Commonwealth Games Update

As written before, the Commonwealth Games are a multinational and multi sport even that is held every 4 years with athletes from the commonwealth nations (most are countries that were once under the British Empire). The Commonwealth games are a lot like the Olympics but with some different sports and less countries involved.

The next games are in October 2010 and they will be held right here in DELHI! For more info click here!

They are behind on just about everything in preparation for the games. Most of the facilities have not been built (and some haven't even been started!), they don't have volunteers lined up (they need at least 20,000!), and they haven't even begun to figure out how to sell tickets. The games are in 8 months! Please pray for this event! This is an awesome opportunity for the Christians of this city!

- Pray that the Christians of Delhi (and surrounding) will volunteer to help at this event. Pray that they will be bold and active in sharing their faith!

- Pray for the people that will be coming to this event. Pray that they will come with open hearts and have many opportunities to hear and learn about Jesus!

- Pray for the Christians of Delhi that are already working together to use this event to show people the awesome love of Jesus!

² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And 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. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6

Sweet!

"I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Psalm 119: 102-103

Please pray for the Christians of Delhi. Pray that they desire a deeper relationship with Jesus and want to share that with others!

Watch & Pray!

"Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

Habakuk 1:5

Please pray for the people of Delhi!!

Post-Christmas!

Christmas has now come and gone here in Delhi. Most people are now back to their normal day-to-day activities as if nothing has even happened. Many people were unchanged by the celebration of Jesus' birth..... BUT there were many people that have been changed by Christmas this year.

Many Churches and Christians in Delhi had Christmas outreach events where many unbelievers heard the story of Jesus and the Gospel for the first time! Please pray for the people that heard about Jesus for the first time. Pray that they will be forever changed by that. Pray that if they didn't make a decision then, that they will make a decision to follow Jesus only!

Please pray for anyone that heard the story of Jesus this Christmas. Pray that they will be forever changed!! Pray also for the believers in Delhi that they will continue telling the story of Jesus even after the Christmas season is over!

Bania People Group

There are over 24 million Banias in South Asia and over 2 million of them live in Delhi. Banias are an upper caste people group that are very prominent and influential in Delhi. They are famous for their love of money. They do a lot of business-related jobs, or any type of job that makes money. Many Banias feel that they have everything that they need and that they don't need Jesus.

Please pray for the Banias. Pray that Christians will not be afraid to share with them. Pray that the Banias will see their need for Jesus! Pray for the very few known Bania believers in Delhi, that they will be bold in sharing with their Bania family members!

Fire!

This tree is a common sight to see in Delhi this time of year. It is the Gulmohar tree but here it is usually referred to as the "Fire of the Forest". Every time I see this tree I think of the story of Moses and the burning bush. You can read the entire story here. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush that didn't burn up! God told Moses of a very important job that he had for him. Even after seeing that amazing thing (the bush on fire but not burning) and God showing him other amazing things, Moses still responded with: "Please send someone else to do it." He gave the excuse that he wasn't good at speaking - even after seeing the amazing things that God did, he still didn't think that God could use him in such an amazing way.

Delhi is 1% Christian and of those Christians there are many that feel and act the same way Moses did. They don't feel that they can do amazing things to reach Delhi. They don't have the confidence - even after seeing amazing miracles that have been done in this city and in their lives. Please pray for confidence in the Christians of Delhi. Pray that they will be bold and active in sharing their faith and know that God can use them to do amazing things!

Cold

It is now pretty cold in the Capital (cold is definitely a relative term here). There are many people in Delhi that do not have homes or places to take cover from the cold weather. Although there are people freezing in Delhi, most of the idols around the city are taken care of and have shawls and warm things to wear.

Please pray for the people of Delhi. Pray specifically for the Christians of Delhi to show Christ's love to people in need this winter. Pray that they won't just give out shawls and blankets and things to keep warm, but that they will share the love of Christ so that these people can be warmed from the inside out!

The Taga People

The Taga People are an unreached people group here in India. There are about 1 million of them and many of them are located in Delhi. A common surname for this people group is Tyagi. They are both Muslim and Hindu. Long ago, many of these people relinquished their calling as Brahamins, and accepted a gift of land in order to become farmers. Many are still farmers, but in Delhi there are many that work in business, services & government.

Please pray for the Taga!

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the Taga people. We know that you love them very much and desire that they come into your family. We pray today for this people, that you will open their eyes so they might turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to the Kingdom of God. We pray you will give them forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among your people. Heavenly Father we also ask that the Taga will become one in Christ. We thank you for those who already know you, and for those who are trying to make disciples among them. Please strengthen the faith of those who already believe. Please place it on the hearts of others to reach out in love and share the good news. Your desire is that none should perish. We pray in Jesus' Name that the Taga will find eternal life in Him. Amen

The Word of our God Stands Forever!

"And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

"A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field."

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass."

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Isaiah 40:5-8

Praise!!

Thank you so much for praying for the training that is currently going on (see post below)!!! God is doing some amazing things in Delhi through this training! Please continue to pray in the days ahead as the training time continues!!

After just the first two days of training, the Gospel was shared with 131 people and 60 people have believed!!! Praise the Lord! Great things are happening! Please keep praying!

Church Planting!

This week in Delhi there will be many Christian leaders meeting together to learn how to plant/start churches effectively! The evil one does not like for meetings like this to take place. Please pray for the people involved in this meeting that they and their families will stay healthy during this time and will be able to fully participate. Please pray for logistics and for all the little things that need to take place so that this meeting can happen. Please pray for the participants in this meeting, that God will really give them a vision for church planting and how they can apply it to the areas they live in!

Pray for the city of Delhi to be forever changed for Jesus Christ!!