New Year!

The New Year is about to begin. Many people make big life decisions before the new year. Pray for the Christians of Delhi. Pray that they make new decisions to be bolder in sharing about Jesus. Pray that they make goals to share their faith daily, to read and study their Bible daily and to be a stronger follower of Jesus this year.

Cold!

The weather in Delhi is now cold. There are thousands of homeless people in Delhi and many more that are having to sleep in the cold weather without protection from the cold. Many idols in richer neighborhoods (as seen in the picture above) are taken care of and given warm things to wear while many people are freezing. Please pray for the Christians of Delhi. Pray that they show love to their friends and neighbors that are suffering right now. Pray that they share Jesus' love by caring for them physically and spiritually.

Post-Christmas!

Christmas is over. Many Christians throughout the city had different kinds of outreaches on Christmas in order to reach their lost friends and neighbors. Many people heard the Christmas story for the first time and heard about why Jesus came and why we celebrate his birth. Please pray for the people that heard the Christmas story this week. Pray for those that aren't followers of Jesus! Pray that their lives are changed from hearing the story of Jesus. Pray that they want to follow Jesus!

Ashura

Today is a Muslim holiday called Ashura (sometimes called Moharram in Delhi). It is mostly celebrated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad). Sunni Muslims also remember the day saying that Moses fasted on that day to thank God for taking the Israelites from Egypt.

This day is very significant for Shia Muslims. There are more than 40-55 million Shias in India! This day is very significant to Shias. They consider Husayn (the one that was martyred) the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad. On this day, to connect with Husayn's martyrdom, Shias express mourning by crying and listening to poems about it and sermons on how he and his family were martyred. There are many groups of Shias that will cut themselves and hit themselves with chains on this day so that they can relate to his pain.

Many Shia believe that taking part in Ashura is to be absolved of sin. There is a popular Shia saying that says:

"A single tear shed for Husayn washes away a hundred sins."

Please pray for those Shias celebrating this holiday. Pray that they learn about Jesus and how he is the only one that can absolve sin and is the only way their sins can be washed away. Pray that someone will tell them that today!

Muharram

We are currently in the Muslim month of Muharram. It is the first month of the year according to the Islamic calendar. This year it is December 7- January 4th. It is one of the sacred months of the year where fighting is prohibited. This is a very important month for Muslims. Please pray for Muslims during this month. During this time of peace, pray that they will come to know the Prince of Peace! Pray for the Muslims of Delhi! Pray that their lives are changed this month!

Street Sweepers

Almost every street in Delhi is swept by a street sweeper. People of Delhi usually busily pass them as they go on about their daily lives. Please pray for the street sweepers of Delhi. Pray that someone will stop and share with them about Jesus. Pray that the Christians of Delhi aren't too busy to stop and share with them about Jesus. Pray that the street sweepers of Delhi come to have a relationship with Jesus!

Cycle Rickshaw Pullers

There are many cycle rickshaw pullers in Delhi. Please pray for the Christians that are rickshaw pullers. Pray that they use the opportunities they have while pulling the rickshaw to share with those they are taking around. Pray that they are bold! Pray also for Christians that ride in Cycle Rickshaws. Pray that Christians in Delhi will share with their cycle rickshaw pullers!

Please pray today for those in Delhi that have NEVER heard the name of Jesus! There are millions of people in Delhi and a huge amount of those people don't know who Jesus is and have never heard his name. Please stop and pray for them today, that someone will tell them!

Bania People Group - pt. 2

It is said: "If you give a Bania a handful of sand, he can turn it into gold." Banias have the reputation in Delhi and the rest of India as being "money-minded." Much o the typical Bania's life revolves around the idea that with money comes peace of mind and security. The majority of Banias are Hindus with a percentage of them following the Jain religion. For most Banias, God is seen as impersonal and even unknowable. There are over 22 million Banias in India. No known Christian churches made up of Bania-background believers exists.

Please ask God to give the Bania people hearts that seek an intimate knowledge of and relationship with Him! Pray that the Banias will discover what it means to be truly rich through at relationship with Jesus.

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."

Jeremiah 24:7

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!

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak's birthday is today. On this holiday the Sikhs of Delhi will be celebrating the birthday of this Guru.

Guru Nanak was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus. He is famous for preaching against idol worship.

Sikhism follows the teachings of these Gurus, but they consider themselves a monotheistic religion. Sikhs believe there is only one God who has infinite qualities and names.

Please pray for the Sikhs of Delhi as they are celebrating this holiday. Sikhs already state that they believe that there is only one God - please pray that they will learn to know the ONE TRUE GOD! Pray for opportunities for Christians to share with them about Him! Pray for Christians from a Sikh Background. Pray that they know how to minister to their friends and families!

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak's birthday is November 21st (it changes based on the moon). His birthday is also celebrated the 2 days before it. This weekend the Sikhs of Delhi will be celebrating the birthday of this Guru.

Guru Nanak was the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus. He is famous for preaching against idol worship.

Sikhism follows the teachings of these Gurus, but they consider themselves a monotheistic religion. Sikhs believe there is only one God who has infinite qualities and names.

Please pray for the Sikhs of Delhi as they are celebrating this holiday. They already state that they believe that there is only one God - please pray that they will learn to know the ONE TRUE GOD! Pray for opportunities for Christians to share with them about Him!