayer. Today (Friday), many Muslims will gather at the mosques of Delhi for the Friday Congregational Prayers. There will be more people than normal at the mosques because it is Ramadan.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me will all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

Pray for those that are praying today at the Friday Prayer time (and every other prayer time). Pray that the Muslims there will seek out the one true God will all of their heart. Pray that their hearts and minds are open. Pray for the Christians of Delhi to be open, willing and ready to share the Gospel with their Muslim friends, neighbors or people they meet in passing.

Christians During Ramadan

Many Christians aren't sure what to do when a holiday like Ramadan comes. Many people (including Christians) in Delhi stay away from areas with high concentrations of Muslims. Please pray for Delhi Christians to be bold during this time.

³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:36-40

Please pray that Christians in Delhi will love their Muslim friends and Neighbors as they would themselves. Pray that Christians would love their neighbors so much that they would ignore any fears they have and share Jesus with their Muslim friends and neighbors.

Praying Through Ramadan

Please continue to pray for Muslims during this month of Ramadan. Please pray that the Christians of Delhi would be bold in sharing their faith with their Muslim neighbors, friends and people they meet. Pray that they will be wise in what they say and share out of love. Please pray that those Muslims will open their hearts and mind to the things that are being shared with them. Pray that their lives are changed!

^2"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Colossians 4:2-6

Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games will be here in 50 days. Please pray for the Christians in Delhi that are planning to do ministry during the games. Pray that they are effective witnesses and are bold in their faith when they are sharing. Please pray for all the planning that is involved with these ministries. Pray for those that are planning for the follow-up and the ministry that will be going on during the games.

Muezzins of Delhi

A muezzin is the chosen person at the mosque that leads the call to prayer on Fridays and the 5 daily prayers from one of the Mosques Minarets (the tall towers in the picture above) or from some sort of electronic amplification in some of the more modern mosques. Today (Friday) there will be many Muessins in Delhi calling people to prayer for the Friday service. Please pray for these Muezzins. They have an important role in the Muslim community. Pray that the local Christians are not afraid to share with them. Pray that these Muezzin's lives are changed and that they use their high-ranking role to share with others about the amazing power of Jesus and how he can change their lives :)

Ramadan

Ramadan begins today. This is the Islamic month of fasting. Muslims that are participating in this holiday will fast from sunrise to sunset. During this holiday, Muslims tend to pray more than usual. Please pray for the Muslims of Delhi. Pray that they will have dreams and visions that will lead them to Jesus. Pray for the Christians of Delhi to be bold in sharing their faith with their Muslim friends during this time of heightened spirituality.