Arise in Prayer for Asia

The first Asia Arise in Prayer Summit was held recently at the Beyond Borders Training Center (BBTC) in Siliguri, northeast India. This strategic event brought together leaders from North India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.

The Arise in Prayer Summit at BBTC.

A major purpose of the meeting was to unite in earnest prayer for the nations represented, where Christians constitute a tiny minority. These believers face opposition from hostile governments, and persecution by radicals from other religions. Churches in these nations depend upon prayer for protection and provision, and for strength to remain faithful in serving Christ and sharing the gospel.

BBTC students at the Prayer Summit.

Beyond this, a further purpose of the summit was to lay the groundwork for initiating a prayer movement in each country. The ultimate goal is to transform local churches into “houses of prayer for all nations.”

The Summit was led by Bishop Manuel Pate, an experienced former missionary who now plays a leading role in the Arise in Prayer movement. Danny and Judith Williams, our WMM missionaries to Nepal, provided invaluable help with planning and preparations. We are especially grateful to the Directors of the BBTC program, Gopi and Marites Kumar. This young missionary couple possesses exceptional faith and vision, and their labors and prayers undergirded the whole event.

Prayer Summit Attendees.

The Prayer Summit also served as a training module for the women’s cohort of the Beyond Borders Training Center. These eleven young ladies eagerly absorbed the teaching and entered into passionate prayer for one another and the Kingdom of God. It was deeply moving to hear their testimonies of how the Lord was healing their hearts and working in their lives.

Worship at the Women's Prayer Conference.

Women praying at the Prayer Conference.

Only a few weeks after this meeting, the first Arise in Prayer summit was held on the conference level in North India, organized by the IPHC India Women Empowered Committee. Some 276 ladies from churches in and around Ranchi gathered to stand in the gap for IPHC churches, pastors, and the Arise 2033 vision. The unity and passion on display assured us that God is indeed calling each local church to be transformed into a house of prayer.

Points for Prayer

• Pray that the leaders who attended the Prayer Summit will be able to organize future summits in their own nations, so that this prayer movement will spread throughout Asia.
• Pray for wisdom and strength for the Directors of the Beyond Borders Training Center, as well as finances to support the mission of BBTC, equipping church planters for unreached regions in the surrounding nations.
• Pray for the young ladies who have now graduated from BBTC, that the Lord will use them in powerful ways to build His church.
• Pray for continued wisdom, strength and provision for us as we serve the Lord in Asia, the most unreached area of the world.

Thank you for partnering with us to fulfill the Great Commission in Asia!

Russell & Sandra Board

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missional we become." - Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia