Worldwide Prayer Meeting
India South Eastern Territory
Paddy rice field in Tamil Nadu, India
Welcome to this week’s Worldwide Prayer meeting. We are glad you are taking a few minutes from your world to enter the world of believers from across the globe – this time from southeastern India. For many of us, the language, music and the customs are so different from ours but to our Heavenly Father they are beautiful when used to express worship toward Him, just as our language, music and customs are when we do. So, let’s join our hearts together today before the throne of God, knowing that one day these unseen believers will stand next to us in eternal worship as unite our songs together in praise.
Prayer
Lord, I pray for peace and unity between believers of all races. Deliver us all from attitudes that are only skin deep. Thank You that You are the Father of us all, and in each of us who have received Your Son as Savior You Holy Spirit dwells. “How good and how pleasant it is” for us to “dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1). Help us to always “keep the unity of the Spirit with the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). You have made us from one blood, and all of us are redeemed by Your blood. Help us all to love one another the way You have loved us. Help people to see the beauty You have placed in all races and appreciate the differences. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. (From Prayer Warrior by Stormie Omartian).
This is a wonderful presentation of music and dance from the India South Eastern Territory with traditional music and Salvation Army expressions. An interesting blend!
Background of the
India South Eastern Territory
The India South Eastern Territory is unusual in that it occupies a single state of Tamil Nadu and a district (Paducherry). As such it is geographically one of the smallest of the territories in India but still has a large population of over 73 million people. The people here speak mostly the Tamil language and culture.
There is a larger representation of Christians in Tamil Nadu than in the rest of India, numbering of over 6% of the population and steadily growing. That number is almost matched by the number of Muslims (5.6%), the rest of the population claiming Hinduism. Hindu extremists have attempted to thwart Christian growth through anti-conversion laws, but these have fortunately been repealed.
Christians in this part of India are very evangelistic and mission-focused, sending out missionaries throughout their own country and the Indian diaspora. There are many Christian mission organizations with the only problem being that because they receive so much outside funding, their policies can be unduly influenced by outside forces rather than the needs of the Indian population.
The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army commenced operations in southeast India on May 27, 1892 as a result of the vision received by Major Deva Sundaram at Medicine Hill, while praying and fasting with three officers when the persecution in Southern Tamil Nadu was at its height. On October 1, 1970, the Tamil-speaking part of the Southern India Territory became a separate entity as the Army experienced rapid growth.
Facts, Stats and Leadership of the
India South Eastern Territory
- Total population to fish and disciple: 73,066,310
- 389 officers, 14 auxiliary-captains, 30 cadets, 590 employees
- 251 retired officers
- 323 corps, 164 outposts
- 57,510 senior soldiers
- 13,689 adherents
- 4,330 junior soldiers
Leadership
Colonel Lalbulliana Tlau - Territorial Commander
Colonel Lalnunhlui Khawlhring - Territorial President of Women's Ministries
Lt. Colonel Santhi Babu - Chief Secretary
Lt. Colonel Samraj Babu - Territorial Leader for Leader Development
Prayer Requests for the
India South Eastern Territory
Our people.
Soldiers.
- for improved relationship and understanding among soldiers for their corps development. Please pray that people will stand together and take responsibility for local mission.
The officers of the India South Eastern Territory.
- for new candidates. The gap between the number of officers retiring and the number of officers being commissioned is currently increasing and causing concern. We also have an increasing need for corps officers.
- for the Centre for Officer Training and those who lead the training.
- for our active officers. We have recently seen a number of active officers promoted to Glory so pray for good health among those actively serving. We would also like to pray particularly for those corps officers working in extension areas (far off places) for their personal and mission needs.
- for leadership opportunities in the territory, that people will be identified and developed within leadership programs, and for women in leadership roles.
Young people in the India South Eastern Territory.
- that our meetings and programs will make a spiritual impact upon our children and young people.
- for school going students, including those who attend Salvation Army schools in the territory.
- that our Youth Mission Team will reach people with their mission and music.
Our resources.
§ That prayer halls will emerge in places where there is currently a need to meet together.
§ That the building work taking place on the new THQ building in Nagercoil will be completed well.
Our mission.
- For the identification of new mission fields and opportunities for saving souls.
- For Catherine Booth College of Nursing. For the approval to begin post graduate course of nursing studies in the hospital campus.
USA Southern Territory
Prayer Requests
- The family of Hee-Sun Shin, mother of Major Mee Sook Chang, who was recently Promoted to Glory
- Major Beth Birks, Territorial Social Services Secretary, Social Services
- Mission and Cultural Ministries
- Alex Lauchian, Investment Operations Manager, Office of Investments
- Zina Widman, Territorial Compensation Director, Human Resources
- Jeanette Burroughs, Territorial Grant Writer, Community Relations & Development
- Major Syung Young Lee, Assistant Principal for Training/Director of Business Administration, Evangeline Booth College
- Cadet John Osbourn
- Captain Dominique Darby, Divisional Candidates’ Secretary, Georgia Division
- Commissioner Jolene Hodder, National Program Secretary, NHQ
- Lt. Colonels Dean & Pam Hinson, officers, soldiers, employees and volunteers of the Arkansas & Oklahoma Division
- Kroc Centers
- Anonymous prayer request that God would remind us that we sometimes have to get a little dirty when planting the seed of the Word of God but the results are well worth it.
Something to Consider
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2: 13,14).
“Jesus said, ‘Follow me” (Luke 9:58).
Conformity to Christ’s example is only possible by the re-formation in you of His life, and the growth again in you of His person; the mind of Christ in your mind, the presence of Christ in your flesh and blood; the motive power of Christ, the Father’s will, prompting your every thought and word and deed, and thereby transforming your body into a temple of the Son of God.
And, because the Christ of glory stooped, thinking no humiliation of our nature too deep for His love to tread, so He will condescend to the lowest depths of weakness and want revealed in your heart and life. He will meet you where you are. He will deal with you just where you are weakest and worst. This is indeed the keynote of all that God has to show you. It is your own link in the long chain of patient and ever-new revelations of God to man.
I seek the blessing from the Lord,
That humble saints receive,
And righteousness, His own reward
To all who dare believe.
Oh, let me now Thy hill ascend
Made worthy by Thy grace,
There in Thy strength to stand and serve
Within the holy place.
-General Bramwell Booth
From Bramwell Booth
Edited by Catherine Bramwell-Booth
Benediction
Make me a blessing to someone today, dear Father, for Your Kingdom’s sake. Amen.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness!” Enjoy this great hymn of our faith.