Hope for Billions of Souls!

Pray for Two Billion People in the Two Largest Nations in the World.

• India:   1.46 billion people – One Billion people are Hindu and are unreached.
• China: 1.41 billion people – Majority are Communist and non-religious.

The good news is that the Church in these nations has been growing and spreading in unprecedented ways in recent years, and therefore, governments are now imposing strict controls over the Church. We invite you to join in the following two prayer initiatives:

1. 15-Day Prayer for One Billion Hindu Souls in India:
2. Pray for the Persecuted Church in China.

1. Prayer for One Billion Hindu Souls in India!

Why pray for Hindus? Why Now?

• Right now, over 1.2 billion people around the world identify as Hindu, making it one of the largest unreached religious groups on the planet.
• During Diwali, the “Festival of Lights,” millions search for meaning, hope, and true light amid cultural and spiritual traditions.
• This season presents a unique moment for the Church to lift our voices in prayer, asking God to reveal Himself to hearts that are longing for Him.
• When you lead your church into this strategic, informed, and heartfelt intercession, you become part of a far-reaching movement.
• The testimony of past years shows that the Holy Spirit has answered prayers in surprising and beautiful ways — from dreams and visions to new gospel access in communities. 

Anti-Conversion Laws in India.

Of the 28 states in India, 13 States, mainly in the North, have enacted anti-conversion laws to restrict freedom of worship. Anti-conversion laws are a set of legal rules that aim to regulate religious conversions by preventing coercion and fraudulent means of changing one’s faith. These laws also require individuals to obtain government permission before converting to another religion.

According to the Statesman newspaper of  India, the latest was last week when it become effective in the State of Rajasthan from October 9, 2025.  The revised version, with steep punishments and penalties, is considered the most stringent among similar laws enacted by around a dozen other states.
The Act stipulates harsher provisions, including 7-10 year jail term to life imprisonment, fines ranging from Rs 500,000 to 10 million. ($5,600 – $113,000) depending on the category and the nature of the offense.

According to Catholic News, Radio Veritas Asia, Christians, Muslims, and other minorities converged to protest against the passage of the Rajasthan Religious Conversion Bill, 2025, in the Legislative Assembly.
They have noted that in addition, converting vulnerable groups like minors or women carries penalties of 10 to 20 years in prison. Receiving foreign funds for conversion activities carries a 10- to 20-year prison sentence, and Organizations involved face license cancellation, frozen accounts, property confiscation, or demolition.

Individuals wishing to convert voluntarily must follow a process that includes notifying the District Magistrate (DM) 90 days in advance, while the religious converter must give 60 days’ advance notice. The DM is required to publicly display conversion details, which has raised privacy concerns.

Amidst all these challenges,  we ask you to join in Prayer using the following resources to pray for the Hindu People provided by IPC and 110 Cities.com.

• The 15-Day prayer window (12–26 October 2025) intentionally overlaps Diwali and provides context, insight, and city-level prayer points leading into the Global Day.

• The Global Day of Prayer for the Hindu World is scheduled for October 20, 2025, uniting believers worldwide in concerted intercession for Hindus. Join the prayer online here.
• A children’s prayer guide is also available, designed for young intercessors (ages 6–12), helping families and churches mobilize their children in this global movement.

2. Pray for the Persecuted Church in China.

China arrests 30 Christian Leaders:

According to the BBC News report, last weekend’s roundup of 30 Christians linked to the Zion Church network marks the start of what could be a wider crackdown on underground churches. They point to new laws passed in China, which appear aimed at curbing underground church activity and increasing pressure exerted by authorities on church members in recent months.

According to Open Doors, more than 70 individuals have been detained, including pastors, host families, and even a few seekers who had not yet formally joined the faith. Some were caught during church gatherings, and others were taken from their homes or workplaces.
Authorities concentrated their questioning on financial matters and denominational affiliations. At the time of writing, over 20 individuals have been fined and penalties range from several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan.

Despite being ruled by the atheist Chinese Communist Party, China has a sizeable Christian population. Government figures in recent years have stated there are about 38 million Protestants and nearly six million Catholics.
But these figures likely only account for members of churches registered with the officially approved Catholic Patriotic Association and the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement, which emphasize loyalty to China and the Communist Party.

Rights activists and scholars estimate that tens of millions more Chinese attend unregistered churches, also known as house churches, which do not follow state-sanctioned ideologies.

According to Operation World, the survival and growth of the Church in China are awesome events in our generation! The atheist government strictly controls religious groups and banned all religious activity during the Cultural Revolution. Christians then started underground house-church networks designed to survive the persecution. Through radio ministries, Christian workers, and believers devoted to outreach, the Church did more than survive; it grew! 

Pray for China:

• Please pray for the churches, believers, and seekers who experienced or are currently facing persecution.
• Ask the Lord to comfort them, strengthen their faith, and give them heavenly peace. May the Holy Spirit lead the church and believers to live victorious lives in the midst of the storm.
• Please pray for the spiritual environment in East China. May the Lord use this environment to draw the church and believers into deeper unity in Him—supporting, encouraging, and strengthening one another.
• Pray that God may raise up more believers to engage boldly in this spiritual battle.

Sources:

• International Prayer Connect (IPC).
• 110 Cities.com
• Operation World.
• The Statesman – India.
• Vajiramandravi.com
• Radio Veritas Asia.
• BBC News Report.
• Open Doors.