Pray for Jat, Sikh of India

Jat, Sikh of India
The Sikh Jat trace their origin to the time of the fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev (AD 1581-1606), when a large section of the Majha Jat embraced Sikhism. At the village level, the Jat Sikh have felt a threat to their identity, but not on a national level. During the naming ceremony for a child the Sikh religious book (Granth Sahib) is opened and the child is given a name beginning with the letter of the word of the page. Though they staunchly adhere to the tenets of Sikhism, many visit Hindu pilgrimage centers.

Ministry Obstacles
The Sikh Jat speak well over 30 languages and are spread over several states of northern India, probably requiring a number of separate evangelistic and church planting projects to fully reach the community.

Outreach Ideas
Focused prayer for the Jat community coupled with several ministry projects will be necessary.

Pray for the followers of Christ
Pray for the few followers of Jesus among the Jat to make every effort to keep the unity of Christ's Spirit through the bond of peace. Pray they will learn to be joyful always, to pray continually, and to give thanks in every circumstance.

Pray for the entire people group
Pray for the Jat community to prepare their children well for the challenges of a rapidly changing society, and to care adequately for the indigent within their community.

Scripture Focus
"The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory." Isaiah 66:18


Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
People Name: Jat, Sikh
Population: 10,381,000
World Population: 10,407,000
Language: Panjabi, Eastern
Primary Religion: Other / Small
Progress Status: Least-Reached
Christ Followers: Few, less than 2%
Bible: Complete
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes

Receiving Correction

Alice Smith

Can you give away something that you don’t have? Of course you can’t! Yet, we somehow have the idea that we can consecrate our unsurrendered lives to the Lord. There is only one thing we can wholly give to the Lord—that is the right to ourselves! (See Romans 12.)

In God’s character building school there is a basic operational principle. If when we are tested, challenged, corrected or rebuked and we choose to receive the correction with grace and humility, then the Lord will continue to promote us. But once we get bitter, take offense or try to defend our rights, then the Lord registers our reaction and sees that we are not ready for any higher position of authority. Why? Because surely we couldn’t handle the criticism and pressure that comes with more responsibility.

God tested King David’s reaction to correction through the words of the prophet Nathan. When David and the beautiful Bathsheba had hardly risen from their bed of adultery, David made arrangements for her husband, his faithful military officer Uriah, to be killed on the front line of battle (See 2 Sam. 11:14-27.) It seemed that David had now cunningly arranged his world to make allowances for his sin. But God says, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

Following the time of mourning Uriah’s death, God sent His prophet Nathan to confront King David with his sin (see 2 Samuel 12). Nathan told David a story about a poor man with one sheep—a family pet. He explained how a rich man stole and ate the poor man’s only sheep. Thinking that the story was true, King David grew incensed and demanded that the rich man be arrested and immediately executed for such a thoughtless and selfish act. Calmly, Nathan told David that the story was a parable about David’s own life. The prophet turned to David and said: “Sir, thou art the man” (v. 7).

How would David, who had unlimited power in his kingdom, respond to Nathan’s accusation? Would he turn his anger toward Nathan and have him executed instead? Would he deny his sin with Bathsheba? Would he ignore his sin and continue living his life of royalty?

Amazingly, David immediately repented and openly confessed his sin. His words still echo through the halls of history: “I have sinned against the Lord” (v. 13). David obviously was a man of integrity. He accepted with grace the correction due him. He didn’t want to compound his sin of backsliding by adding to it the sin of hypocrisy.

No one enjoys correction. Facing discipline is never fun. In fact, it can be quite painful. Sometimes the criticism is justified, but other times it isn’t. But correction is sometimes necessary if we are to remain spiritually healthy. To listen and heed correction builds our character and often opens the door to future opportunities. But the person who is spiritually unteachable will go back to address the same issues over and over again until he or she learns to receive correction with grace and humility.

The discipline may come in an incorrect manner, but that is not the issue at hand. The question is, When you are challenged, corrected, rebuked or even misunderstood, what do you do? How do you respond? Do you snap back a retort and defend yourself? Do you lash out and point the finger at another? Do you sulk, run away or make excuses for your behavior? These are common responses, to be sure.

However, in every correction there is kernel of truth. Find that truth, permit the Lord to change your character and see how the devil will be unable to find a way to accuse you. God wants to see you react supernaturally to these provocations. If you learn to receive correction with grace and humility, then promotion may be the next step in your future.

I was corrected last week regarding a situation that was taken out of context with what was happening. One of our employers told me what a woman in the organization had said, and honestly my first thought was, What? Just who does she think she is?

But I have learned to submit criticisms that come my way to prayer. I did the same with this criticism. When I went to prayer I began to argue with the Lord about what had been said about me. I was shocked when I heard the Father speak to my heart, “Alice, swallow your pride and apologize.”

Immediately, I confessed this to the Lord and asked Him to change my character that with any criticism I will have a godly response. This practice isn't fun, but I allow the sometimes-painful correction of others to help purify my life. How about you? Will you receive correction and be changed too?

GPN 11-30-2010

GPN 11-30-2010


“To be able to see where you are going, you have to look ahead.” Phil. 3:13-14.

To look back will not help us at all to move forward. That is why we may look ahead to see what God is going to do by your prayers.

Greetings, Roberto Wijnhof

Christians in Egypt are calling for prayer amid threats of extremist attack and heightened anti-Christian sentiment.

Months of raised tension between the Coptic community and the Muslim majority have come to a head with the news that extremists who have killed scores of Christians in Iraq in recent weeks may also target believers in Egypt.

Prayer meetings are being held at churches throughout Egypt amid heightened security. In Cairo, the number of security officers standing guard outside churches has doubled. And in Zamalek, visitors to a recent Christmas bazaar and festival at the All Saints Cathedral were met with body searches, metal detectors and sniffer dogs.

News agencies report that the Government has asked pastors to ‘cancel unessential, large-scale public meetings’. Lets pray with our brother and sisters from Egypt.

Please pray for Christine. She has blood clots in the lower part of her body. Sees her dr. Thursday. Thank you for your prayers and God bless you all.

The Hindus of Myanmar are a combination of people groups that originally came from India and Nepal during the time of British colonization. They came as government staff and soldiers who governed the country, however when the Burmese (Myanmar) government gained Independence after WWII, the Indian and Nepali peoples were cast down to the bottom rung of Burmese society.

Today these Hindu peoples are spread throughout Myanmar. Some are found in villages, but the largest concentrations are found in the larger cities. There is a small population of Christians among the Indians/Nepalese, estimated at 2,000 to 2,500 people, but they need to be encouraged to reach out to the lost Indian and Nepalese peoples around them.

Downtrodden, overlooked, but not forgotten by the Savior, please pray for the salvation of the Hindu peoples of Myanmar.
Conflicting Stories on Asia Bibi’s Release

International Christian Concern (ICC) issued a press release on November 22 entitled “Pakistan Releases Christian Woman Sentenced to Death For Blasphemy.” Since the issuance of the press release, we have received conflicting stories about Asia Bibi.

Some of our sources still insist that Asia has been released. However, Pakistani officials denied that they have released Bibi. The officials have publicly spoken about her possible pardon. Pakistan’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, said that Bibi is innocent.

In a statement to CNN, the governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, indicated that Bibi would be pardoned by the president of Pakistan. Asia still awaits the outcome of her plea for mercy to the High Court.

Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for Pakistan’s president, also told CNN that “Asia cannot be executed now. Under the law, a death sentence issued by a session court cannot be carried out until it has been endorsed by the high court.”

There has already been backlash against Bibi’s possible release. According to the Associated Press, close to 250 hard-line Muslims held a demonstration in Lahore today warning the president not to pardon Bibi.

We are closely monitoring Bibi’s situation and will update you once we obtain new information. Keep on praying for this issue.

My son Jason and his wife have a one month old baby. Please pray my son is able to find a job as an electrician very, very soon. J.

BHUTAN: DISTRIBUTING RECORDING OF THE GOSPEL

- Pray for local leaders as they distribute the first voice recordings of the Gospel of Luke in a heart language that is only now being written down for the first time. This is among the first Gospel materials in their heart language.

- Pray in accordance with God’s Word, asking that His Word will not return void!

Be in prayer for national believers who received training in how to share their faith, disciple new believers, and form new churches across Bhutan.

- Pray that they will be obedient in what God has asked them to do and be bold in their faith against strong persecution.

- Pray for those churches and believers who are being persecuted by their neighbors as well as authorities.

Ask God to give them peace and the strength to face the persecution and remain strong in their faith in the Lord.

Hello, my name is Philip. I found your site while searching for prayer support on line. Please pray for God to turn my situation around. I am unemployed. I’ve been looking for another job for a very long time and all my human efforts have failed. Please ask God to bless me with the right job He has for me. Also, please pray for my finances and for a way I can get medical insurance I can afford.

Muslim inmates at a prison in northwest Punjab Province on Oct. 29 stoned a Christian wrongly convicted of “blasphemy” nearly to death, according to his father.

Imran Masih, a 19-year-old member of the Protestant Church of Pakistan, is still recovering in District Hospital Hazro, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit the day of the assault.

“Imran Masih was brought to the hospital in a very serious condition,” Dr. Sultan Malik told Compass. “He had lost a lot of blood. He was shifted to the ICU and is still under treatment." Pray for Imrans safety.

Please pray that my daughter Shannon have a very easy delivery, and a very healthy baby. That my friend Cheryl, recover from cancer, that I continue to be peaceful in Gods good grace. D.

Hi my brothers and sisters, asking special prayer for Gods strength and provision and for extra grace to and wisdom for dealing with my fellow homeless friends. Which for them is a difficult time of year. GOD richly bless you, brother Danny

Please pray for my family that they will be highly favor at this time. I Ask prayers for my business that the Lord will restore it at this time. I ask prayers for my aunt who has been in an accident and cannot walk please pray for healing. I ask prayers for my daughter at school at she will do well in her exam. Please pray for her that she will do well in the track this is her first track meet overseas. I ask that you pray for her that she will do well. Please pray also for me that I will get a good boarder at this time. Thanks for your prayers. Carol, Jamaica

A cross-cultural worker in Nepal writes, “This past week we were out in a bazaar town where one woman along with some other ladies conducted a training for ladies only called “The Bride of Christ”.

The training had over 50 ladies show up from the villages and surrounding towns. During the training, these ladies went out to share with the people of the town, and made over 100 contacts where they had opportunities to share about Jesus with people.

Pray that the ladies who were trained would continue to share boldly and that the seeds which were planted will grow to fruition.