Pray for India on Sunday, March 20, 2011

Pray for India on Sunday, March 20, 2011

Prayers for India: John 3:1-17

Lord, your promise of new life in the Spirit is a comfort.  We take solace in Your assurances of eternal life.  But still we fear for the security of our earthly lives.  Food has never been more expensive.  We are told that you will care for us like the lilies of the field, but many of us can no longer afford the vegetables we need to stay healthy.

Millions of our HIV+ brothers and sisters world-wide may soon lose their access to life-saving ART medication.  Their fates are being decided by a handful of bureaucrats from the European Union and the Indian government.

While the media touts a “rising India” that wealth has yet to trickle down to the people.  Scandal after corruption scandal has rocked our confidence in the leaders who are supposed to care for us.  Lord, we beg you to soften their hearts and open their eyes to the consequences of their greed.

As Dr. Onawale says, Deep Griha Society has always been a leap of faith.  When it seemed like we would never have the resources to continue to serve, You provided.  When we began to lose hope, You gave us the strength to persevere.  We pray that You continue to care for us and support us as we struggle to serve your children.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mission Stewardship Moment from India:

Nicodemus is incredulous when Jesus explains that we can be born again.  The idea that we could be made anew, re-formed, through the grace of God must have blown his mind.  The staff and beneficiaries of Deep Griha Society would not have been so surprised.  Both in body and spirit, DGS offers new life.  Through the empowerment of job training, literacy classes, medical services and numerous other programs, marginalized people are given the opportunity to live lives they may have never imagined possible.  This is especially true for beneficiaries of Deep Griha’s Integrated Services for HIV & AIDS (DISHA).  Many come to the program at the lowest point in their lives: health failing, abandoned by community and family, they have often given up hope.  But there is life after HIV diagnosis.  DISHA beneficiaries are physically restored through their special nutrition program and Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).  Their confidence and hope for the future is restored through counseling and positive living sessions.  Sadly, vital treatment for positive people is currently at risk.  ART is often referred to as the “Lazarus drug” because of its ability to bring people back from the verge from the death.  The European Union and India are currently negotiating a trade deal which could stop the production of generic ART medication in India, making the life-saving drug unattainable for millions of people world-wide. 

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Ryan Turner)

Video Resources for India:

Global Ministries International Partners in  ∩╗┐India:

Besides the Church of North India and the Church of South India, Global Ministries has about forty partners in India. To view a list of those partners and a paragraph summary on each, go to: http://www.globalministries.org/sasia/countries/india/ and scroll down to the partner section

Global Ministries Missionaries in India:

Teresa and Anil Henry are serving a four year term with the Synodical Board of Health Services of the Church of North India. Teresa is the anesthesiologist of the Christian Hospital of Mungeli and Anil works as a medical doctor there. They are currently sharing their ministry in congregations in the U.S.

Nancy Lott Henry is serving as a long-term volunteer with the Church of North India. She is working as a teacher of nurses for hospitals in their eastern region.

Ryan Beck Turner concluded his assignment as a Global Mission Intern with the Deep Griha Society, Pune, India. He is currently sharing about his ministry in Disciples and UCC congregations.

Pray for Partners without Global Ministries Mission Personnel: Afghanistan

God, we continue to lift up our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan as they seek peace with justice in their war-torn land. Help us to walk with them as they rebuild their lives and communities. Amen

For more info on Afghanistan, click here: http://globalministries.org/sasia/countries/afghanistan/