“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.”  Hebrews 13:3 The body of Christ in Orissa is currently undergoing severe persecution.  Followers of Jesus are being beaten, burned in the streets, hacked to pieces, and forced to hide in jungles. Churches have been burned to the ground, pastors have been assaulted, and nuns have been gang raped. Worse, the violence against Christians is spreading to other parts of India. Pray for the persecuted bride of Christ in Orissa.

I am appalled at the rampant insensitivity in most Indian-Christian responses to the gross human rights violation in Orissa. In 1999, We didn’t know how to respond to the attacks against the Church in Gujarat. It’s been almost a decade now and We still haven’t learnt to respond to attacks against hapless tribal christians. We can only view it ‘religiously’. We speak about the glories of martyrdom. We resort to jingoism and claim it to be signs of an impending explosion of churches. We moralize and ask our brothers to forgive the perpetuators. We treat these ghastly acts as events that would bring revival. Sadly, we do everything but stand alongside our brothers and sisters in Orissa.

Ms. Rajni Majhi, a 20 year old student who lived in the orphanage and was also working as an auxiliary nurse in the orphanage confronted the mob of Hindus. When Fr Sequeira arrived at the spot, the mob locked him and Rajni into separate rooms, and ordered the children to vacate the orphanage. The mob then ransacked Fr Sequeira's room, poured petrol on him and Rajni and set the orphanage on fire. I could hear the cries of Rajni, and the mob was cheering and shouting through the window. These criminals tied her hands together - they made a huge bonfire in the orphanage room and threw her onto the fire. They used sickles, shovels and other weapons to prevent her from running away, these extremists did not allow her to even move from the burning flames". All the while I could hear the cries of Rajni from the next room where she was writhing in agony. After sometime, there was silence. Rajni Mahji was burnt alive.

INDIA’S north-eastern state Orissa continues to be in grip of gory anti-Christian riots. Scores of Christians, including some nuns, pastors and ordinary innocent people have been burnt alive. Countless churches, houses and shops have been gutted. Even Christian orphanages have not been spared. They burnt our homes, our churches, our crops, our vehicles. They ransacked our schools, our orphanges and destroyed our clinics. Everything we owned is gone. We have nothing left. Absolutely nothing.

Christians of Orissa Attacked

NUN BURNT ALIVE: A nun was burnt to death on 25th, Monday 2008, after an orphanage was torched in at Phutpali in Bargarh district in Orissa during a bandh called by Hindu nationalist parties. RASANANDA PRADHAN TORCHED ALIVE: Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district. INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES TARGET CHRISTIANS: During the bandh inflammatory speeches spreading hatred against the Christian workers and the community were given by the VHP leaders. CHURCHES BURNT ALL ACROSS ORISSA STATE: Churches were attacked in various districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town. PRAY NOW FOR PERSECUTED INDIAN CHRISTIANS.

You may find it odd that I ended up in a former Soviet republic of Belarus from South India. But the story of how I got here is a testament to God’s bountiful grace and His communication of purpose for me . . . . As a mission leader, my father always encouraged young people to pursue God’s agenda and be willing to go to new places and bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The will to go was certainly there, both in my parents and I. But the resources were not.  As a result, there was little money to draw from.  My dad had the answer: “You can go,” he said.  “But, your only resource will be faith in our living Saviour.  And he will provide.”  But the question of where the money would come from remained. My purpose was to become a “medical missionary” but God’s higher purpose was to make me a  “student missionary” first.

The moment I was converted to Christ, I was plunged in to spiritual warfare about which I knew nothing about. Every redemptive work I did, I was attacked. Later, I learned I was worth being attacked because Christ has chosen me and I had a greater calling and responsibility than I had realized. . . . The visions of the Lord are usually for the appointed time. The hour of Christ's vision for Pakistan has come. This realization is taking place and its fulfillment has begun ( Habakkuk 2:2-3). Now is the time that we may write it on the walls (write it, print it, proclaim it and publish it on the hand bills as well as the Internet). The hour of God's mercy on Pakistani people and on the small Church rests now. Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them on our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy (on Pakistan) - Habakkuk 3:2

There are lot of great dreams in my heart. Crazy, insane ideas and dreams for what God wants me to do with my life as I live in Him. It boggles my mind and my heart. I don’t know at times what to do with what God’s given me to do. It’s a scary thing, because when God gives you a dream, you have a beginning and a picture of an end, but really don’t know what’s going to happen as it plays out. I want to remain in the center of God’s will as I move forward. The season of Portland Bible College is drawing to a close, and I’m waiting to see what God does in and through me as I begin this next season here in the next year or so. 

On 15 May 2005 millions of Christians from 156 nations in the world united in the first ever Global Day of Prayer. Christians gathered in different venues, seeking God's face in repentance and prayer for the transformation of their communities and nations. Driven by Hab. 2:14 ("For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea"), the dream is to mobilize Christians from every single nation in the world to participate in the Global Day of Prayer over the next few years until 2010. However, the focus is not only on a single day of prayer, but to see a lifestyle of prayer established that will transform communities. This move of prayer is still miraculously expanding. In 2006 millions of Christians from 199 nations united in prayer and in 2007 even more Christian from 204 nations participated. On Pentecost Sunday, 11 May 2008, the nations of the world will once again unite in the Global Day of Prayer.

Dr Paul Dhinakaran is a great evangelist and the co-founder and Managing Director of Jesus Calls Ministries, International. He is the Pro-Chancellor of a fully accredited Karunya Technical University – the first self-financing autonomous educational college fully accredited by the government of India. The University with 5000 students is offering degrees of Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs. He is also an anointed servant of God who through the Holy Spirit operates the gifts of administration, preaching, prophecy, discernment, knowledge, healing, effecting of miracles and teaching. When he ministers in public meetings, the power of the Spirit of God descends upon him in a mighty manner resulting in divine blessings, cure, deliverance, guidance and healing in a holistic sense.

Many first time visitors to Germany are surprised by the cosmopolitan picture that presents itself in large cities such as Berlin, Hamburg or Frankfurt. This is not only seen on the menus of restaurants and coffee shops, but right on the high streets. Döner kebab stands have moved next to Bratwurst Grill, the corner bar has been transformed into an Italian restaurants and one finds a Sushi bar in every major shopping mall. Berlin is an ideal place to discover these varieties of cultures. Although many of the migrants in Berlin have been here for two or three generations already, the average German does very little to befriend his/her African or Asian neighbour.

The Nepali Christian community has called for a 'Global Day of Prayer for Nepal' on the 5th and 6th April 2008. Prayer for Nepal Global Network (PFN-GN) is an united prayer solidarity network of Nepalis, friends and partners around the world who are actively praying for Nepal.  It has been coordinated by the Nepali Christian community who serves and networks with the friends and partners of Nepal around the globe including Nepali Diasporas.  They are dedicated and committed to the Nepali Church, friends and partners around the globe and seek to serve God in transforming lives, communities and the nation both physically and spiritually through prayer, unity, and partnership. It's all about Uniting  in  Prayer  Globally  and  Acting  Together  Locally to Manifest the Love of Christ and His Kingdom Effectively!

It’s strange but it nevertheless true. We get to meet everyone in Church except Jesus. Worse, we still haven’t recognized it as yet. Tamil-Christian Churches have become places were cultural and/or caste identities are forged and reinforced. It is all about – “who we are” and “where we come from” – rather than “who we are’ in Christ. Anything other than the tried – tested and trusted – evangelistic methods are a dilution of the gospel. So much so, Tamil-Christianity is all about do’s and don’ts. Religious language accords certain authority and even helps to legitimize them as bench marks for spirituality.

A music video by Anil Kant and family and Johnny Lever. Anil Kant has been involved with music for many years. A Hindu-Punjabi, he spent three years in Singapore and ten years in Indonesia pursuing a career in music. In 1999, he was inspired by the teachings of the Lord Jesus to serve and minister in the land of his birth.  This was when he dedicated himself to use his talents for the Lord. God was gracious and blessed his family with a recording business and Trinity Sounds Pvt. Ltd. was established under which two independent recording studios and a music brand called Trinity Sounds was introduced. The vision of Trinity Sounds and it’s director Anil Kant, is to reclaim the music industry for Jesus. Music was definitely created by God to praise and worship Him. We believe that God will use ‘Pray For India’ in an awesome way to touch lives across this nation.

Evangelist Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran's biography tells of a 20-year-old young man caught in poverty and unemployment at the point of taking his life. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life. The young Dhinakaran worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls Ministry.

This girl represents the 250 million Dalits (doll-leets) , formerly called Untouchable, who have been told by the upper castes of India that they are less than human. If even a Dalit’s shadow falls on an upper caste person, that person is polluted according to caste rules. A Dalit is not considered part of human society, but instead is considered something less than human. The Dalits generally perform the most menial and degrading jobs. Caste rules hold that Dalits pollute higher caste people with their presence. If higher caste Hindus touch an untouchable or even come within a Dalit’s shadow, they must undergo rigorous series of cleansing rituals. Approximately 250 million Indians (a full 25% of the population), are Dalit. In a country where everybody is supposed to have equal rights and opportunities, one out of four people is condemned to be untouchable.

Thus far in modern India, 2007 was the most violent year for Indian Christians. With more than 800 attacks around Christmas time 2007 in Orissa state, the number of attacks on Christians last year crossed 1,000 reported cases for the first time since India's independence in 1947. Persecution against Christians isn't stopping in India's Orissa State. Over 90 churches and Christian institutions have been burned and vandalized, over 700 Christian homes destroyed, and the number of pastors and Christians killed is yet to be known. The situation is bad in some areas. Just days ago, four pastors in the state of Orissa were burned alive. And about 200 Christians leaders are now in the forests hiding, fearful for their lives. Please pray for India.

Christmas disturbs me this year! I cannot sing ‘Silent Night – Holy Night’ when the pain and suffering in the world is all around me and is out of control in so many other places around the globe. But I have hope! Hope that we Christians can bring light into these dark places because Jesus came into the dark places of our lives and lived among people with a dark past. So don’t waste your life! Make a difference in the world- in the places were it counts and amongst people that are otherwise lost and without hope.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 

I don’t know if I want to plant a church that becomes the home for restless Indian Christians who are looking to hang out with more Indians. I don’t know if I want to pastor a bunch of disgruntled Indians who are mad at the churches they grew up in and will come to this church expecting it to be the solution. I don’t know if I want to lead a group of churched people who have preconceived ideas about how to do church and opinions about everything. Man, I can get excited about planting a church to reach people who don’t know Jesus. But I don’t know if I want Christians . . . So then, we are planting this church to reach second generation Indians, anyone who doesn’t know Jesus that God gives us access to and churched people who are coming along in their understanding of the Gospel.