A Call to Prayer Unengaged Unreached Muslim Peoples of North India '#&ع $#"! 30 Days of Prayer “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig-tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” Song of Songs 2:10-13 God is doing a new thing in Northern India. For a number of years we have been speaking of the hidden bride – the 100’s thousands of unengaged, unreached, Muslim people groups. Now we sense that it is time to mobilise some intense prayer and intercession as the North Indian Bride begins to make herself ready. In this so called desert we want to call out the flowers, hear the new song and feel the wind of the Holy Spirit blow. We want to see fruit in terms of new workers sent and new expressions of Christ started. We are launching a 30 day period of prayer and fasting for North India starting Easter Sunday 31st March. Feel free to pray on the ground with us and think about mobilising prayer within your church wherever you are during this period. Introduction: the heart behind it Haggai, “the Lord’s messenger,” You are invited to join the aached encouraged the people: “Give careful prayer iniBave as a fresh start for India. thought… You have planted much but Workers in the field have an expectancy have harvested li?le…” The phrase “give the Kingdom of God is coming in a careful thought” is repeated five Bmes in powerful new way! (see Luke 10:1 - ) Haggai… The country of India is The iniBave begins with the new life of menBoned in Ester 1:1. TradiBon holds the ResurrecBon, but can be prayed at the Apostle Thomas brought the Gospel any Bme you can join us. “From this day to the subconBnent in the first century. on I will bless you,” says the Lord (Haggai “We have expected much, but…” (Haggai 2:19) 1:9) we do not yet see the Gospel impact we long for… The Lord is again sBrring This guide has a daily devoBonal (some the spirit within his people as He did in of this is informave to try and help us to Haggai’s day (Haggai 1:14). The promise understand more of the needs amongst then was the glory of the new Temple these peoples), a daily Bible verse, a would be greater than the former house different people group focus and some (Haggai 2:9) Will you join us in expectant points for prayer. We hope that you may prayer He is about to do something new be able to spend some Bme and seek the in our days? Lord and ask Him what He wants us to pray for these peoples throughout these Habakkuk 1:5 & 3:2 say the Lord will do 30 days. God said to Ezekiel, 3:20: “I something new in our days… looked for someone among them who Amos 3:7 The Sovereign Lord does would build up the wall and stand before nothing without revealing his plan to his me in the gap on behalf of the land so I servants the prophets… would not have to destroy it, but I found Amos 4:13… He reveals His thoughts to no one.” Our iniBal prayer is that the man. Lord will find people who will stand in Habakkuk 2:2 The Lord says write down the gap on behalf of these people! the revelaon, it waits for an appointed Please join us and pray for 30 days! Bme… though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Day 1 Philippians 4:7 the man of peace People Group Focus: Day 1 Name: pathan Population: 11,198,000 When you enter…first say, “Peace Location: to this house.” (Sallam alaykum) Uttar Pradesh: 4,775,000 Bihar: 328,000 Rajasthan: 978,000 If a man of peace is there, your Madhya Pradesh: 855,000 peace will rest on him. Lk 10:5,6 Delhi: 238,000 Jesus gave the 72 disciples this Many believed because of the About: Often those using the entry strategy when he sent them woman; others said we no longer surname Khan are Pathan (or ahead of him as “lambs among Pashtuns). Rae Barelli, believe just because of her, now we Farraukabad, Sambhal, Rohilkhand, wolves.” Luke 10:3. The man of have heard for ourselves. Lydia Azamgarh. The Pashtun have played peace is a gate keeper for families (Acts 16:13-15) is an another an important role in the history of their region. & the larger community. He may example of a woman of peace. help create favor with authoriQes Cornelius (Acts 10:22-27); the Jailer Sunni Muslims that are related or create an opening for the (Acts 16:29-34); and Jason (Acts historically to Pashtos in Pakistan and Afghanistan are mostly Pathans. hearing of the Gospel – in the 17:1-9) are other examples. Jason From their community have come places Jesus will come. The is an example of how the “person Muslim rulers, administrators, and Samaritan woman in John 4 was a of peace” can suffer by creang an soldiers. While many have moved out of the highlands in search of an woman of peace. Most of us are opening for the Gospel. This is why easier life on the plains, their familiar with the conversaon it is essenQal we not only find these mountainous homeland continues to Jesus had with this woman, but people, but also pray God’s hand be be their citadel of strength and freedom. Pashtun society is based consider Jn 4:39 & 42: on them. on extended family. Islam came to them as a great liberating and unifying force, freeing them from the cult of Brahminism Prayer Focus and the harshness of Buddhism. For this reason, their underlying faith and - Pray that God will raise many men steadfast devotion to Islam are very strong. and women of peace to set the pillars of his Church amongst the UUMPG’s of North India. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who Day 2 sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:17-18 ‘ ’ ramadan aka Ramazan People Group Focus: Day 2 Name: ansari momin Population: 10,004,000 The 5 pillars of Islamic faith Location: include: Saying the creed, praying Uttar Pradesh: 4,424,000 Bihar: 1,825,000 five Qmes a day, giving alms, Uttarakhand: 132,000 pilgrimage to Mecca (if you are Gujarat: 127,000 able) and… Ramadan: a month of Delhi: 102,000 fasQng from food & pleasures earlier each year. Please pray from sunrise to sunset. Many About: Ansari is Arabic derived from workers will be able to share God’s Ansar which has a literal meaning of Muslims exchange eang during idea of an acceptable fast described "those who support". Ansar the day for feasQng at night. originates from the Medinan people in Isaiah 58. “Is this the kind of fast Because Muslims are a minority who assisted the prophet I’ve chosen…?” asks the Lord. Is 58: 5 Muhammed as he migrated from community in North India, the fast Mecca to Medina. These people later is not as strictly enforced as Muslims celebrate the compleQon of became his emissaries and soldiers. Urdu speaking Muslims found in Muslim majority countries. the fast with an end-fasQng holiday. Uttar Pradesh and the Sindh region Ramadan is the actual name of a Many poor North Indian Muslims of Pakistan. Are said to be Sunni but month of the Islamic calendar, also follow folk Islam. Mainly illiterate find the end-fasQng holiday more and poor. Varanasi District is the which has 10 less days / year than special than Islam’s more significant centre of their community. They are the Western calendar. This means holiday, known as Baqri Eid or Eid al traditionally weavers and are said to the Ramadan fast begins 10 days have been converted from hindu Adha. That holiday commemorates weaving castes. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Prayer Focus Pray we can explain how God’s intervenQon in the Abraham story of Genesis 22 (and Passover Exodus 12) foreshadows God’s redempQve work on the cross. "Having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." Day 3 Revelation 14:6 moradabad People Group Focus: Day 3 Name: Sheikh Population: 76,868,000 This city was established in Location: approx. 1600 by prince Murad, Uttar Pradesh: 10,236,000 Bihar: 9,249,000 the son of the Mughal Emperor Rajasthan: 2,811,000 Shah Jahan. It is situated 167 km Madhya Pradesh: 2,094,000 (104 mi) from the naonal capital, Delhi, on a tributary of the Ganges About: After the advent of Islam in South Asia, some high caste River. The city is nicknamed Pital (Brahmins, Muslim Rajputs and Nagri, ("City of Brass") for its Khatris) converted to Islam in the Punjab region and adopted this title. famous brass handicras industry. They are known as Punjabi Shaikh (Punjabi).