India: Sanctuary for Multitudes

In anticipation of Sanctuary: World Student Day on Friday 18 October, this week’s Prayerline explores the context and backstory behind two Prayer Cards. We spotlight requests from Shashank and Srinivas, part of UESI India, an IFES movement that recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. 

On 18 September 1954, a dozen students from CMC Vellore, eight students from Chennai (called Madras at the time), and eight from Coimbatore, met with 15 graduates at Kasam in Tamil Nadu. They’d been meeting on their own campuses for Bible study, prayer, and witness, seeking to live for Christ and make him known.  

But their burden and vision were not only for those in their places of study but also for India’s other students – that they too would find sanctuary in Jesus, knowing him as Saviour and Lord. Responding to God’s leading, united by this common vision, they launched the Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI). 

Over the last 70 years, UESI has spread to all states in this vast and diverse nation, with almost 700 groups. 

However, in the world’s most populous country, where less than 3% are Christian, the need for gospel witness among its 40+ million students is still immense – as is the need for leaders to help sustain it. Shashank asks:   

Shashank tells us that even though West Bengal is famous for being the base of William Carey’s missionary activities, many in the state remain unaware of or unmoved by the gospel. He shares: 
 

“We face very little opposition but also very little response. As followers of Christ, we’re often at a loss to understand that. In the past, students from our state have gone on to help pioneer ministry in nearby states but currently we’re lacking a stable pool of leadership locally.” 

In coming months, they plan to tackle this need by helping students who have just graduated to see the role they can play as volunteers to their local groups.   

The ethnic, religious, political, and socio-economic context varies greatly across the country. But Srinivas asks us to pray that UESI students will continue in their collective vision of influencing and blessing the country through Christ: 

Based in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, Srinivas observes trends common to campuses across the country: the fast pace of life (everything must be instant), the seeking of immediate gratification, and a longing for acceptance. He adds: 

“The potential is huge. Multitudes are studying in our universities, but their lifestyles, priorities, and academic schedules can make it hard to reach them. We’re grateful for our constitutional freedom to openly declare our faith, yet also concerned by intolerance in some areas and communities. Religious devotion is widespread, but there is a poor understanding of Christ’s love.” 

Make sure you’re signed up to pray with Srinivas, Shashank, and thousands of others on World Student Day. See their requests and the prayer needs of others from around the world on the Prayer Cards page and access the Resource Hub for more content to help you pray on the day.