Indian Subcontinent

Indian Subcontinent

Geographically, the South Asia Region is composed of 8 sub-Himalayan countries. However, South Asia will be represented by countries in the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Religious militancy has a lucid picture in this region where Christians are a significant minority. In Muslim communities, secret believers silently profess their faith in Jesus but continue to live the Islamic way.

“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die…” Rev. 3:2 ESV

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Afghanistan

Key Issues

Conflict
Afghanistan Key Issues Afghanistan has been a hotbed of conflict for over two millennia. From the Persians, to the Greeks, to the Mongols and Ottomans, to the Russian and the British empires, to the Cold War and into the Taliban, the Land of the Pashtuns have been in the middle of it.

Opium
This landlocked country is one of the strategic points in the Silk Road. Its arid landscape is conducive to grow the best pomegranates, grapes and other produce. It, however, is also the world’s largest producer of opium from the poppy fields. The production of opium has even increased over the years.

Internally Displaced People
Due to the number of conflicts and severe drought over the years, there are over a million internally displaced people in Afghanistan. There are also more than two million Afghan seeking refuge in Iran and Pakistan.

Prayer Concerns

There is only one legally recognized Christian church building in Afghanistan and it is the Catholic Church inside the Italian embassy. Statistics say that Afghanistan is 99.7% Muslim. The people, culture, laws and government do not want anything that is contrary to Islam. However there are around 3000 believers with Muslim background and they face challenges on all sides.

    • Pray for God’s grace and protection upon the Afghan believers.

Even though the constitution allows for freedom of non-Muslims to practice their religion, the government does not extend protection in expressing this freedom. Various NGOs, small media outlets and other Christian agencies and individuals have tried to share the gospel inside the country but have been met with violent opposition from the people.

  • Pray that Afghan people will be open to the gospel.
  • Pray for the millions of refugees / internally displaced people (IDP) inside and outside Afghanistan will have an opportunity to hear the gospel through the various NGO work trying to meet this overwhelming need.

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Pakistan

Key Issues

Terrorism
Terrorists / Islamic extremists continue to intimidate elected officials. Fear and violence remains a significant constraint on any moves for reform.

Refugees
Pakistan is host to one and half million refugees from Afghanistan. Another one million are unregistered. Refugees with inadequate documentation are subject to harassment, threat of arrest or deportation.

Exploitative labor
Bonded and child labor is illegal but it is still practiced throughout the country. The brick kiln industry is infamous for using this practice and exert significant influence on local officials.

Prayer Concerns

The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and protection of minorities, but it has not been proven effective in these areas. There have been High profile cases of blasphemy and mob violence that have affected the Christian community.

  • Pray God’s sovereignty to reign in Pakistan.
  • Pray for the church in Pakistan to reach out to the community to declare the name of Jesus.
  • Pray that they will have the courage.
    1. Women face restrictions on voting and education
    2. Bonded servants and child labor are outlawed but are still in practice.

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Bangladesh

Key Issues

Militant Movements
Radical militants have committed a series of high-profile murders against those who speak out against Islam. As of July 2016, 48 people have been killed in Bangladesh, mostly bloggers or those who been critical of the Muslim faith.

Freedom of Speech
The government has been critical of the academia who have been researching about political and religious topics. Open discussion of these sensitive topics have been discouraged.

Violent attacks
Minority groups and their houses of worship are occasionally the targets of violent attacks. Religious minorities have remained underrepresented in politics and state agencies.

Crimes against women
Violent crimes against women, namely rape and acid-throwing, occur regularly. There are laws that protect against such crimes, but with a rape case, it has to be filed within 24 hours of the crime in order to press charges. Most cases never even get to reach the courts.

Prayer Concerns

  • Pray that more people in Bangladesh will be open to hear the gospel. Pray that when God opens a door, no man can shut.
  • Pray that the church will be united and usher in the Kingdom of God in Bangladesh.
  • Pray for God’s protection for the women in this nation. Pray that they will rise up and declare the praises of the Lord of Hosts.

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Maldives

Key Issues

Divorce
The government program for Maldives to be a tourist and honeymoon destination has improved the the economy of the country but not the lives of the people. It has the highest divorce rate of any nation. According to the UN, an average 30 year old woman in the Maldives has had 3 divorces. It has an average divorce rate of 11 divorces per 1000 people, yearly

Freedom of Religion
The civil law in the Maldives adheres to the Muslim Sharia law. Islam is the state religion. All citizens are required to be Muslim. Imams must use government approved sermons. Non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to observe their religion privately.

Prayer Concerns

There are a number of Christian expats and foreign nationals working in the country.

  • Pray that they would take the opportunity to be the Salt and Light in this island nation.

Gaining regular access to this tiny country is quite daunting.

  • Pray for more creative ways for the gospel to penetrate this nation especially in the capital island of Male.

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India

Key Issues

Overpopulation
India is 2nd largest in human population but is 33rd in population density.

Sanitation
1 out of 10 deaths in India are related to poor sanitation and hygiene in the country. Almost half a million people die annually due to diarrhea-related illnesses and 10% of people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities so they have to defecate in public or use the flowing water such as rivers and streams. Such actions multiply the spread of disease.

Dalits
In India there is a Hindu social order called the caste system. This system has been in place for thousands of years and is part of the culture and history of India. Those who do not belong to this order are called Dalits, untouchables, the oppressed. Their jobs are considered unclean work such as butchers, leather workers, latrine cleaners, street sweepers and other menial jobs. Culturally the Dalits’ options are limited. Many are now leaving the Hindu religion and converting to other religions to escape these circumstances.

Debt Bondage
In rural areas many farmers fall into debt and cannot get out of it so that even their children and even children’s children are bonded in servitude to the creditors.

Religious Violence
There have been many clashes of different religions in India but violence against Christians have been more commonplace this last decade.

Prayer Concerns

Religious Violence
Christians who share their faith openly have been at the brunt of Hindu nationalism in recent years. From student ministries to Bible distribution or just an ordinary Christian sharing their faith to their neighbors, have received beatings from organized mob violence in their own community. The Anti-Conversion Laws are used to jail pastors after they have been beaten up.

  • Pray that the God of peace may rule over the hearts and minds of the people in India.
  • Pray that they may see Jesus as the one who loves them and died for them.

Anti-Conversion Laws
Although the Indian Constitution guarantees the freedom to practice and propagate religion, it may not guarantee that freedom in different states. There are laws in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat State, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh that fine offenders and ban conversion to another religion.

  • Pray that the government of India will see that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest and His Kingdom is not of this world.
  • Pray that Church leaders will have the courage from the Holy Spirit to be obedient to the Heavenly calling.

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Sri Lanka

Key Issues

Corruption
Corruption remains a problem in Sri Lanka. Either in the low level of bribes to avoid red tape or in high level of public procurement, very few people are willing to speak up against it. There is also little protection to those who stand up against it.

Religious Freedom
Buddhism is tied to the national identity. A commonly held belief is that “To be Sri Lankan is to be Buddhist.” Locals think that “Christianity is a new kind of colonization.”

Mob attacks on churches
On January of 2017, a mob lead by a Buddhist monk attacked a church in northwestern Sri Lanka. The mob, numbering almost 200, came to the church with sticks, knives and bars and destroyed the venue of worship. However, the Christian community of 15 families were still determined to meet and pray under a tree.

Prayer Concerns

  • Pray the pastors and leaders of the church will continue to do the great commission amid threats to life and property.
  • Pray for God’s presence and Pray that the nation may come out of the religious pride and into the freedom and salvation that Christ offers.
  • Pray that righteousness will exalt the nation of Sri Lanka and the word of God will be made known to the people of Sri Lanka.