India - Government: Federal republic

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands.

Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism under Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.

Fundamental concerns in India include the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife, all this despite impressive gains in economic investment and output.

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Population: 1 billion Demographics: 34% of residents are 0-14 years old, 61% are 15-64, 5% are 65 and older; 52% men, 48% women
Ethnic Groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid, other 3% 
Literacy: 52% of total population, 65% of all males
National capital: New Delhi
Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%

Status of the Church - India, with its 1 billion people, is a secular state. The rising power of Hindu political parties has led to passage of anti-conversion laws in some states. Indians, especially the poor, who convert to Islam or Christianity commonly face discrimination and deprivation of benefits. Physical violence and overt persecution against both Muslims and Christians is steadily rising across India.

20,000 people turn to Christ daily.
In India About 20,000 people are becoming Christians daily. According to Ad 2000, " more than 5,000 congregations have been started by workers from 25 denominations or missions agencies since the 1970".Prayer and a new missionary zeal are behind the success.. Christians used to be reluctant to travel to the north because of its difficult terrain, climate, and hostile spiritual atmosphere. But the prayers of Christians worldwide have given the Indian church more boldness. Now, because the Spirit of God is moving, people are willing to sacrifice--you have to be willing to sacrifice your very life--and we are sending more native and local missionaries there.

Many Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Sikhs, discouraged from trying to gain salvation through good works and religious rituals, respond immediately to the message of grace preached by Christians, Anderson said. When they hear that Jesus sets you free and gives you eternal life, they respond very quickly.

Others become Christians after seeing a demonstration of God's power. Hundreds of people became Christians after a woman was cured of a stomach tumor. "Her husband said he had gone to the [Hindu] temples all his life and made all the pilgrimages, but still had no meaning in life and his wife was dying. The evangelists told the man that Jesus Christ would heal his wife and he invited them to his home to pray for her. That night in a dream he saw Jesus Christ touch his wife's stomach, and later told the workers. In the morning her stomach pains were gone and a visit to the doctor confirmed that the tumor had disappeared. More than 80 families from their village became Christians.

New Life though Jesus Christ
Kavita, a young woman from Mauaw village of North India is married into a very conservative Hindu family. Her in- laws were deep in to idol worship in their home. Every day she was beaten and harassed by her new family because she did not understand the rituals of Hindu worship. Sometimes she was locked into a room without food for days because she trembled at the altar of the idols. They believed that she was possessed by evil spirits. She was forced to kneel, ask forgiveness and pray to the countless idols. The main idol was built on the concrete foundation in the center of their courtyard. What is more, the family was very poor and unhappy, suffering from sickness and even several deaths.  

However, many times Kavita had seen in her dreams that there was a true and living God who could make her understand the truth and lead her family out of the darkness of false idols. Last year Chandra, a Harvest NOW missionary went and preached the gospel to this family. He told them of the ‘Gospel of Christ’ and how salvation could be obtained freely by God’s grace. The whole family listened with great interest. Kavita committed herself to accept Jesus Christ first and she was given a Bible. Her transformation was evident from the day she received Jesus in her heart and began to read the Bible. Soon her entire family started believing in Christ.  They too wanted to experience this new found faith their daughter in law has found. Few weeks later they all gave their lives to Jesus.  

Last week her entire families, consisting of 8 members were baptized! Every idol has been thrown out of the house and peace and joy have now come to this family. The idol in the middle of the courtyard was broken down to pieces and leveled to the ground. In the villages of India where Christianity is not so very popular and everyone else is Hindus, new believers suffer shame, persecution and rejection from the society. Please pray for Kabita and her family to continue to be Disciples of Christ.

Gospel to the villages
Santosh (Harvest NOW missionary) is working in Central India among the tribals who are mostly Hindus or animists. Though Santosh was born in a Hindu family. He was considered an outcast because he was from a tribal lower cast family. After practicing witchcraft and worshipping of spirits, one day he was over powered by the demons.
Harvest NOW missionaries working in that region preached the gospel to Santosh and he was set free. Later he got saved and started telling people in different villages about his newfound faith in Jesus Christ. Last year Santosh went though training in our Missions Training Center. After his graduation, he returned to his own village to preach the gospel. So far he has started 3 different churches among the tribal region. Recently 25 new believers were baptized in water. 

Healed of Cancer
Mrs. Poonam is  56 years old, lives in Delhi, was suffering from liver cancer for the past 4 years. Missionary Isaac met her on his outreach and she shared her problem with him. After 3 days of fasting and prayer he prayed for her and she received healing. Many have come to know about this mighty work that has taken place in the name of Jesus, as a result of it three more families have come to the Lord. Please pray for Isaac and his family as they continue to serve God in this unreached place.

Delivered from tormenting evil spirits
Bina is 17 years old. She was often tormented by evil spirits. This made her mentally disturbed every single day. Her parents were full of anxiety and fear. They took her to many doctors and witch doctors but it all proved to be in vain. They spent much money towards the treatment of their daughter. With broken hearts, they finally came to visit some of the Harvest NOW missionaries to be prayed for her. We assured them of the promise of Jesus that if anyone comes to him he would in no way turn him away. We prayed and fasted for Bina for three days and after three days of round the clock prayers and casting out demons, she was set free by the power of God. This family was from a Hindu background, but their daughter’s miracle caused all of them to believe and give their lives to Jesus.

Healed from Epilepsy
Suraj, a 10-year-old boy lives with his parents in Hariyana, one of the northern states in India. He was suffering from epilepsy from his birth. The parents took the child to many doctors for treatment and spent much money for a long time. The child was not getting better but increased his frequency. The child would pass out and start foaming in his mouth. The parents were very afraid of his life. One day they met one of our missionaries and they heard the gospel and he said to them, “Jesus can heal your child because He is the true and living God.” That week they brought the child to the church where we prayed for the young boy. Suraj was healed instantly and since then the whole family has received the Lord Jesus in their hearts. Please pray for Suraj and his family to grow in the Lord. 

Walking on fire
People living in the state of Bihar, North India suffer much persecution. But God is doing many miracles and churches are starting as a result of them. In one recent incident eight families were getting ready to take baptism. The village headman and other villagers planned to persecute the man named Sandhu and the other families. The villagers accused them for becoming Christians and demanded Sandhu be put to test. They wanted Sandhu to stand on red hot coals for 10 minutes. Sandhu would be guilty, if the coals burned the soles of his feet. The whole village stood in awe to witness the test.

While all the believers silently prayed in their hearts on one side, the villagers jeered at him on the other. Sandhu calmly stood on the red hot coals praying to Jesus. The God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego kept Sandhu's feet from all harm. The village headman and his men could not believe their eyes! The believers praised the Lord. The same day, 47 persons of the same village accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and later were baptized in water.

Taboo to draw water
Whether they are called Untouchables, Children of God or Dalits, lower caste Hindus say their plight has not improved in centuries.
It has been nearly 50 years since the caste system was abolished, legally at least. But in many Indian villages it is still taboo for lower castes to use the well to draw water or enter Hindu temples temples or the homes of their high caste neighbors. Many of those at the bottom of the caste system still feel there is no way out but to change their religion. But in many cases even that has not removed the prejudice felt by the rest of society. 

India persecution

Times of Refreshing - Minister's Conference