Prayer Points for the Bihari

• "P," a former Bihari Muslim, longs to see India's 17 million Bihari Muslims follow Jesus. In January, P visited a Muslim woman in Delhi the day after her sister had died. P writes: "We consoled her and shared the gospel. She is always very receptive. She often invites us for prayer at the time of trouble or unrest." The woman has not yet accepted Jesus as Savior because she is used to going to the mosque. P writes that others also feel as she does. "We need to start a church that is close to their house and within their reach." Please pray that the Lord will provide P with all the resources needed to start such a church. About a third of Delhi's Muslims are Biharis. Pray that God will bring about a Church Planting Movement among the Bihari Muslims of Delhi, India.

• Please pray for for P's 5-month-old daughter. Doctors in Delhi have determined that her tiny body is unable to absorb fat and protein. While they have yet to make an exact diagnosis or to find a treatment, vitamins and intravenous feedings started the baby toward improvement. Her weight finally climbed to about 6.5 pounds. Pray that God will grant the baby's doctors and parents wisdom in how to care for her. Pray that by the grace of God, she will be blessed with complete healing and will live to bear fruit for His kingdom. Finally, pray that P soon will be able to return to his ministry.
• Pray for Bihari Muslims who live in Jharkhand, a state that recently separated from Bihar to become its own state. P, who broadcasts the gospel message in the Urdu language, writes: "A large number of people are listening to the programs in this state. A brother heard the truth through our radio program, and now he is ready to surrender his life at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. In another area of the state, a listener and his family members accepted the Lord as their Savior. Many are coming to the Lord, and many are hearing the Word of God regularly." These new believers face many restrictions and barriers. Pray that they will grow firm in the Word of God and will lead others in their community to follow Jesus.
  
• More prayer needs for the Bihari (select "people groups" and then "Bihari")
• Global prayer needs

DID YOU KNOW?

In India, about 200 girls and women enter the sex trade every day. Up to 200,000 girls from Nepal alone reportedly work in Indian brothels.

Read one girl's story

Mission Projects

Urgent Project Need!

Ultimate Frisbee Demo Team - Project 70472

May 26-June 8

Cost: $241 plus airfare

Be a part of an Ultimate Frisbee Demo Team that will introduce this exciting sport to a third-world Asian country. Play in front of government leaders, sports and health officials, and influential local business people to bring Ultimate Frisbee to the attention of the country. See how God will use you to open doors for opportunities to go into many more unreached areas of the country. Looking for a team of 12.

New projects for 2005 will be online soon!

Persecuted Church: India

In India's Tamil Nadu state, more than 6,000 Christian schools closed and more than 1 million believers fasted and prayed to protest an anti-conversion law that was being considered by the Hindu-dominated legislature. When a Christian pastor petitioned a court to declare the new law unconstitutional, the court instead ruled the school closures were illegal. The Prohibition of Forcible Conversion Law imposes a US$1,034 fine and three years imprisonment for anyone who "coerces" religious conversions. Penalties increase if the conversion involves women, minors and members of backward castes or tribal groups. Praise God for the courage of Indian Christians to take a public stand against this injustice. Pray that the Spirit would move powerfully in Hindu hearts to convince them of the truth of the gospel.

• More about persecution in India

• More about the persecuted church

Missionary Hero: William Carey

Founder and Father of Modern Missions

In the quietness of his shoe cobblers' shop in Moulton, England, William Carey heard God's call to the nations: "If it be the duty of all men to believe the Gospel ... then it be the duty of those who are entrusted with the Gospel to endeavor to make it known among all nations."

The immediate problem Carey faced was how to get to the mission field when no missionary societies existed to help him go, and few Christians had any interest in mission work. At a ministers' meeting (Carey was a Baptist minister), Carey raised the issue saying, " Whether the command given to the apostles to teach all nations was not obligatory on all succeeding ministers to the end of the world, seeing that the accompanying promise was of equal extent." Presiding minister Dr. Ryland shouted, "Young man, sit down: when God pleases to covert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine."

Undeterred, Carey persisted and in 1793, five years after his call from God, Carey sailed for India, but without his reluctant wife. Read more.

Bible Study: Facing Your Fears

By Kelly Shaw

During this Easter season, I (Kelly Shaw) have been reading through the gospel of Matthew, seeking to better understand and learn from the life of Jesus, His passion, death, and resurrection. I was struck by the passage at the beginning of chapter 28 that talks about the women going to the tomb and the angel greeting them saying not to be afraid that Jesus has risen just as He said He would. Then, we read the response of these women in verse 8, "So they (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word." These women had just been commissioned to go and tell Jesus' disciples the greatest news in world, and this filled them with great joy. The text also says that they were fearful, yet they were compelled, despite their fears, to go and speak the good news to Jesus' disciples. While still fearful, they stepped out in faith. Read more about fear and faith.

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." --William Carey