Pray with India, May 4, 2025

Lectionary Selection: John 21:1-19

Prayers for India

Lord, we humbly lift our beloved country, India, into your hands. We ask you to shower your blessings upon this land rich in diversity—cultures, languages, and religions.

Sovereign Lord, we pray for peace, unity, and harmony among all the people of India. May we live in peace with one another, embracing tolerance, kindness, and love for our neighbours.

Father, use us as instruments of your peace and justice. Help us defend the cause of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and the voiceless. Inspire us to stand up for the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves, and give us the courage to act on behalf of the weak.

We also pray for your protection over all organizations, non-profits, and institutions in India that champion the cause of the poor and the vulnerable. We ask that you surround them with your shield, protect them from harm, and empower them to serve the least among us with boldness and without fear.

We place our trust in you, may your will be done in this land, and in all lands on this earth that is yours, and may we, as your people, be faithful in living out the love of Christ, bringing light into the darkness and hope to the hopeless.

Father, we offer this prayer with faith, knowing that you hear us and that you are at work in this land and in this world, bringing about your perfect will. Amen.

Mission Moment from India

‘Pravaham,’ meaning an “ever-flowing stream,” was founded in 1993 by the late Bishop Ananda Rao Samuel, a former Moderator and Bishop of the Church of South India. It is a Community for Peace and justice. Pravaham runs Community Education programs for young girls from Dalit and other marginalized communities, especially in rural areas, offering them the chance to continue their education through vocational training. This program helps the girls build confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, making them stronger emotionally and spiritually mature.

Over the past 20 years, Pravaham has changed the lives of more than 750 girls, bringing hope and light into their lives. One such girl is Prema (name changed), who joined the program in 2023. Prema grew up in an orphanage because her father, who had leprosy, could not care for his five children after his wife had left the house due to mental illness. Prema was a slow learner and struggled to finish her 10th grade. She found it difficult to keep up with regular studies, so she was brought to Pravaham. It was a challenge to help her learn vocational skills, but despite being a slow learner, Prema was always cheerful and kind-hearted. With great care, encouragement, and counseling, Pravaham helped her finish the course successfully. After completing her training, Pravaham helped Prema find a job at a reputed Eldercare Home in Bangalore. Today, Prema is a confident young woman who supports her family. We were moved when Prema brought gifts for the staff and students and even donated to Pravaham from her first salary.

We thank God for our partnership with Global Ministries, which helps bring hope and light into the lives of these rural girls and empowers them to create a brighter future.

Written by Ms. Lucy Shyamsundar, Managing Trustee of Pravaham Trust, and the director of the Pravaham Community Education Program, Timir Panchayat, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

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