[2023 Ramadan Day 11] Arise and Shine to Finish the Task, India and Bangladesh!

<North India>

India is home to 1.4 billion people, the largest population in the world. The evangelization rate in India is said to be around 2.3%, but it is mostly concentrated in the South and Northeast regions. The evangelization rate in North India is less than 0.5%. Despite a missionary history that began with the Apostle Thomas, there are still many unreached people groups in North India and there are 200 million Muslims. Under the strong influence of Islam, North India was the birthplace of the Islamic Modernization Movement, the Fundamentalist Islamic Movement, and the Pan-Islamic Movement, which continues to have a profound impact on Muslim countries around the world. At the start of Ramadan, drums are beaten to wake people up before sunrise, and they eagerly await the sound of the azan to break the day's fast. They observe the fast with a blind faith that if they fast well during Ramadan, all their sins will be forgiven, and even before Ramadan, they gather in mosques for a vigil on a day called Shab-e-Baraat (the "Night of Forgiveness") and earnestly ask for forgiveness for their sins.

At a time when Satan is most strongly binding North Indian Muslims with the spirit of false prophets and the spirit of the law, the Lord has not given up on the souls of this land and is faithfully at work.

Recently, we met Brother A, who introduced himself as a Christian who said he met Jesus in a dream a year ago. He had been skeptical of Islam after his mother was killed by a Muslim terrorist group, and he also was despairing over an unexplained and incurable illness. He shared with us that after meeting Jesus in his dream, he woke up with a bright smile on his face and felt better. After having the same dream of Jesus about 100 times, his body got better and better, and when he realized that it was Jesus he saw in his dream, he accepted Jesus. Hallelujah, praise the Lord for meeting Brother A in dreams and visions!

Currently in North India, Muslim youth are encountering Jesus through worship and growing in faith. As they continue to come to worship in spite of persecution from their families and friends, they have started worship meetings in their schools to lift up unreached people groups and pray for the nations. In addition, youth who have received mission training and gone on short-term missions are serving their Muslim friends and vision casting their hearts to churches in North India.

"Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours." (Psalm 110:3)

During this Ramadan period, the churches of North India will rise up as the church of God with authority, praying and worshipping for the 200 million Muslims in North India and the 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide. An army like the dew of the morning will rise up during this Ramadan, joyfully devoted, overcoming hardship and persecution!

<Bangladesh>

Bangladesh means "land of the Bengalis, country of the Bengalis," and about 94% of its people are Bengali and speak Bengali. In 1947 when India was ruled over by UK, West Pakistan and East Pakistan (former name of Bangladesh) received independence from today’s Pakistan. Due to inequality and discrimination Bangladesh received independence in 1971 from Pakistan. With approximately 170 million people, 90% are Muslim and have an evangelization rate of 0.2% among ethnic minorities other than Bengalis.

Through the Ijtema, an annual Islamic missionary gathering, that began in 1946, Muslims in Bangladesh dreamed of a revival of Islam and restore their personal faith through the teachings of religious leaders. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Ijtema returned this year, with an estimated 5 million Muslims attending.

While practicing traditional principled Islam, society as a whole is heavily colored by secular Islam. Bangladesh is a poor country, but it is experiencing economic growth as the world's second-largest garment exporter. Bangladesh dreams of becoming a developing country by promoting city-building projects in cooperation with neighboring countries. However, due to the high cost of living and the extreme wealth gap between the rich and the poor, the lives of the common people are struggling; the next generation is left without the benefits of even basic education. Bangladeshi YGs are just as free-spirited as their counterparts in other countries, enjoying foreign cultures and aspiring to their lives.

While many fast during Ramadan to re-establish their Muslim identity, there are also many young people who fast legalistically and others who do not fast as well. We believe that this Ramadan will bring many young people and the next generation back to the Lord as they realize that there is no hope in the world and in Islam.

Last winter, a YG Muslim sister who first heard the gospel through a short-term team wanted to know more about Jesus and came to a weekly Bible reading and worship meeting. Satan attacked her by causing conflict between friends and family, causing severe depression and even suicidal thoughts, but each time God worked to make her more aware of the love of Jesus, who loved her to death, and gave her His true peace and joy through worship and His Word. She decided to put her faith in Jesus, who healed all her sorrows and emptiness with the love of the cross.

We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for Bangladesh! The YGs of Bangladesh, who live without hope without knowing the truth, will rise up as those who give their lives for Jesus and the gospel! Furthermore, they will rise up as a holy army that will bring all nations to Jesus, the Light!

[Today’s Prayer]

1. We come against the spirit of every false prophet and justification by law that has been binding North India and Bangladesh, in the name of Jesus! As we unite in prayer for these people, let the power of sin that has been holding them captive be broken and let them encounter Jesus in dreams and visions during this year in Ramadan! Let the work of eternal life move faster than the work of darkness! Through the souls who encounter Jesus during this Ramadan, may they come to You Lord Jesus! Through them build Your church where the powers of darkness will not prevail!

2. Through the faithful churches You have established in North India and Bangladesh, let there be an outpouring of the Father's heart for the lost souls and peoples of the Muslim world! May a powerful worship and prayer be initiated to draw 1.9 billion Muslims to You! Give them an overflowing sense of calling and passion for the gospel, so that they will work even harder during Ramadan by preaching the gospel. We cast out all weakness and fear! Would You anoint and use the churches to revive dying souls! Furthermore, in the end times, let the churches of North India and Bangladesh rise up to fulfill the world mission history in these last days!