take time and pray

The Indian Supreme Court's decision on the fate of the Dalit Christians is pending... Do pray.

Excerpts from letters from Gospel for Asia's founder and president, K. P. Yohannan:

The Indian Supreme Court has once again delayed its decision on the Dalit civil rights case, and again it is time for me to ask you to please pray without ceasing on behalf of our Dalit Christian brothers and sisters.

This delay until November is a positive development because it means that the Court is not rushing to judgment, and is taking seriously this case of discrimination against Dalit Christians.

It also means that Christians like you and me have more time to intercede with prayer, asking God to guide the thoughts and decisions of the judges. And this is especially important, because behind this case lies a Himalaya-sized spiritual battle!

Jesus tells us that this kind of battle can only be won through prayer and fasting. So I implore you to take this call to prayer very seriously. And much is at stake.

As you know, under the current law, Dalits lose some of their basic constitutional rights when they becomes Christians; they are no longer eligible for affirmative action placements in education, employment, government and many other areas--rights granted to Dalits who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist.

According to a government census, some 20 million Dalits have become
Christians, and it is on their behalf that we pray for a just ruling. Equally important, there are many Dalits whose only hesitation to becoming Christians is fear of this legalized discrimination. Just think of what a difference this court decision could make for them! No wonder Satan is
opposing it.

So again, please continue to fast and pray that the Supreme Court of India will correct these injustices. Please faithfully intercede and pray with a broken heart for the sake of these millions of men, women and children who suffer so much.

Thank you so much for your prayer support--you are a true "prayer warrior" in this battle.

(According to the government census some 20 million Dalits have become Christians. These precious people's rights are violated: Their women and children are raped, they are not allowed to draw water from wells in many communities, and so many more accounts of cruelty. Some of the communities, like the Banjara with 61 million people, live with 90 percent illiteracy and
horrible poverty.)

battled but not battered - try to better that...

had a whale of a time sweeping the floors in the GBC canteen (with sticks and a holey ball). arrived at 630 with CH amidst much anticipation for our weekly dose of street bandy, and played till like 840 or something... aching muscles, sore toes, scratches here and there, and thoroughly exhausted - but hey, cant wait till next week's instalment.

so why am i still typing this (despite the tiredness)? well, decided that if there were any faithful readers, then i'd better rectify the current trend, which seems to suggest a negative exponential correlation between the frequency of posts and the time elasped since this blog was born.

ok, anyway, thank God for good ol' sporting activites and the joy of friendly competition. dazzling dribbles, electrifying escapes, sizzling shots, flamboyant feints, determined defending, all-out attacks: all encapsulated in clashing sticks, moving bodies and a ball at breakneak speed played out in that frenzied arena. On weekends it has come to be known as the 'canteen'. Perish that thought should you chance upon it wednesday evening...