Padharia in India

What good does it do to have public jobs and special consideration for university admissions if you have a low literacy rate? That is the situation for the Padhars, a Scheduled Tribe of Gujarat. They live as landless agricultural workers. Some fish and rent out their boats. The large majority of the Padhar profess to be Hindus. Their brand of Hinduism is influenced by tradional animism and a veneration for their ancestors. As a tribal group the Padhar are considered by higher castes to be Dalits, outside the Hindu system.

Ministry Obstacles

Since many of the Padhar are illiterate, they are unable to read the Bible that is available in Gujarati, their primary language. The gospel will have to be presented to them in oral and visual forms.

Outreach Ideas

Believers can show the Gujarati JESUS Film. Medical teams of believers can bring the benefits of modern medicine to the Padhar.

Scripture Focus

"Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in His presence!"  Psalm 68:4

Scripture Prayer

May today’s people group feel His holy presence when they worship Him.

Prayer Focus

Ask the Lord to increase the tiny number of Padhar who claim to follow Jesus Christ. Pray that the Lord sends teachers to help the Padhar increase their literacy rate. Ask the Lord to give the Padhar a hunger for his Word and the desire to have their sins forgiven. Pray the Lord will raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Padhar in this decade.