February 19 : Nayinda of India. “This month, we are asking you to pray for the Nayinda people of southern India. There are more than 200,000 Nayinda in Karnataka, with no known evangelical involvement among them. They are a poor people, which usually makes it easier for them to recognize their need for a Savior, but even so, we still do not know of any Christians among them. They also tend to be concentrated in one location, the Dakshina district of Karnataka. They speak a lesser-known language, Tulu, which isolates them from others even more! Traditionally they are barbers. In recent times, they have been moving into urban areas to seek jobs as barbers, as well as day laborer jobs. Pray that as they come to the cities, they will be able to hear the Gospel in a language they can understand and take it back to their families.” http://prayerthreads.imb.org

February 20 : Embracing the UUPGs. The task of reaching all the unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) of mid-southern India seems insurmountable, but God knows how it can be done! We are beginning to see one of the ways God is accomplishing this purpose of His: through the ‘embracing’ of UUPGs by churches. As we shared earlier, we are praising God that 12 of our UUPGs were embraced by churches in the United States. He has been answering your prayers that these people would be able to involve others in their churches in praying for these UUPGs. Praise God, we now have some who want to be involved through volunteer teams and beyond. We ask you to pray for our leadership to have the wisdom to know how to facilitate these churches beginning to have an impact on these people groups.” http://prayerthreads.imb.org

February 21 : Sing for the Nations. Please claim the song in Revelation 15:2b-4 with the authority of Jesus Christ, and sing it in the power of the Holy Spirit for every nation (people group) represented in Karachi. In this city of millions, there are multiple languages heard: Urdu, Pushto, Balochi, Sindhi, Bengali, Brahui, Shina, Hindko, Gujarati, Memoni, Balti, Pohari, Gujar, Arabic, English and more. The promise from God is that all nations will come and worship before Him. Pray for the people in Karachi to be among those kneeling before His throne, praising the King of kings, Jesus Christ. Intercede for believers in Jesus and for those who work in the harvest fields to be focused on Jesus and keep their eyes open to see where He is working and join Him. Pray that they will go forward in boldness and wisdom. Ask that the evil one, Satan, will be bound in chains now! Plead for the people of Karachi to have open ears and hearts, ready to listen to the Gospel message and receive it, and then share it with others.

February 22 : Heart Language Makes Difference. Praise God that the Book of Luke translated into Assamese Muslimani has been printed and is being distributed! This is the first book of the Bible to be printed in the heart language of the Assamese Muslims. Thank the Lord for individuals who have translated the book and worked on the details of the publishing. Intercede for the Muslim-background believers and Muslims who will be receiving the Book of Luke in a language they can understand. Ask that those who have yet to believe will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Pray for each Muslim who receives a book, asking that he/she will be bold and read it, and that his/her heart will be open to Jesus Christ. God can break down barriers in any heart. The Word of God is living and active!

February 23 : Community Radio. Please pray for an Indian Christian man, a Bihari Muslim-background believer, who has the “new assignment” of setting up community radio in one area of Bihar state. This past summer, he attended a training session to learn how to do this. Ask that he will now be able to apply what he has learned for the sake of Biharis who need the Lord. Our brother writes: “Please pray that God (will) give me wisdom and strength that I can be able to perform well. . . . Pray that God (will) make me an instrument for His kingdom (so) that I can be able to share His love and compassion among the people.” Pray that many will hear the Gospel through this new program and will place their faith in Isa (Jesus). Thank you for being a part of this new ministry through prayer. May the Lord be glorified. BihariBride@pobox.com

February 24 : Reaching Muslims. Thank you again for your prayers regarding a teaching course that a cross-cultural representative wrote on how to reach the Muslims of northern India with the Good News of Jesus. A new group of Bihari Christians are continuing to learn how to reach their Muslim neighbors with the Good News. Eleven are coming from throughout the state to attend the training. Please keep praying that these Christians will take what they are learning and use it to further the kingdom of God among Bihari Muslims. Approximately 17 million Bihari Muslims live in India, and about 12.5 million live in Bihar and Jharkhand states. Pray that the Good News will travel fast and change lives for eternity. BihariBride@pobox.com

February 25 : Responding to Truth. During the Christmas season, the “JESUS” film was broadcast on national television in the language of the Deccani Muslims. More than 100 Deccani Muslims responded via telephone text messages, asking for a copy of the film for themselves. They are from the Shaikh, Sayyed and Ansari peoples. The “JESUS” films were shipped to them in January. Pray that the films will be passed around, reaching multiple homes. Ask God to use these films to convict the Deccani Muslims of the truth of the good news that salvation has been provided through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that those who oppose this message will be miraculously convicted of the truth, as the apostle Paul was, by direct intervention from our Lord. 

February 12 : Worship in Sri Lanka. Pray for new believers in one people group in Sri Lanka that is mostly Muslim. As they begin to gather together, ask that they will be biblical in their worship and also culturally relevant so that others may be attracted to the message. Pray for more mature Christians working with them to teach them how to worship biblically, and ask that those Christians will not influence them to adopt anything from other cultures that would make the Gospel feel foreign to these new believers.

February 13 : Bleeding Disorder. A cross-cultural worker in India wrote: “Last month I was able to travel to a holy city in a different part of the state to work with a volunteer team. We spent our time working with widows. We also worked in a school, as well as in some slum areas. We faced some spiritual opposition, but we were able to see God at work in that dark city. A woman who lives in the slum was recently healed from a bleeding disorder. We were able to go back to her house and tell her the bleeding woman story from the Bible. She recognized that just like the Lord healed her, He healed the woman in the story. It’s always cool to see how His Spirit reveals the truth to people’s hearts! As you celebrate Valentine’s Day this month, pray that hearts throughout India will be open to the Truth. Pray that many will choose to follow Jesus in 2012.”

February 14 : Love Lets Go. Love sometimes means you have to let go of something you dearly love. Jesus had to let go of His disciples here on earth, so He put them into the hands of the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance. The Light of Hope Center in Bangladesh is a ministry that is loved greatly by the cross-cultural workers who are involved in that project. However, it is their desire for the Light of Hope Center to function on a day-by-day basis without the physical presence of foreigners. Please pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the nationals and cross-cultural workers as they begin to make the transition. Pray that God will continue to work in and through this ministry.

February 15 : New work. Please pray for an exciting new work that will begin this month in Dhaka. Two recent college graduates have committed two years of their lives to start a community health program. They will be working with the poor and going into homes to teach health lessons and Bible truths. Ask God to provide them with national women partners to go with them. Pray that He will lead them to the areas where there are “people of peace” (Luke 10:6) ready to receive the Gospel. Ask God to bless their relationships with nationals and with each other, and pray that He will be glorified by their service in Bangladesh.

February 16 : Christmas Volunteers. Thank you for praying for the team from Tennessee who came to Bangladesh over Christmas. God was faithful and gave them many opportunities to share the good news of Christmas. From the slums to the upper classes, the story was told of Christ coming to earth as God’s gift to mankind. The “JESUS” film and Scripture in the Bangla language were given out to many so they could learn more about Jesus. Pray for all those who heard the Gospel and who now have God’s story in their language. Pray that God will draw them to Himself and that many will come to Him.

February 17 : Open Doors Come with Persecution. Please intercede for a group of new believers in the village of HL. They are brand new to the faith and have already baptized some others in their community. Please pray for their protection and encouragement, as they are growing and experiencing/sure to experience more persecution. One national partner had faced accusations from outsiders in the village, but local officials cleared him of the accusations, leaving him with an open door for work in that village for now. Pray for this opportunity, and please ask for rich growth during this time of an open door.

February 18 : Let the Children Come. “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14, HCSB). She was only 5 years old when her religion teacher told her class that Jesus had died on the cross for their sins. She went home and cried for a week. From that time on, Jesus Christ had her heart. Though her Buddhist mother continued to take her to the temple, she belonged to Jesus. She heard Him speak to her throughout her life, and she sought to listen and follow. Today she is a mother of three young men, and she has sought diligently to teach them about the way, the truth and the life. Praise the Lord that God loves the little children and that He has a purpose and plan for each of their lives!

February 5 : Reaching all People. Pray for trainings that will be held in February in Western Europe and Southeast Asia to teach Christians how to reach Hindus from the highest castes. Most Christians in India are from low-caste backgrounds, so some workers have developed ways to help communicate the Gospel to higher-caste Hindus more effectively without turning them off. Pray for the participants to apply what they have learned, and pray that Hindus throughout Western Europe and Southeast Asia will be more receptive to the Gospel and come to know Yeshu-ji (Jesus).

February 6 : Moving Forward in 2012.  Pray for a spirit of courage, love and unity among the leadership team as they meet February 6-8 “to seek His face on how to continue building on the momentum we are seeing in the fields and take full advantage of the leaders He has entrusted to us!”

February 7 : Meeting a Need. A group from the United States will be visiting the Baptist hospital in India to consider ways in which they can partner in financial support for major capital needs. Pray that they will see the spiritual effectiveness of the hospital and its educational programs. Ask that they will “catch a vision” of ways they can be a part of expanding the physical and spiritual ministry of the hospital.

February 8 : In need of the Shepherd. Recently there was a story told about a woman who went to the doctor and carried her two year-old daughter with her. A hospital worker told the woman that she should just leave her daughter outside the door and go in to see the doctor. She did as the staff member said, and later she could not find her little girl. In a panic, the woman searched the hospital, only to find her daughter’s dead body lying on the floor. She had been suffocated and killed while the woman saw the doctor. I told this story to a Bengali friend, sickened by this poor woman’s loss and upset with her for leaving her child. My friend said, “She is poor; she did not know any better.” If you are poor and someone more educated than you tells you to do something, then you do it. Wow, what a plight! Pray for the people of Bangladesh. Pray for those who are like lost sheep in need of a Shepherd, and intercede for the well off and well educated in need of a Savior. Ask God to turn their mourning into dancing and to wipe every tear from their eyes.

February 9 : Who are the Ahmadiyya? You may have heard of Sunni and Shi’ite, but what about Ahmadiyya? Ahmadiyya is a persecuted Muslim people group. This Pakistan-based religion claims to be Muslim, but is considered to be a cult by mainstream Muslims. Due to persecution in Pakistan, Ahmadiyya followers are scattered throughout the world. In 2011 in Pakistan, more than 100 Ahmadiyya were baptized. Some of the new believers want to share the Good News with their Ahmadiyya brothers and sisters around the world. Pray for Ahmadiyya-background believers to find ways to share among their own people!

February 10 : Opening New Work. Give thanks to the Lord for sending workers into a new area of His harvest! Their assignment is to engage the more than five million South Asian migrant workers who are far from their homes, temporarily on the Arabian Peninsula. Pray specifically that God will give them national partners and open doors for the Bible both in oral and written form.

February 11 :  Volunteer Teams Makes a Difference. Thank you for praying for the volunteer team that went into rural Bangladesh and held medical clinics recently. God blessed them and enabled them to see many patients and provide health teaching to school-age children. God gave them access to this community, and they were able to show God’s love to many. On the second night, they were given permission to show the “JESUS” film, and the local Muslim religious leaders told people they should watch it since they did not know much about Jesus! More than 200 people watched the film, and many received Scripture in their language. Pray that the people will see how much God loves them and surrender their hearts to Him.

January 29 : Father Protects. Thank you for praying for S, a national partner, last month during the ordeal that he and his family experienced because of a local group in his neighborhood. Praise God that the situation has been resolved, and God showed His faithfulness and protection. Many other believers rallied around them for encouragement and support.

January 30 : Courage to Follow. J is from a Muslim family. She is a young married woman who has had contact with believers for several years. She is aware of the Gospel, but it has not fully taken root in her life. The biggest barrier to her following Christ is her family. She is married to a Muslim man who does not support her searching for truth in the Christian faith. Her mother and other family members have become very angry with her in the past. Though J has not made a decision to follow Christ, she continues to interact with believers and ask questions regularly. Please pray that God will send another woman from a Muslim background to give witness to J. Ask that J’s family members’ hearts will change. Ask God to give J the boldness to follow Christ, no matter what the cost!

January 31 : Give Them a Chance. We have a small, growing list of Muslim seekers. Pray that God will show us the most effective way to follow up with them. Ask Him to provide the right national believers to meet with them for Bible study and evangelism efforts. Pray for national believers who are learning more about church planting among Muslims. Ask God to help them understand fundamental theological principles about salvation and baptism, and to present the Gospel clearly and give others a chance to respond, rather than believe that Muslims will not accept Jesus quickly and, therefore, not offer them the chance to repent and be saved. Pray that these seekers will count the cost of discipleship and find that Jesus is worthy of great sacrifice. Ask God to prepare and sustain them when persecution comes. Pray that whole families and communities will give their lives to Jesus this month.

February 1 : Total healing needed. Bengali Christians host a “jamaat” (house church) for Bihari Muslim seekers of the truth. One of the jamaat members is in need of your prayers for her physical and spiritual healing. A. sometimes “goes senseless.” “During that time, her body shivers . . . she cannot take breath normally and feels very hard,” writes a Bengali Christian who helps lead the jamaat group. Pray that A. will look to Jesus to save, heal and free her and that He will hear her prayer and ours and do just that. Pray that A. will become a strong, committed follower of Jesus and will faithfully proclaim His name, testifying that He alone has the power to save and work true miracles of healing. Pray that those in the jamaat will have wisdom on how to minister to their members in need and they will be unified in love and fortified with faith.

February 2 : Garment Factory Opening Doors. Give thanks to God for providing the right people to begin a Community Transformation Training. Praise Him for also opening doors into the garment industry through this training.

February 3 : Nurses Choose Jesus. In the past few months, several young women in their first year of nursing school have come to faith in Christ. Pray for the discipleship classes that are going on regularly with these young women. Ask that they will become strong in faith and will learn to share their faith effectively with their families and with their patients.

February 4 : Family Baptized. “Some time ago, 12 people from a Muslim background were baptized by a national worker. They had been believing for some time prior to this event and were looking forward to being baptized. The best part is that most of them are part of the same family. Praise the Lord with us!”

January 22 : New Year in Christ. At the end of December, the Gurung celebrated “Tamu Losar,” their New Year. Pray that this year, thousands of Gurung and Magar people will hear the Gospel, begin living for Jesus, and follow His command to share the Gospel with others and teach those others to obey (Matthew 28:20).

January 23 : Transforming Lives. Community Transformation Training has begun in one area. Please pray for God’s guidance regarding other areas to begin this training. Please ask the Lord to use this training to develop relationships with women who do not have a personal relationship with Him, but who are searching for such a relationship.

January 24 : Violence Against Women. Thirty-five percent of women in India become victims of physical or sexual violence between the ages of 15 and 49. In Bihar state, however, that percentage escalates to 56 percent! The Women’s Development Corporation, the organization that provided these statistics, is trying to raise awareness of the problem of violence against women in Bihar, according to news reports. Please pray for the women of Bihar. Ask God to protect them, and pray that they will be drawn to Him. Pray that those who abuse these beautiful women will learn to handle relationships with the gentleness and love of Christ.

January 25 : Prepare the Way. In March, the LEAD (Leadership Equipping and Development) team plans to resume training with a tribal group in an area that has endured much persecution for the past three years. Please pave the way for this training week in prayer. Intercede for those who are translating the materials into their local language as well as those who will interpret during the week, for the coordinator, for the safety of the participants, and for the travel of the LEAD teachers.

January 26 : Questioned for Faith. A Deccani Muslim named A., who came to Christ a few years ago, is being challenged by the local Islamic leaders in his community. He has grown much in these last few years, even traveling to share his faith in Isa-al-Masih (Jesus Christ), yet he has kept his faith secret from his immediate family until recently. In November, he was taken to his local mosque and questioned several times. It is not clear what the community’s intent is – to reconvert him or to harass him – but we know that the Lord God Almighty intends to use even this for His glory, for the expansion of His kingdom in A.’s life, and in the community of people where A. lives. Please pray that God will help A. be strong in his love, faith, and obedience to Jesus. Pray that through this, the Gospel will spread through the community and many will place their faith in Jesus too. Pray that as this new year unfolds, A. will experience God’s work in His life in new ways – even by others coming to faith through him.

January 27 : Empowered to Share. Give thanks to God for all the unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) who heard the Gospel presented during Christmas events held all over the southern states of India last month. Praise God for empowering Christians to share the Gospel boldly! Please continue to pray for the seeds that were planted during those events to grow in the hearts of thousands of UUPGs, resulting in many new believers this year.

January 28 : Prayerwalking Teams Needed.In November, you began asking God to prepare teams of short-term strategic prayer partners who would prayerwalk in various locations known for spiritual strongholds in the mid-southern parts of India. Please continue praying! Pray that the need will be shared in ways that reach those whom God is preparing to come. Could God be asking you to be part of one of those teams?

January 15 : Physical and Spiritual Food. Continue to pray for those affected by the monsoon rains in the Sindh of Pakistan. The need is great despite the response of the government and international community. Intercede for local believers as they reach out with aid for the most needy. Pray that they will be able to serve with joy and that many of the contacts will be hungry for spiritual as well as physical food. Pray for more laborers in the harvest, and ask the Lord to open doors for more workers.

January 16 : One-day training. “Thank you for your continued prayers for more laborers and partners in reaching the Muslims of Karnataka. Rejoice that God is slowly answering that request! Pray for Muslim-background believers who are coming forward. Ask God to help us have a unified vision and the ability to work together. There will be an opportunity in early January to hold a one-day training event at a local church in a district in Karnataka. Please pray for us as we prepare for this. Ask God to give us the right material to share to help the church move forward in their desire to reach the Muslims all around them. Pray for safety in travel as well as good communication skills. Ask that we will be able to use our language well and that the translator can help fill in the gaps.”

January 17 : Standing Strong. S is a young woman who is a believer, but the rest of her family is Hindu. A few months ago, S told a worker, “I know that Divali is coming soon and my family will worship their idols. When that time comes, I will not bow down to the idols, and my brother might beat me as a result. Please pray that I will stand strong in this situation.” Please pray for S and the many like her who are attempting to live out their faith in the midst of unbelieving family members who are often hostile to their faith. Pray that through the life of S, her family will come to know Jesus.

January 18 : Keeping the Peace.  Freedom from fear . . . many churches and individuals are gripped with fear to boldly live out their faith. In a culture where believers are the “vast minority,” many times they are more concerned with keeping peace than proclaiming the Prince of Peace. Pray that faithful believers will claim this verse: “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

January 19 :  Three New Lighthouses. Thank the Lord for three new churches that have been started in Kolkata. Pray that they will be lights to the communities where they are and that they will seek to further God’s kingdom in other parts of the city.

January 20 : Marriage is Tough. A Deccani Muslim asked a Christian friend he spotted on the street, “Why did I get married? It’s so tough!” Praise God that He is using life’s challenges to bring Muslims to interact with Christians! Praise God that Christians are being friendly and loving with Muslims in their communities so that Muslims feel free to interact with them on this level! Please pray that as Muslims are being challenged, they will not find rest until they place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that the Gospel will be spoken in ways that the Deccani Muslims can understand. Pray for a harvest this new year among the Deccani Muslims!

January 21 : Kidnappings Increase. Last October, you began praying for the abducted in Bihar state after a young woman was kidnapped from her college campus during her first day of college. Kidnappings continue to take place in Bihar and seem to be increasing. Not only do college women fall victim, but young boys do also. Last month, the body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered. He had been missing eight days, and his family had received a steep ransom demand from his kidnappers, according to new reports. Hours later, the skeleton of another boy who had been missing since May was discovered. At least two boys and one girl remain missing. Please pray that these children will be returned safely to their families. Pray that all the children in Bihar will be able to go to and from school without fear. Pray that kidnappers will encounter the Savior and repent and follow Him in righteousness and love.

January 8 : Hearing the Truth. In India, there are so many Hindu festivals that are celebrated and many celebrate even though they have no idea the reason they are celebrating. India is becoming more and more and more influenced by American culture. Even Christmas is becoming more common to celebrate here. The problem is that many Hindus do not know the true reason but celebrate only Santa. In December, many believers had the opportunity to share the real reason for the Christmas season. Please pray for the lost who heard the truth to be penetrated to the very depths of their hearts by God’s love. Please pray that He will cause them to seek out believers and ask more questions, and pray that many will be saved and forever be changed by the message they heard.

January 9 : Picnic for the Children. Rejoice with us, for the Lord God has again provided so that Bihari Muslim children can have their annual picnic on January 11! In 2010, Vacation Bible School students at a Baptist church in Missouri gave their offerings to meet this need. In 2011, the same VBS had a contest between the girls and boys to see who could give the most. The girls won, so the boys’ leader had to kiss a frog! God calls us to do strange and amazing things sometimes! Kissing a frog is definitely strange, but helping Bihari children experience the joy of green grass, games, fun, and songs is absolutely amazing. A Bengali Christian who ministers to these children writes: “Our Bihari Muslim children are excited and waiting for picnic. Because these children are very poor, they do not get enough food in a day and cannot go out for recreation. Please pray for that picnic.”

January 10 : Sacred City. Workers will be meeting and working alongside a group of volunteers in one of the most sacred cities according to Hindus. They will be sharing the Good News with the lost and praying for the needs of the people they meet. Please pray that the lost will have ears to hear and that the prayer needs will be met according to God’s good plan and for His glory.

January 11 : Health Care for Bangladesh. A volunteer team from a church in the United States will be visiting a remote area of Bangladesh this month to provide health screenings and basic health and hygiene teaching. A team from the same church has previously prayerwalked in the same area. Pray that as physical needs are met, members of the team will have opportunities to share the Good News with those to whom they minister. Pray specifically that the team will be invited to show the “JESUS” film on their last night in the village.

January 12 : South Asian Hindu Festivals. Hindus in South Asia (and worldwide) will celebrate Makar Sankranti (also known as Pongal) on January 14. Taking place 21 days after the winter solstice, it is one of the few festivals celebrated on the same day each year and based on a solar event, rather than a lunar event. It is of major spiritual significance for Hindus as it marks the transition from an inauspicious phase into a more auspicious time of the year. In some areas, it signifies the harvest season. Many believe this day is an auspicious day to start a journey or other major endeavor. A popular ritual is to fly colorful kites, symbolic of offering worship to the sun god, of trying to reach him. Please pray that Hindus will hear the Gospel this week, allowing them to embark on the only journey of true significance – that of eternal life with the Father who loves them and gave His Son to be their Savior. Pray that they will offer their hearts to Jesus, realizing that simple faith is the only way they can reach Him. Pray for a great harvest of souls among the Hindus of South Asia this year.

January 13 : World Gathering in Bangladesh. The “Bishwa Ijtema,” or World Gathering, will take place this month in Dhaka. This is the second-largest Muslim gathering in the world and usually attracts more than 5 million attendees. It is not uncommon for Muslim-background believers to go to the area where the gathering takes place and distribute Scripture and tracts. Please pray that many who come to this gathering in search of Allah’s blessing will find the truth of Christ.

January 14 : Reaching Out. January brings a new team of two college students to Nepal to work with the Chitwan Tharu. These young men will be working with one of our national partners to share the Gospel and help plant churches in a place where there is none. Please pray that they will have safe and easy travel, and that they will stay healthy throughout their time on this journey. Ask that they will be well prepared by God in every way so that they will love the people as He does and share in a way that the Chitwan Tharu and many others can understand and begin following the one true God.

January 1 : Transformation Needed. Six months ago, you began praying for a new ministry among Bihari Muslim children, a preschool morning session. At the center, poor Bihari children have an opportunity to take showers, hear Bible stories, learn action songs and hear other important teachings. One of the center directors recently wrote: “Please pray for our morning-shift children. Few of them steal things from nearby market. When they are found stealing by the owner of the shop, they are much beaten by him. But their parents do not take care of them. So please pray for us, that we can teach them what is right and good to do.” The teaching these children receive at the center can better their lives now and for all eternity. Pray that God will give the center’s directors and teachers wisdom and discernment. Pray for the salvation of all the children attending the morning preschool and their families.

January 2 : Burial Grounds Needed. Numerous Muslim Chittagonians are becoming Christians. Please pray for these new believers’ spiritual growth and development. One of the issues they currently face is where to bury their family when they die and who their children should marry. Their Muslim friends and neighbors may not allow them to bury them in the same areas due to their new beliefs. They may not know other Christians for their children to marry. Please pray for them to look to the Lord and His Word for His wisdom and answers to these questions. Pray also for them to remain strong among much persecution and ridicule.

January 3 : Making a Choice. “I think I shall be a follower of both Jesus and Muhammad. But if there is a conflict between what Jesus wants and what Muhammad wants, I will follow Jesus.” It is apparent that R, a young man from Bangladesh, is still feeling pressured by his parents’ demands. Recently they forbade him from physically meeting with Christians. He is still allowed Internet contact with a worker and a national believer. R also wrote: “I believe Jesus performed miracles like healing the sick and raising the dead.” Please pray that as he reads the Gospels, his faith in Jesus will grow. Pray that God will provide such that R can get a job and move out of his parents’ home. Ask the Father to have mercy on his parents and siblings, to “grant them repentance to know the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25b-26, HCSB).

January 4 : God is Moving in Nepal. “Thank you for praying for the team that came from Texas to do a training. Those college students changed a small community of believers! Since then, the believers in that church have shared with more than 200 people, and we have 12 new brothers and sisters! Praise to the Giver of all good things! Please continue to pray for the believers in the Middle Hill region, asking that they will continue in their newfound boldness in sharing.”

January 5 : People of Peace. Pray for more people like the young woman J on the college campuses. Pray for “people of peace” (Luke 10:6), people whose hearts are tender toward the Gospel. Pray that J will come to know Jesus personally, and that through J, many other people will also come to know Jesus personally. Pray that as local believers hear this story of how God is at work on this campus, they, too, will be encouraged. Ask for small groups to start on this campus. pr4punjabis@topicbox.com

January 6 : Veluttedan Need Jesus. “Father God, our hearts break that among the Veluttedan people of South India, there are none who can be called Your people. Lord, we ask on their behalf that You please show them mercy. Please burden hearts to pray for the Veluttedan people, and please send believers to engage them so that they can soon be called Your people” (based on 1 Peter 2:10). http://prayerthreads.imb.org

January 7 : ASAP 101. As people in the United States begin to “Embrace” the hundreds of unengaged unreached people groups of South Asia, trainings are being planned to help prepare them to work with South Asians at home and abroad. Please pray for these “ASAP 101” trainings coming up in 2012: January 25-26, Louisiana; March 27-28, Texas; April 14, North Carolina; and September 18-19, Florida. Pray for those who will be facilitating these meetings and for those who will participate in them. Ask that many South Asians will come to know the Savior as a result of this special emphasis on the unengaged unreached peoples. http://prayerthreads.imb.org

December 25 :  Christmas in Dhaka. “Christmas in Dhaka is a unique time of celebration and ministry. Those of us who are believers enjoy baking special treats, decorating our homes, and shopping for gifts for friends and family. Churches and Christian schools have Christmas plays and sing holiday songs, remembering the great gift of Christ to the world. But around us, the streets are still overflowing with those going about their lives unaware of who this Christ truly is. The call to prayer still blares from the mosques and the 99.9 percent who do not claim to be Christian continue on their path to an eternity without Him. So, while we celebrate the joy of Christmas, our hearts are heavy for those who have no such peace and hope. This December, a team from the States will sacrifice Christmas with their families to come and minister to the people of Bangladesh. They will help host Christmas parties with believers and non-believers. They will love on children in the slums, as well as share with university-age students. Pray that God will open many doors of ministry for them as they share the true story of Christmas. Pray that the Good News will change lives and that many will come to know the Savior of the world.

December 26 : Learning to Teach Others. “What you’ve told me about the importance of sharing my testimony is just what I need at this time in my life, to live for Jesus in a positive way.” This was said by one of five men who were recently equipped to share their faith in Jesus, and then to train others to do the same. Please pray that these men will be faithful in telling others of Jesus, and in equipping those to also tell others. “Finally, pray for us, brothers, that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, HCSB).

December 27 : Monsoon Rains in Sindh Province. Pray for the political and social situation in Pakistan. Ask the Lord to use these troubled times to make people aware of their need of stability that only Christ can bring in their lives. Continue to pray for those affected by the monsoon rains in the Sindh. Homes were lost, livestock drowned, and most crops were destroyed; drinking water is unsafe. Pray that their financial needs will be met and that the limited resources will be used wisely, and ask that Christ’s love will be manifested as believers minister to these hurting people.

December 28 : Faithful Prayers Open Doors. For two years, workers have been praying for a particular large university in the capital city. In June, workers started prayerwalking and looking for “people of peace” (Luke 10:6) on the campus every week; many weeks they will prayerwalk on the campus three and four times a week. In September, when they asked you to pray for them in this endeavor, the workers had decided that they would give one more month’s time to this particular university, and if nothing happened, then they would shift their time and efforts to another university. Two weeks after that was decided, the workers were sitting on a bench outside a dorm, asking God to do big things. A young woman, J, came up to them and introduced herself and invited them into her dorm room. Through the course of the conversation, the workers were able to share about Christ with J – to which J responded, “Oh, you believe the Bible? I have one of those. I’ve tried to read it but just don’t understand it!” Give thanks to God that since then, J has been attending a local church and is showing much interest in learning about Jesus! pr4punjabis@topicbox.com

December 29 : Holy Spirit At Work. “Thank you for praying last month for the training events. Give thanks to God that the meetings that happened in mid-October were a success. In Delhi, six strong believers came together for three days of teaching. I was somewhat intimidated, because each of these men came from a very strong Muslim background, so I promptly put away my notes on ‘What Muslim’s Believe’ and allowed the Holy Spirit to choose the topics we discussed. At the next location, 29 people attended a two-day overview and then were invited to participate in a 12-day (two days per month) full training. By the grace of God, and your prayers, 25 people expressed an interested in learning how to reach Muslims for Christ!”

December 30 : Year End Praises.  “As this year comes to a close, praise the Lord with us for all the ways He has answered your prayers and blessed the work among Muslims in Karnataka. Thank Him for calling out more laborers to this harvest field. Give Him glory for opportunities that He gave to declare His plan of salvation, both individually and on a larger scale. Rejoice over those whose names are now written in the Book of Life and who will spend eternity with God. Continue to ask God to prepare the hearts of Muslims throughout the state. Pray for more seed-sowing opportunities. Pray that those laboring here will not grow weary in doing good. Pray for those coming to faith to grow in love for Jesus and to demonstrate faith through obedience. Ask that those teaching new believers will have wisdom and be able to help them gather into house churches.”

December 31 : Strategic Moves. The international couple working in K-state to implement church-planting strategies has recently moved to a new city to be in a more strategic location for engaging K- state’s 28 unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) and more than 30 unreached people groups (UPGs). Please pray for them as they continue to try to raise up nationals and other workers to join them in reaching the more than 60 million who live in K-state. They will be joined early in the new year by another international couple. Please also pray for this new couple to transition well and to adjust quickly to life so that they can get busy with the reason they came: to spread to Good News of Jesus Christ to the millions who live in constant darkness.

December 18 : Open Eyes & Open Hearts. Please pray for believers to have open eyes and hearts to see where God is at work and then join Him during the month of December as the birth of Jesus is celebrated. Ask for them to have opportunities to share the message of God’s love. Claim Acts 28:31, “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” May the people of Karachi who hear this message have the courage to place their faith in the Savior and then, in wisdom and boldness, tell others about His love.

December 19 : Prayers Answered.  Just last month, you prayed for God to cause the paths of Christians and Malay Muslims to cross. Surely it would not surprise you to know that God has already answered! At a birthday party of a child’s classmate, a worker was amazed to find that the family was indeed Malay! Not only was the birthday girl a classmate, but the mother is the teacher of one of the worker’s other children! Much truth was shared with the grandfather and great-uncle who live in one of the most spiritually dark places on the island. Please continue to pray for the Malay, especially for this family that has many connections to international Christians, asking that they will come to know the truth and that it will set them free.

December 20 : Creative Opportunities. Can you smell the aroma of sugar cookies baking in the oven? The holidays provide many opportunities for Christians to share their celebrations with the lost. Muslims, Buddhists and others will be entering homes of believers during the Christmas season and may even hear for the first time of how the Savior of mankind was born in a humble stable. Pray for Christians to seek out creative opportunities to make Christ known this month. Ask the Holy Spirit to already be at work in the hearts of those who listen, causing them to be open to the message of salvation. Pray that Sri Lanka will be “filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14, HCSB).

December 21 : Discernment Needed. “Adama” (pseudonym) is taking some time off from his full-time ministry among the Deccani Muslims because his father has cancer. He’s taken a loan from an organization to pay for surgery that he hopes will remove all the cancer. As difficult as this is, the cost is great. To pay back the loan, Adama has agreed to work for that organization for two years. Without his direct involvement in the network of believers the Lord started through him, Adama is unsure what to do. He knows that the Lord has His plan, even in all of this. Please pray that Adama and others who share the Good News will receive discernment and wisdom about what the next steps should be, both for the network of believers and to encourage Adama and his family. Despite all this, Adama and many others are working to show the “JESUS” film during the holiday season on Muslim television stations. Please pray that this actually will occur and that through this, many Deccani Muslims will hear and understand the Gospel, turning to Jesus in faith.

December 22 : Celebrating Christ’ Birth. “As Christmas approaches again, the joy of Christ’s birth fills our thoughts. We are also overjoyed as we look back over the year and think about the new Bible studies that have started throughout the state, and the new believers who have joined the family of God this year. Thank God for those new believers, and for the new Bible studies taking place in homes and churches. Pray that He will strengthen those believers and help them to be bold. Pray that as the season of Christ’s birth is upon us, all believers will be unable to keep the joy to themselves and will share with everyone they meet the ‘good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’ Pray for the lost as they observe celebrations of Christmas, asking that they will be filled with a hunger and a longing to understand what the celebrations mean and that they will seek Christ.” http://prayforgujarat.wordpress.com/

December 23 : Although Jesus is considered to be an Islamic prophet, His birthday is not widely celebrated among Muslims. Please pray that Christians throughout K state will look for creative ways to share the joy and meaning of Christmas with their Muslim friends and neighbors. Pray that Christian sects or cults that have misleading ideas about salvation and Jesus will not confuse Muslims. Ask God to protect Muslims from hearing or taking to heart things that would lead them further away from the Truth. Ask God to make this the year that Muslims throughout the state receive His greatest gift: salvation through Jesus!

December 24 : Muslims & Christmas. “We would like to conduct several programs for the Christmas holiday. Islam believes in a virgin birth and a sinless Messiah, but they do not understand the significance of these events. Almost every church in India does a Christmas program on the morning of December 25, but very, very few Muslims attend that service. Please pray that God will allow us to do several programs in different places and that we will be able to get the Gospel message to the Muslims of Lucknow.”