India: Evangelical leader seeks prayers for peace
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Friday, January 2, 2009, 11:30 (GMT)
The Evangelical Fellowship of India has asked Christians to pray for a peaceful 2009 for India’s believers.
The appeal comes not long after a wave of attacks on Christians by Hindu radicals left nearly 120 people dead and tens of thousands displaced in Orissa state.
EFI General Secretary the Rev Dr Richard Howell said that the church in India “must first and foremost seek God’s face” in the midst of “trying times”.
The EFI is appealing for prayer to ensure that there will be no delays in setting up fast-track courts to deal with the huge number of complaints filed in the wake of the Orissa violence.
The state’s Chief Minister Navin Patnaik had promised the Christian community there that fast-track courts would be set up to deal with their complaints but EFI said that, so far, no steps had been taken to put them into place.
Dr Howell urged Christians urged Christians to follow the exhortation of Jesus to his disciples in Gethsemane to pray that they would not fall into temptation.
“Will it be yet another year of thoughtful resolutions, a few gratifying triumphs, betrayed promises and fractured dreams? … Let 2009 be a year of praying for us. To pray is to listen and obey God.”
He added, “Pray for dialogue, reconciliation and peace.”
Copyright © 2009 Christian Today. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 9:13 (GMT)
I have often failed to understand how men [and women] of God fail to understand that it is no use praying against for what must happen and what must come about. We should always be praying for His will to be done [observe the Lord's prayer], and for the peace [and faith, and trust] in Him that "surpasses all understanding" for each persecuted Christians.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
It is singled honour and privilege to go through persecution, when it comes, and even more so, matyrdom [not many will have such an honoured opportunity, He chooses them with care], for our Lord. For did He not Himself willingly die for each of us, however unjustly it came? Should we then complain when we are on the receiving end of persecution? I say,
"Praise the Lord and Thank you Lord!" Let this cup be taken, not my will, but Yours.
Do we then pray for peace to this world, in this world, as it is now? This elusive peace has not happened to date, and will not happen, no matter what we do or how much we pray? Men of God, you should know the reason! Our Lord has already said: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.",...until He returns. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Shalom.
ong siong kai, Jakarta, Indonesia
