Pray for Oklahoma Baptists who are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB) in hard places like South Asia. South Asia has the largest concentration of non-Christians on earth. Approximately 1.8 billion people live in this area, which includes the countries of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
South Asia is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism and is home to nearly one-third of the world’s Muslims. Of these 1.8 billion people, only 1.85 percent are evangelical Christians. Our hearts should be broken that 35,835 South Asians are dying daily without Christ.
Because of the prayers of God’s people, in 2022, 19,244 new churches were started, and 229,399 South Asian people heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Additionally, 115,317 professed faith in Christ and 84,135 people were baptized.
Pray for the safety and well-being of missionaries who go to difficult and remote places to share the Gospel with those who have never even heard Jesus’ name. Pray missionaries can gain traction as they serve among this people group and that many would confess Jesus as Lord. Pray also that IMB workers will rightly steward time and talents to push the South Asian church further to maturity and health in the midst of a spiritual harvest.
Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together.
South Asian Peoples are featured in the 2023 Missionary Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. For more information about the Cooperative Program, visit oklahomabaptists.org/cp.
