India vote signals stability
Christians in India call election results an answer to prayer
May 19, 2009
Photo source: The HinduAn Indian woman holds up her finger to display the indelible ink mark that shows she has cast her vote.
India's secular ruling party won an unexpected landslide re-election victory in national elections held over the past month in the world's largest democracy.
Christian leaders in India called the election results an answer to their prayers for a governing party that upholds their constitutional right to freedom of religion.
According to news reports, the National Congress party alliance secured at least 260 of India's 543 parliamentary seats, a stronger majority than it enjoyed during previous national elections in 2004. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has led the country since 2004, was appointed by the newly re-elected alliance to serve a second term. An estimated 400 million Indians voted during the five-phase election process.
However, the need for prayer continues. Anti-Christian sentiment is strong in many regions of India, and a handful of states have "anti-conversion" laws in force that are used by Hindu extremists to persecute believers.
- Pray for national leadership that protects its citizens' right to freedom of religion
- Pray for a reversal of state anti-conversion laws
- Pray for political stability throughout India
- Pray that India’s new leaders govern with wisdom and tolerance.
- Pray for Christian workers in regions where open evangelism is difficult.
- Pray that India as a nation will move away from the centuries-old, divisive caste system and treat its citizens as equals
- Pray that the political climate in India will provide more openness for those wanting to share their faith in Christ
- Pray that the new government will take steps to ensure basic rights for all India's people
Click on the photos below to see images from India's recent election
Photo source: The Hindu
