Kashmir is a land of incredible beauty, with mountains, streams, lakes, and beautiful pine forests. It has been a top tourist attraction for years, as well as the backdrop for scores of Indian films.
But, sadly, Kashmir has also been a war zone for well over a decade. Many Kashmiri people are fighting for independence from India, while others are just caught in the crossfire. Thousands of people have been killed, leaving families bereft of fathers, husbands, and sons. There are no signs that it is letting up.
Kashmir - Past and Present
The Muslim and Hindu peoples of Kashmir have lived in relative harmony and friendliness since the 13th century when Islam first became the majority religion in Kashmir. The Sufi-Islamic way of life that ordinary Muslims followed in Kashmir complemented the rishi tradition of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus), leading to a syncretic culture where Hindus and Muslims revered the same local saints and prayed at the same shrines.
Periodically, however, there have been rulers and leaders who have had a narrow view of Islam, or have subjected Hindu minorities to great cruelties and discrimination. The current armed secessionist movement in Kashmir mostly derives its inspiration from these people. Their objective of ethnic cleansing is to create a minority-free Kashmir valley where the goal of Islamization could be easily forced on the ordinary people; it has caused untold hardship and bloodshed.
Outreach in Kashmir
Operation World estimates the presence of about 15,000 Christians - including fewer than 100 former Muslims - and 167 churches among Kashmir's 9.4 million people. But many leaders acknowledge a larger number of secret believers who are ethnic Kashmiris, mostly Muslim in background.
Despite the conflict, there is a steady Christian outreach. There are several indications that God is at work in Kashmir. Christian workers among Kashmiris have increased in recent years. Several new mission agencies are working among Kashmiris. Training has been organized several times for seekers. As a result, over 150 Muslims from Kashmir have accepted the Lord - some of whom have been baptized. A Bible Correspondence course has been introduced in the Urdu language. The new believers need encouragement and ongoing discipleship.
Prayer Guide for Kashmir
* Pray for the women of Kashmir. Pray for the new believers among the women, and for more women to disciple them. Pray also for the women who are seeking God. Pray also that the income-generating and vocational projects would open many hearts for the Gospel.
* Pray for the Kashmiri men. Pray for wisdom for the elders of the fellowships of new believers. Pray for spiritual protection. Pray for the ongoing training for these believers, and for those who train them.
* Pray for young Christian students. Pray for boldness and hearts of faith to see their fellow students come to new life in Christ. Pray for continued blessing on their studies, as well as for protection from hostile groups.
* Pray for Kashmiri Christian families. Pray that they may have many opportunities to share their faith with others. Pray also that the Lord would protect them against harassment.
Karshmir Video
Life Resumes in Kashmir Valley from NTDTV on Vimeo.
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I am sorry, I do not agree with your comments about Kashmir. The current conflict is about Ethnic cleansing by Hindu armed forces towards Ethnic kashmiris regardless of their religious background. For several decades, Kashmir's people never had a say wether to join India or not, same like Nagaland where 200,000 Ethnic Christian tribesmen have been wiped out by the Indian army, who are committing atrocities like rape, extrajudicial killings etc, there is much evidence and video and testimonial documentation to support this.
Even the Kashmiri Christians have faced harassment from Hindu armed forces, Muslims and Christians generally get along, it is only when one goes and tries to proselytize the problems come, but I do understand the Lord Jesus Christ's command to preach the gospel to every creature. This is not an easy situation as of any islamic nation, but what about the Christians burnt alive by Hindus in other parts of India ? Church's destroyed?
Please bring balance to this debate. I feel this discussion does not represent the views of all Kashmiri Christians.
Dear new brother in Christ!
Please pray fo your fellow Kashmri to open thier eyes to the love of Jesus and ocme to Him!
Pray for Muslims of Kashmir:
* for prtection of the small, but growing, number of Kashmiri MBBs
* for Muslim Kashmiri to have supernatural revelations of Jesus!
* for wide viewing of the Jesus "film" in Kashmiri
* for Bible translation and distribtuion among Muslim Kashmiri
* for a breakdown of barriers keeping the Kashmiri in chains
* for a church to be established in each Kashmiri village
* for a strong Kashmiri Church to emerge for the glory of Jesus!