[2025 Ramadan] Day 11: With the Spirituality of Apostle Thomas, North India will with All Their Lives for Jesus and the Gospel! Bangladesh, the Holy Army of Light to Complete the Final Mission History

<North India>

India, home to the world's largest population, boasts 1.4 billion people. It is also a melting pot of religions, with a wide variety coexisting. Among them, Hinduism is the most prevalent. Following closely is Islam, the second-largest religion in India.

Muslims in India constitute 14.2% of the total population. While 200 million Muslims out of 1.4 billion may seem small relative to the overall population, the Muslim community alone is substantial, ranking as the fourth-largest Muslim population in the world, enough to form a country.

Before India's independence from British colonial rule in 1947, Muslims in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh belonged to one nation and shared a common culture. However, with India's independence, they were divided into Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. Subsequently, Pakistan and Bangladesh became predominantly Muslim nations, while Muslims in India live as a minority in a Hindu-majority society.

Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India, who rose to power in 2014 with the election slogan "Development for All, Together with All," is a Hindu nationalist. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, he was suspected of being "behind the Muslim massacre" for failing to take action when nearly 800 Muslims lost their lives in Hindu-Muslim clashes. Although he was acquitted by the court, his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to make India a country for Hindus. To them, Muslims are a group to be dealt with. Recently, hate speech against Muslims has surged in India, with Muslims being derogatorily referred to as "two-legged animals" or "termites." Furthermore, laws with clear intentions to target Muslims, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, have been passed. As a result, Muslims in India have become second-class citizens, almost invisible, in their own country, and they are expressing fear for their very survival.

Therefore, Ramadan fasting for Indian Muslims is a time to rebuild their weakening identity within Indian society. Though many may not fully understand Islam or the Quran, they use this time to reaffirm their existence, setting aside the discrimination they face due to their Islamic identity.

[Story of Sister M]

Sister M's father is a Muslim cleric, and she was forced to follow Islamic law from a young age, leading her to wear a hijab to church. Last year, she came to church through evangelism and voluntarily attended religious services, receiving Jesus as she heard His calling in her heart. Despite ongoing family difficulties, she continued to attend church. However, this year, she was forced to read the Quran daily and perform Islamic prayers at home during Ramadan. Her mother also caught her reading the Bible and punished her. Facing this period of spiritual darkness, her identity as a Christian is wavering, and she is struggling with the decision of whether to return to Islam, feeling it is too difficult to maintain her faith alone.

At this time, we urgently need prayers for brothers and sisters who have come to believe in Jesus, that they may find strength to break through the darkness and come to the Lord with faith in Jesus Christ.

"For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Hallelujah! Now is the time for God to show grace and save all souls in India who believe in Islam.

Even amidst the reality of discrimination during Ramadan, and in a community atmosphere that strengthens Islamic identity, may they encounter Jesus and hear the Lord's voice calling them to true truth, not to a blind, cultural Islam. Let us pray together for a revolutionary revival that shakes the entire nation of India!

<Bangladesh>

Bangladesh, meaning "Land of Bengal," is a country where approximately 98% of the population is Bengali. After gaining independence from British India in 1947, it was divided into West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (formerly Bangladesh). Due to discrimination and inequality from West Pakistan, Bangladesh gained independence in 1971.

Of its approximately 170 million people, 90% are Muslims, with only 0.2% evangelization among the very few ethnic minorities outside the Bengali population.

Bangladesh hosts the Ijtema, the world's second-largest Islamic missionary gathering, which began in 1946. Approximately 5 million people from home and abroad participate in the gathering, which was held twice this year, from January 31 to February 2 and from February 7 to 9.

Last summer, large-scale protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, who had led the country for a long time, resulted in numerous casualties, and the political and social landscape remains chaotic with the potential for the Prime Minister's resignation and government collapse. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Yunus is leading the Election Commission and the country as a new chief advisor. However, contrary to initial promises of holding general elections as soon as possible and stabilizing the country, there are predictions that he will establish a new long-term regime. It is expected that Muslims will pray more for the country's political situation and peace during this Ramadan.

During Ramadan, Bangladeshi Muslims, as always, seek spiritual and physical purification through fasting, and mosques across the country are filled with Muslims reciting the Quran late into the night for personal spiritual growth. On the other hand, many people take Ramadan lightly as a formal holiday, and many young people do not fast. During this Ramadan, we believe that many young people and the next generation will realize that there is no hope in the world or Islam and return to the Lord.

Regular worship gatherings are being held, centered on Sister N and her family, who were connected through an invitation feast by a short-term mission team last year. The Word is being proclaimed and praise is resounding in a home in a slum made of tin sheets. The newly heard Word at each weekly meeting will manifest as power, strengthening their faith and leading them to a deep encounter with Jesus. In particular, there are several children from the next generation at the worship gathering. We hope that these children will believe in Jesus through the Word and grow into the next generation who will spread the gospel.

Bangladeshi youth, living without hope and without knowing the truth, will rise up as those who give their lives for Jesus and the gospel! They will rise up as a holy army!

[Today's Prayer]

* During Ramadan, may the 200 million Muslims in North India, who are strengthening their Islamic identity amidst persecution from Hindus, realize that Jesus is the only Savior and Comforter. When sharing the gospel with souls, may they understand the truth and rise up as a 10,000-strong MBB army, giving their lives for Jesus and the gospel, going to the nations, and raising all peoples together, so that a revolutionary revival that shakes the entire society of India and all nations may begin!

1. During this Ramadan, may many Bangladeshi Muslims who have not found true truth and hope in the world or Islam encounter Jesus through dreams and visions and be transformed by the gospel!

2. Pour out the power of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit upon the churches in Bangladesh, so that they may boldly witness the gospel to Muslims during Ramadan, without fear of persecution and suffering for Jesus and the gospel!

3. Send young people from the world church to shine the light of the gospel in Bangladesh!