!ncredible !ndia

The Indian government has tapped into that phrase and touts it as their popular tourism slogan.  It should have been an easy pitch by some advertising agent because India is incredible in every way. 

Let me give you a few of the Incredible Facts about India:

- Top 10% of the population use 70% of the national resources.
- The next 20% use 20% of the national resources.
- The bottom 70% of the population somehow survive on the remaining 10% of the national resources.

Around 350 million people in India live below or ‘at’ the official poverty line of .52 cents per day.  That’s roughly the population of the United States of America trying to live on around $15.00 per month.  Try that.  One combo meal at McDonald’s can cost half that amount. 

250 million Indians are considered “untouchables” in the Indian caste system.  In the Hindu religion that means that they were not created by the gods.  They are lower than humanity.   This caste system has been outlawed for more than 60 years.  Nothing has changed. 

These Dalits, or, untouchables, live in constant exploitation.  Bonded labor is common and this means nothing less than slavery.  A concrete pipe-making company in our state produces 4 ft diameter concrete pipes for sewage.  The cracked and unusable pipes are provided as “housing” to the workers.  Most of these work 14 hours a day, 365 days a year for virtually nothing because they get “housing provided”.

The Devadasi system is imposed upon primarily these Dalits.  Devadasi means ‘servant to the gods’ in the temples.  It is ritual, religious prostitution in the most incredible and vile manner.  It begins at 5, 6 and 7 years of age.  On and on the story goes.

We ask you to pray much for the India we love so dearly.  But I’m sure, we cannot love it nearly so much as Jesus does.  So, pray for the India that He loves so dearly.


Beyond Frontiers

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