Your Prayers are needed to avert violence in Northern India

Dear Prayer Partners,

PC Alexander, the director of PTL-India, an expanding evangelical network of some 100 churches as well as schools and colleges, has just requested fervent prayer for a threat to the ministry which is evolving even as you read this letter.

Just this week a woman, who was only marginally associated with PTL-India, aggressively entered into a local Hindu temple.  This mentally unbalanced woman shouted to the gathered worshipers that she was Jesus Christ and that she had instructions to destroy the temples in the area. She then proceeded to destroy  the idols in the temple.

She was quickly over powered by the temple priests and gathered worshipers.   She was beaten up and handed over to the police who threw her behind bars for desecration of a worship place and for causing communal disharmony.

Radical militant Hindus had been looking for a way to come against PTL- India for some time because they resented the growth and expansion of the church and the apparent favor the church had with ruling authorities.  This woman’s behavior gave the militants the opportunity they needed to attack the church. They quickly identified this woman as a Christian and one who was associated with PTL-India.

The militants located the PTL-India cell group where this woman had attended. A crowd quickly gathered, intent on beating up the family in whose home the cell met.  Sensing the seriousness of the situation, some neighbors called the police and then took the husband and wife to the police station, fearing arson and violence.  Soon, militants thronged the police station premises as well. After several hours, the husband and wife were allowed to slip away and were urgently advised to move out of the area for a couple of days to avoid physical harm.
 
While all of this was unfolding, Alex was contacting his “God- arranged” friends in high places, informing them that this woman did not represent the church nor was she a part of the church. She was just an occasional participant who had from time to time shown evidence of poor judgment and mental instability.

However, even though persons in authority are aware of the true nature of the situation, militants at the grass roots level continue to press their advantage. Tension continues to mount.  Banners and posters displayed by the church announcing holiday activities have been torn down and defaced. There is continuing evidence that further violence is being planned.

Please pray fervently for Alex and the other leaders of PTL-India.  Yes, pray for the safety and protection of people and property.  But pray most especially that the leaders of PTL-India will have supernatural wisdom and boldness to continue to proclaim the Gospel in this violent and chaotic situation. Pray that this attack of Satan will be turned into a mighty harvest for the Kingdom.  Pray that faith will rise as Christians  realize they have been counted worthy to suffer for the Name that is above every name.

Remember that Elijah was a “climate-changer.”  He prayed and it did not rain for three years. He prayed again and it rained.   Know that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Our prayers can change the climate in northern India.  Our God answers prayers.

Please pray with us.
Your brother,

E. Daniel Martin: Chair, PTL-India Partners; Member of Pastoral team of LifeGate

P.S.:  Alex and the churches in PTL–India are a part of Kingdom Life Network (KLN), a global ‘network of networks’ of churches, of which LifeGate and a number of other churches in this region are a part.