After a year of COVID, it has almost become possible to be desensitised to the human reality behind the appalling statistics – infection rates, death rates, hospitalisations are repeated regularly by governments and news sources, however all these bring with them tales of human pain and anguish. This is none more so than the current situation in India. Even on the surface things look desperate; on 12th May according to official statistics there were over 360,000 new cases and 4120 new deaths. However many fear the reality is far worse than this with Times of India reporting that death figures are likely 3 times higher than those being reported.
In horrific scenes, at least 90 more bodies of suspected Covid-19 victims have washed up in rivers in India, as the virus continues to spread into poor rural areas. More than 70 corpses were discovered floating in the Ganges River in the Buxar district of the state of Bihar and dozens more bodies were found upstream in the Ghazipur and Ballia districts in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. See Guardian article.
Many believe the bodies had been dumped due to the rising cost of cremating bodies, with crematoriums overrun and firewood for pyres now expensive and in short supply.
Images of ambulance drivers throwing bodies over a bridge on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar into the river emerged on social media. The discovery of the suspected coronavirus fatalities was a cause of concern for local villagers who use the river as a source of water for drinking and washing. The Ganges is also the most sacred river to Hindus and is worshipped as the goddess Ganga.
The former chief of the village of Mubarakpur in the district said the dumping of bodies had been happening “for the last week”. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have blamed each other for the dumping of the corpses. “The bodies have floated into Bihar from Uttar Pradesh,” said the Bihar minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, adding that a net had been placed in the Ganges along the state border to prevent any more bodies floating downstream. Uttar Pradesh authorities have denied all responsibility.
The health system remains overwhelmed. According to the Financial Times, St Stephen’s Hospital in New Delhi was close to breaking point last week as it was inundated by victims of India’s coronavirus crisis. As its beds filled with patients in acute respiratory distress, the hospital’s oxygen supplies ran perilously low. At one point, its giant oxygen tank had just four to six hours of piped oxygen left for 300 seriously ill patients. Calamity was only averted after frantic calls to the hospital’s supplier and desperate public appeals. But days later, the piped oxygen ran out and St Stephen’s had to rely for several hours on oxygen cylinders.
“There’s no oxygen,” said Mathew Varghese, one of the hospital’s senior doctors. “The system is broken down and we’re losing patients. We don’t know what to do. We’re used to saving lives and we’re watching people die.”
The crisis at St Stephen’s reflected how India’s brutal second wave has overwhelmed health infrastructure and pushed the complex medical oxygen supply chain beyond its limits. India is reporting 300,000 infections and almost 3,000 deaths every day. Experts estimate the real figures are probably far higher.
As patient numbers surged, families across India have engaged in desperate hunts for oxygen cylinders or hospital beds for ailing loved ones. More than 20 patients died last week after oxygen supplies ran out at another New Delhi hospital. Experts said the shortages were largely down to logistical challenges and bureaucratic mismanagement, with supplies in some parts of the country not reaching areas that are more in need.
For a few personal testimonies: of the challenges facing individuals living in India, please see this account by H Kam Suanthang, Elder, EBC Church, New Delhi and a Covid-19 India Prayer Briefing from Rev George Herman here.
Let’s Pray:
At times such as these we remember the words of 1 Corinthians 12: 26-27: If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
We therefore offer our prayers for and stand with our brothers and sisters who are living amidst this uncertainty. We pray for the families of the patients are also going through horrific experiences trying everything to get the medical support for their loved ones where there just isn’t enough infrastructure to handle the scale of the outbreak.
Pray for strength, wisdom and resilience for the medical staff, many of whom are working long hours under great pressure, with insufficient medicine and oxygen.
Pray for more international intervention to provide more of the much-needed equipment and resources.
How to Give:
Many of us are giving already through our already established routes. Here are three options that our readers may wish to consider:
Chennai, South East India - Onassis Jeevaraj is IPC’s Director for the region and is co-ordinating support for numerous patients and bereaved families in the area. It is relatively small-scale, but Onassis and the team are overwhelmed with the calls for financial assistance both for medical treatment and social need as a result of bereavement. To support this work, please be in touch with Onassis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and consider the prayer points he shares with us here.
New Delhi Pop-Up Hospital - The Christian Mount Carmel School in New Delhi has been converted into a 100-bed Covid care centre to help with the crisis. Located in Dwarka Sector 22, it is set to function as a covid care centre with 100 oxygen beds for patients requiring oxygen support. To donate via Delhi House Society, please email them directly for details: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
GODTV India Appeal - Our friends at GOD TV are co-ordinating a campaign to pray for and raise money to provide practical support for those in India. They highlight that plight of the Indian people - dying alone in their homes, some on the streets, some in their cars. It seems like there’s no dignity for life anymore. People are not valued. One person tweeted ‘death has reached every family now’ in reference to a village in the north of India. Many families have lost more than 1 person and with not enough space to bury the dead, those grieving are not able to say a proper goodbye. You can support their campaign here: https://www.god.tv/
The worst fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in seven years intensified this week, as Israeli airstrikes began targeting Hamas offices in Gaza City and militants in Gaza fired rockets at the metropolis of Tel Aviv, the southern city of Ashkelon and Israel’s main airport.
In Gaza, at least 67 Palestinians, including 15 children, had been killed by Tuesday night, and 203 others were wounded, according to health officials. In Israel, five people were killed in strikes on Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Lod, and at least 100 were wounded, according to medical officials.
Away from the military conflict, a wave of civil unrest spread across Arab neighbourhoods as Palestinian citizens of Israel expressed fury at the killings in Gaza and longstanding complaints of discrimination inside Israel itself.
Towns with mixed Jewish and Arab populations have been struck by some of the worst communal violence that Israel has seen in years. Live footage was broadcast of far-right Israelis dragging a man they thought was an Arab from his car and beating him until he lay on the ground motionless and bloodied. Footage of the attack in Bat Yam, a Tel Aviv suburb, was broadcast live on TV. Those in the crowd justified the attack by saying the man was an Arab who had tried to ram the far-right nationalists, but the footage showed a motorist trying to avoid the demonstration.
At the same time, Arab protesters also took to the streets, triggering confrontations with Jews. They burnt cars and assaulted Jewish residents of mixed cities, according to police.
This all comes at a time when cities with mixed populations have been positive examples of co-existence but are now being destabilised by a small but destructive minority. As trust is damaged and moderate voices increasingly lost the fear is that violence will only continue to escalate.
The mayor of Lod, a city with both Jewish and Arab residents, warned that “civil war” was breaking out after Arab mourners clashed with police. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called on both Jews and Arabs to cease attacks on each other: “It doesn’t matter to me that your blood is boiling. You can’t take the law in your hands,” he said.
The fighting between Israel and Hamas was triggered by days of escalating clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at a holy hilltop compound in East Jerusalem.
The site is revered by both Muslims, who call it the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), and Jews, for whom it is known as the Temple Mount. Hamas demanded Israel remove police from there and the nearby predominantly Arab district of Sheikh Jarrah, where Palestinian families face eviction by Jewish settlers. Hamas launched rockets when its ultimatum went unheeded.
Palestinian anger had already been stoked by weeks of rising tension in East Jerusalem, inflamed by a series of confrontations with police since the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in mid-April.
It was further fuelled by the threatened eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem by Jewish settlers and Israel's annual celebration of its capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war, known as Jerusalem Day.
The UN have stepped in amid concerns that the region is heading towards a full-scale war. The UN envoy Tor Wennesland said leaders on all sides “have to take the responsibility of de-escalation” after a day of ferocious confrontations and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, promising to intensify attacks on Gaza. “The cost of war in Gaza is devastating and is being paid by ordinary people,” said Wennesland. “Stop the fire immediately. We’re escalating towards a full-scale war,” he warned.
Sources / More info: New York Times | BBC News
Read more insight into the situation surrounding Israel from Well Versed World.
Let’s Pray:
Pray for peace and that the moderate voices calling for it will be heard above the explosions and gunfire.
Pray for the victims and their families that they may be comforted in their loss.
Pray for the political leaders in the region, that they will show wisdom in seeking an end to the violence and not seek political gain out of the situation.
Pray for all those living in fear that they may know the peace of God in these difficult times.
Pray for restoration of communities being torn apart by civil unrest and communal violence.
The situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate. The devastation is highlighted by Khaing Sandi Win Min, First Secretary at Myanmar's Permanent Mission in Geneva and a member of the Civil disobedience movement opposed to the Military Junta. See here. She writes that since the military coup, Myanmar’s security forces have viciously attacked those protesting peacefully against the military’s seizure of power on February 1. Even away from the streets, the people of Myanmar have been forced to endure brutal human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by the state’s security forces. Each day and night has become a nightmare for the people. The future of Myanmar lies in darkness.
The systematic and targeted acts of the military and security forces have led to the deaths of more than 750 people, including dozens of children. The junta has also arbitrarily arrested, charged, and sentenced more than 3,400 people. While in custody, many have been subject to various forms of torture, and, in the case of women and girls, sexual harassment and assault. The death toll is increasing daily. The security forces are also targeting the family members as hostages, in order to track down those wanted for participation in anti-coup protests.
Under Myanmar’s junta, fundamental freedoms, including the right to life, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the right to privacy, and private property rights, have been all but swept away.
All of Myanmar’s people – whether protestors, social influencers, those joining the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), or those simply trying to keep their heads down – are living with fear every second, every minute, and every hour. With the economy in a state of collapse, The U.N. World Food Program has estimated that in the coming six months, hunger will hit 3.4 million people in Myanmar, especially in urban areas.
Christians in Myanmar continue to asking fellow believers to join in prayer for their nation following the military takeover in February. It is particularly difficult to live as a Christian in Myanmar at present. Churches have been raided in the wake of the coup, which has been followed by a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy supporters and protesters.
Many Christians have also lost their livelihoods as well as seeing their Churches raided on a regular basis.
Pastors have been doubly hard hit by the pandemic because Covid-19 has prevented Christians from going to church, meaning the pastors are unable to collect the tithes that pay their livelihoods and building rent. Christians in Myanmar have told Open Doors of their fears of night raids on their homes by security forces. Another described "living in fear" on a daily basis.
The cost of food and basic necessities has doubled in the crisis, with many Christian families going without enough food to eat and being unable to go to work for fear of their safety. See here
As we stand with our Brothers and Sisters, we look to these prayer points which have been shared with us:
1. Civil war is breaking out in various places and civilians and ethnic armed groups are fighting back. They are filled with anger from decades of injustice.
Please pray for Godly ways to challenge this military dictatorship.
2. Food prices have gone up 30% and banks are struggling with cash. People have to stand in line half the day just to get access to Limited amounts of cash. The poor and internal refugees are heavily hit.
Please pray for the church to be active in sharing God's goodness and practical blessing.
3. Youth are without a future. Schools and universities have been shut for over a year. Many are distraught. drugs, human trafficking and joblessness are causing a heavy toll on this generation.
Please pray for healthy and inspiring opportunities for the new generation. That they may encounter God's purposes for their lives and a vision in this crisis.
4. The harvest fields are ripe like never before. Many are hungry for Truth, Justice and answers that they are unable to find in Buddhism and Hinduism and Islam.
Please pray for the church to be active, engaged and inspired to be salt and light and transform this nation.
5. We haven't heard from the elected govt for over 100 days.
Please pray that they may encounter God, have a vision of Righteousness for Myanmar and that they may lead with Godly principles of govt.
6. There is fear in the general public. Many are arrested at night and snatched from their homes. The army is using heavy weapons to target civilians. If they lose a battle with ethnic armed groups, they retaliate by shooting at villages from the air. Many are hiding in jungles as a result.
Please pray for protection and failure of weapons and plans that aim to cause havoc amongst the innocent.
Join millions of people from across the nations for World Prayer Together / GO PRAY. A two-hour program to worship and pray for GO MONTH – a month of evangelism calling every believer to be a witness! (Luke 10:2)
Throughout May 2021, many millions of people will be evangelizing - one to one, in public and through social media and we want to cover them in prayer!
'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.' Luke 10:2
Our prayer focus during the 2-hour program, this time, is evangelism and gospel movements amongst the remaining unreached peoples of India, China, and the Middle-East.
World Prayer Together is convened by International Prayer Connect and GO Movement in association with IHOPKC, GOD.TV and numerous ministries around the world. It is part of a series of global prayer events under the World Prayer Together banner. GO PRAY took place on 1st May – and represented a day of united prayer for this month of mission. It is being replayed online and across numerous networks in multiple languages during this month. A prayer guide is also available.
Inspirational Leaders…
The online prayer and worship gathering is led by many inspirational prayer-leaders and teachers including: MK Bharti, Mike Bickle, Lou Engle, Dr Hormoz Shariat, Dr Jason Hubbard, Dave Gibson, Onassis Jeevaraj, Leslie Keegel, Daniel Lim, Werner Nachtigal & William J Dubois.
Worship is led by Andrew Meek and the IHOPKC worship team.
Above all – please pray with us for each person as they share Jesus on a one-to-one basis during May, and for an unprecedented harvest!
Full details are at www.worldprayertogether.com
DOWNLOAD FLYER | SOW IN with a GIFT | DOWNLOAD Prayer Guide
Part of #hopeofharvest2021 | www.hopeofharvest2021.org
A number of prayer and missions networks have come together in John 17 unity, with a sense of great expectation of a move of God across the nations and continents in 2021.
Join the movement for a series of global prayer, worship and missional events between now and August '21, all with one goal - Contending for Revival!
Summary details of each of this month's events, weblinks and flyers are listed below and on the website at www.hopeofharvest2021.og
4 APR – 23 MAY - The Jesus Fast: www.thejesusfast.global
A global call of Ruth: Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God
Like the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for the 40 day fast (the biblical era shifting fast) that inaugurated the first great Jewish harvest of souls, it is our eager expectation and prescient anticipation that this 40 day Jesus (Yeshua) Fast April 14th – May 23rd (Pentecost Sunday) could be a tipping point for a new day of salvation for Israel and harvest in the earth. (Lou Engle)
1 MAY - World Prayer Together: www.worldprayertogether.com
Join millions of Christians of all ages worldwide as we pray for the launch of GO MONTH – a month of evangelism calling every believer to be a witness! (Luke 10:2)
A two-hour online worship service on @GODTV from @IHOPKC with prayers for China, India and the Middle East.
World Prayer Together / GO PRAY has been convened by International Prayer Connect and GO Movement in association with IHOPKC, GODTV and many others.
Watch with subtitles in 30+ languages, audio translation with Prayer Guide download in 10+ languages and a 30 Minute Program coming soon.
13 – 22 MAY - 10 Days of Praise: www.waymakers.org/pray/ten-days-of-praise/
From Ascension to Pentecost we will be uniting around the world in Christ-exalting prayers and praise, declaring ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ as we count down to Pentecost Sunday…
Gather friends, family and prayer partners and be a part of this amazing move of God!
More info & prayer guides in English & Spanish available from the weblink above.
13 – 23 MAY - 10 Days Pentecost: www.10days.net | www.globalfamily24-7prayer.org
10 Days Pentecost is a 24/7, 10 Day online prayer meeting with believers from around the world.
From Ascension Thursday (May 13) leading up to Pentecost Sunday, May 23, we will have 24/7 prayer with two daily teaching times at Noon Eastern (7pm Israel) and 7pm eastern (2am Israel).
In response to your registration, you will receive the login information necessary for you to join the online meeting space. You are welcome to join for prayer at any time during 10 Days Pentecost. Each hour is facilitated by a different prayer leading team, so please follow the lead of the leader in each hour.
Partnering with the Global Family 24/7 Prayer room, this gathering will include believers from all 6 continents and speaking many languages. The teaching times will feature powerful teachings coming from many different perspectives and cultures. You can see the schedule of who is leading prayer each day at https://globalfamily24-7prayer.org/
17 MAY - Shavuot Gathering: www.watchmen.org
Amidst the global shakings, there is a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. These are times of unimaginable tragedies. Yet, God is moving in our midst. Over and over again we see the Spirit of God uncovering truths and aligning His people to His heart.
In this new season, God is stirring the heart of the global Ekklesia to believe that the fulfillment of His covenant promises is at hand. Even promises and dreams that have become dormant or forgotten are resurfacing as we corporately seek His face. Our God is a God who keeps His Word. The covenants He has cut with His people will not be mocked. Our Covenant-Keeping God will emerge victoriously.
Just as in the days of the early church, we come expectantly to see a renewal of the day of Pentecost in which the Spirit was poured out on the disciples. As we join together to wait on the Lord, there is a yearning for more of His glory to fill our homes, our cities, and our nations. Time and time again, there is an awestruck phenomenon that occurs when the Divine surprises us, taking us deeper from unity to oneness, restoring us as a family of God.
Join us on May 17th for the Shavuot Gathering at 5:00 AM PDT Vancouver / 3:00 PM IDT Jerusalem.
22 MAY - The March for Jesus Global: www.themarchforjesus.org
The March For Jesus is a procession of praise through the streets of the city, celebrating the Lordship of Jesus Christ and culminating in a grand worship event in which Christians publicly proclaim the Glory, the Majesty and the Supremacy of the Savior. It’s all about Jesus ... and nothing else.
What better time of the year for the Church to declare its oneness? Pentecost Weekend.
Pentecost marks the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to all nations. (Acts 2:1-4) Let’s celebrate our Savior in cities, towns and villages throughout the nation in a
March For Jesus, this year on Saturday, May 22, 2021.
Register or Find Your Community at the website link above.
22 MAY - GKPN Global Youth Movement Event: www.gymglobalyouthmovement.org
BE PART OF THE BIGGEST EVENT FOR
YOUNG CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE
Join young people from every continent for a 3.5 hour online programme of Worship, Teaching and Inspirational Testimonies.
Our 3 themes for this event will be Holiness, Discipleship and Missions.
Worship from Bethel Music, Watoto Worship & Gateway Worship
Guest Pastors: Pastor Edmund Chan (Singapore), Pastor Joakim Lundqvist (Sweden), Pastor Paulo Mazoni (Brazil), Pastor Robert Morris (Texas), Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo (Uganda) and Pastor Sergio Hornung (Peru).
Register now and receive an exclusive FREE e-book
23 MAY - Global Day of Prayer & Pentecost Broadcast: www.globaldayofprayer.com
On Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, believers around the world will unite and raise a call for the nations to awaken, the Church to GO and the next generation to arise.
Watch this dynamic one hour celebration of diversity on GODTV and other leading networks.
Keep your eye on www.globalvoiceofprayer.com for further updates.
#globaldayofprayer
#Pentecost2021
#unitedprayer
#prayer #jesus
#hope #hopeofharvest2021
@godtv
Ministries and Churches interested in using the video locally, translating and re-broadcasting the programme, please see the next article.
Part of #hopeofharvest2021 | www.hopeofharvest2021.org
29 MAY - GO Day: www.gomovement.world
ONE DAY, ONE WORLD, ONE MESSAGE
All over the world, millions of Christians share the Good News of Jesus Christ on the last Saturday in May. We invite you to be part of GO DAY - LET’S GO!
SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH ONE PERSON ON GO DAY.
The GO DAY was originally known as GLOBAL OUTREACH DAY. Go out and tell someone about what Jesus has done in your life, and what he has done for everyone — the Gospel.
YOUR STORY MATTERS
Imagine how sharing your story, your experiences with God could change your community, neighborhood, workplace, and family.
And what if every believer on earth did the same?! The impact on humanity as a whole would be beyond imagination.
God can use YOU. Do it your way, whatever fits your situation.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses. (Acts 1:8)
The Pentecost Sunday Broadcast programme video file is now available to be shared and prepared for broadcast across your networks on May 23rd! You can view it here.
We would encourage our partner ministries and churches to use this as part of your gatherings, church services, watch parties etc on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd.
If you know of contacts interested in translation, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – Also, do let the team know how you are using the program!
Kindly do not make the programme live until Pentecost Sunday. Any questions, please do email the Global Voice of Prayer Team.
Please share this widely and encourage your networks to broadcast this on Pentecost Sunday!
Part of #hopeofharvest2021 | www.hopeofharvest2021.org
Global Family 24-7 Prayer Room
www.globalfamily24-7prayer.org/
World Prayer Together – All of May – Multiple Language Program & Prayer Guide: www.worldprayertogether.com
The Jesus Fast / Lou Engle (14 Apr – 23 May)
www.thejesusfast.global
Prayers on Night of Power (8 May)
www.ipcprayer.org
10 Days Pentecost (13 – 23 May)
https://www.10days.net/
10 Days of Praise & Prayer (13 – 22 May)
www.jwipn.com / www.waymakers.org
Thy Kingdom Come (13-23 May)
www.thykingdomcome.global/
REVIVE ISRAEL x WATCHMEN – SHAVUOT – May 17
www.watchmen.org/shavuot
Operation World - Praying into the Pandemic (21 May)
www.allnations.ac.uk/events/prayer-ignite-2
The March for Jesus Global (22 May)
www.themarchforjesus.org
GYM 2021 WORLD (22 May)
https://www.gymglobalyouthmovement.org/
Global Day of Prayer & broadcast (including commissioning to GO) (23 May)
www.globalvoiceofprayer.com/global-day-of-prayer/
Caribbean Praise Fest! (28 – 29 May)
https://www.nipnoj.org/children-youth/
GO 21 / Global Outreach Day (29 May)
www.go2020.world/en/go21
HOPE Movement 90 Days of Hope (1 June to 29 August)
https://www.globaldayofhope.com/
G7 Prayer Summit, (11-13 June)
https://www.g7prayersummit.org/
UPRising Australia (29 June –2 July 2021)
https://uprisingaustralia.com/
Algerian hated Arabs, but God changed his heart
07 May 2021
Abdel-Nour witnessed violence and humiliation from the Arab rulers of Algeria. ‘I was a racist, I disliked Arabs.’ He fought against the Arabic language forced upon him at school; when his sisters watched Arabic he turned the TV off. Then he met some people from a local church. He said, ‘They did not stop talking about Jesus Christ. I was curious so I went with them to the church. Verses like “Love your enemies” had a big impact on me. I loved God’s Word, this strengthened my faith, and I accepted Christ as the Saviour and Lord of my life. Christ radically changed my life. God loves us as we are, regardless of our nationality and language.’