India is on its way to becoming the most populous nation in the world with over a billion people crowded on 2.4% of earth's land. More than 12 % are Muslims, who are monotheistic. At the same time, about 80% are Hindu, embracing 33 million gods and goddesses. Though India's constitution provides for religious freedom, there is a rising tide of violent Hindu opposition to Christian evangelism and churches. There are 18 officially recognized languages, and 1,500 unofficial dialects. In North India there is an average of one church for every 2,000 villages.

SIM's vision in India is to be a helper to the national church. Many traditional churches urgently need spiritual rebirth and renewal. SIM's related churches grew out of the mission work of the Poona and Indian Village Mission (PIVM) and the Ceylon and India General Mission (CIGM). Following merger of the two groups, they were known as the International Christian Fellowship (ICF), which merged with SIM in 1989. Our related churches are autonomous, and many are effectively reaching out. There's a great need for better-trained pastors and teachers.

SIM facilitates the preparation of Christian education materials, theological education, and outreach in new areas, always in partnership with the church. An outstanding example of God's blessing is the work among the Malto tribe, which in 1986 had no known believers and was headed for extinction due to dire poverty, extreme health threats, and environmental problems. A multi-agency Christian outreach there has turned the situation around, and today there are 40,000 believers and 374 churches. Similar opportunities abound throughout India, prompting us to beg the Lord of the harvest to thrust out workers.

Community health and development ministries are effective bases for evangelism and discipleship, and need to multiply, especially in view of the grave threat of AIDS in India. As the church grows, amidst persecution, the great need is for trained leaders. Appropriate Bible study materials, both in English and vernacular languages, are needed.

Please pray for:

1. Unity in Christ among believers and churches.
   
2. Revival in nominal churches.
   
3. Continuation of religious freedom, in spite of many radical attempts to pass restrictive laws, sporadic burning of churches, and persecution.
   
4. Believers to learn financial stewardship, to support their church's outreach to new areas.
   
5. Ministries to human needs, including AIDS-related ministries.
   
6. Effective outreach to university students.
   
7. The Lord of the harvest to send labourers to India from churches around the world.
   
8. Protection of Christian workers in a stressful environment.
   
9. Pioneer-type people to start children's ministries in both the cities and rural areas. Spiritual fruit in women's & children's ministries in the slum and village projects.
   
10. Continued growth in reaching high-caste Indian society.