Prayers Ministered to Shavas
Do you trust that your prayers change lives? James 5:16 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” That righteous person is you! Not only do your prayers empower others to share the Gospel, but they also minister to those who are being persecuted in India.
On July 1, 2022, our India Intercessors prayed for Adult Literacy student Shavas and his family, who had been unjustly imprisoned because of their faith in Jesus. They were some of the first people in their village to become Christians! However, their decision sent a wave of anger throughout the community.
Neighbors pressured them to denounce Jesus, but they didn’t. In fact, the opposition only strengthened Shavas’s faith. His family continued to attend a worshipping group in public without fear of their enemies.
Because of their decision to follow Christ, other villagers filed charges with the authorities. These reports resulted in imprisonment for the entire family—Shavas, his wife, and their two children.
But after one month, they were released!
In the time that believers like you were praying for this family, God brought a new police official to their village who believed they had been unjustly imprisoned. Prayers brought an immediate solution to a seemingly impossible situation!
Shavas could have denounced Christ and walked away from his faith. He could have lashed out at the authorities who held him captive. He could have harbored resentment against his neighbors. But instead, his decision to follow Jesus only grew stronger. His integrity was upheld during imprisonment, showing a testimony to God’s love in his life.
When asked how prayer helped this family through persecution, the answer was clear: prayer is the only thing they relied on. Thank you for praying for Shavas and his family! Now this family is worshipping Jesus in freedom.
