India: From the classroom to the fields: finding time for fellowship when days are long

It’s 3pm; classes are over. But for local university students in Haryana, north India, there’s no time to relax. The weary students pack up their books and jump on the bus. It winds its way further into the countryside, taking them past acre after acre of paddy fields. For the next few hours the students must tend their family’s plantation. Watering, weeding, sowing, harvesting, looking after the buffalo. It’s gruelling and laborious work.

The state has 47 universities, with perhaps two or three known Christians on some of the campuses. It’s hard for them to find time to meet. The ongoing demands of the fields make evening Bible studies impossible. Lunchtimes are the only chance they get to study the Bible themselves or share it with friends. Despite these challenges, students are turning to Christ.

UESI India staff-worker Rampal was one of those. He heard the gospel as a student 17 years ago. Rampal is now finishing his theological studies and will return to the same area to share the good news with Hindu students next year.

Please join us in praying for the students of Haryana:

• Pray that Christian students would continue to grow spiritually and have meaningful fellowship, despite having limited free time.
• Pray for Rampal and the rest of the small staff team to persevere in discipling students faithfully and sharing the gospel.
• Pray that Hindu students in Haryana seek and turn to Christ this year.

For 40 years, UESI India staff, graduates and students have been making the costly decision to move north to share the gospel with students. Read more.

Thanks for praying with us!