Apostle Prasad Rao, Convenor for the Indian Coalition, reports on their efforts throughout the nation:

With video conference apps such as zoom, ICAL, India network leaders have been able to stay connected. I've held several meetings with the ICAL India members via Zoom app over the last few weeks. We've shared our experiences, testimonies, challenges, encouraged and equipped one another.

Many have been sharing that a revival has started in their churches as believers started to worship at their homes as in early churches of the first century. There is a noticeable spiritual activation in many of the local churches of India. Surface level Christians are now seeking for more profound spiritual meaning and understanding of God's Word. I look forward to such change in churches all over India and the world.

I request your prayers for the pastors living in the remote parts of India who have been informing me about their financial challenges due to the present lock down.

Our church has been at the forefront in providing relief in times of need. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown in India, many have lost their livelihoods. The impact has been severe on the poor with no savings who earn daily wages basis. As part of our COVID-19 relief program, through Sharon Seva Ministries, in coordination with the local administration, we've so far provided groceries kits containing food grains, pulses, oil and other essential things to hundreds of poor and needy households living in Telangana, India.

Yet there are many more to reach as the government has extended the lockdown till June which could be further extended for a few months. We're planning to reach such people, as the Lord provides, to help them get over this crisis. I request your prayers and support in providing aid to the poor families of our region.

Update: As part of our ongoing COVID-19 relief program, today we've been able to distribute groceries kits to the most needy people in slum areas. Our team has been overwhelmed when scores of people queued up requesting for the kits. As we started the distribution, more people living in that poor neighborhood soon gathered.

Among them was an elderly person sitting a little further from the crowd looking expectedly at us. When my wife Kala approached him, the elderly man said that he has six children in his home and that they have been suffering with hunger over the past few weeks( They have lost their livelihood due to the lockdown). He knew that our distribution kits were running out as many people gathered there. But he requested to give him one kit if there's still anything left. While he was sharing about his condition to my wife Kala she found tears at his eyes. She was deeply moved by the helplessness and plight of this elderly man in trying to gather some food to his family. But as the crowds grew, we ran out of the kits. Fortunately she was able to note his address and later we went back to him and provided with enough groceries for his family for the next few days. We also asked him to contact us when he needs help in the future.

The story is the same of many such poor people living in the tough times as this. The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown has been the hardest on the poor people of our country. For the third time lockdown has been extended today. It may go on till June or July. Many are on the verge of falling into extreme poverty, lacking basic needs for their survival. Although we've been able to help hundreds of such families over the past few weeks, this incident remind us that more needs to be done to help many such people struggling with hunger and poverty.

May 14 update: Yesterday, we distributed food kits to the families living in slums on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Many of them are daily labourers who have moved in from another state and have settled in small makeshift tents as daily labourers where sometimes more than 6 people live in an area less than 5x5x5 ft.

This COVID-19 lockdown has made their lives miserable.

We are also receiving requests from many pastors and leaders for financial help as they are finding it difficult to provide for their families in these challenging times.

I know that the current situation has been difficult for many of us but I feel compelled to appeal to the members and leaders of ICAL to consider the grievous situation in India and provide any help possible.

We sincerely appreciate the support provided to us in continuing this relief program. We request your prayers and support as we plan to reach many such poor households in the days to come.

Regards,
Prasad Rao, Convenor India Coalition - To help: Contact Prasad Rao