Spend time ministering in the slums of Bombay.
Now known as Mumbai, this is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of thirteen million, it is the most populous city in the world.
Mumbai holds the dubious distinction of being home to Asia's largest slums where, according to government statistics, 60 percent of all city residents live. In 2003 there were 17 public toilets for every million people, and to this day at least one third of the city's residents have no access to clean drinking water. The legions of Bombay's poor are growing by the day, as thousands of people migrate from rural areas to the big city, sleeping on its sidewalks and hoping for a better life in this harbor of hope.
In addition, The incidence of HIV in Mumbai is rapidly growing. Alarmingly large incidence rates of 51% have been found among sex-workers in Mumbai, most of which are in the slum communities.My Prayer...
I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will work through us, that we will have opportunities to preach good news to the poor. That we might encourage the poor in spirit and bring comfort to the sick and dieing. I pray that our God will become evident through our actions towards those living in such poverty.
Petition...
Pray for the sick. Pray for the dieing. Pray that we, the church, will return the compassion and kindness shown to us: in word and deed.
Reflection...
Deut 15:11; 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 5:15-16; Mat 5:1-12
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