Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

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Light is more powerful than darkness. We have an opportunity now — perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — to pray for the light of the Gospel to penetrate hearts and minds in unprecedented ways.

In an earlier article, I urged prayer against the rising tide of religious persecution around the world as governments and communities seek scapegoats for the deadly and debilitating coronavirus pandemic. One nation I highlighted was India, which in a seeming paradox is both the world’s largest democracy and also one of the most perilous places in the world for Christians. In fact, Open Doors USA ranks India as the 10th most dangerous country in the world for believers (worse than China).

You might imagine my surprise when I saw an article in Christianity Today this week titled “The Pandemic Lockdown Is a Godsend for the Indian Church.” Written by an influential pastor who ministers in northern India, the article does not gloss over the difficulties of life there for Christians. However, it also strikes a note of hope. It suggests things are happening that are new and full of potential.

Isaac Shaw, senior pastor of Bible Bhavan Christian Fellowship and president of Delhi Bible Institute, wrote, “Indian churches have been praying for the Lord to enlarge their borders, and the Lord has answered with an unexpected opportunity to reach the unreached.”

The big “C” Church in India is 30 million-strong (larger than the entire population of Texas). However, in a nation of 1.3 billion people, they make up only 2.3 percent of the population. About 8 in 10 Indians are Hindu, while Muslims (14 percent), Sikhs (1.7 percent), and Buddhists (0.7 percent) also have significant numbers.

Hindu extremists have made life very difficult for many Christians. Vigilante mobs vandalize churches and too often harass and even murder Christians and other religious minorities. According to the U.S. State Department, police have also arrested Christians on charges of “hurting religious sentiments” and “spreading lies about Hinduism.”

Pastor Shaw points out that such challenging circumstances have actually bonded Christians in India more closely together and sparked a prayer movement. He suggests that prior to the coronavirus outbreak, the Church was moving “India to the cusp of revival” and there were reports of “breakthroughs in the work of the Holy Spirit among previously unreached places and people groups.”

Now, in the midst of India’s nationwide lockdown, Shaw welcomes flourishing online participation with church livestreams and new ways for churches to show charity as they help meet physical needs in their communities. Those who were once antagonists as now partnering with churches. In one case, local police, who were not previously very friendly to Christians, actually came with a request for masks. They even made special arrangements to ensure the church had access to raw materials in order to help.

“What the police did not know was that this church community had been praying for ways to respond during the lockdown,” Shaw said. “The Lord answered by providing an opening to serve and the potential for better relationships with the authorities.”

Shaw also highlighted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose political party tends to attract Hindu nationalists, offered Easter greetings and used the words “Lord Christ.”

Pastor Shaw is hopeful that this is “a new day.”

Could it be a new day in our country as well?

Last week 3 times more Americans searched for “good news” on Google than a month ago. Also, ministries like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Cru, and Global Media Outreach are reporting a surge of people coming to their websites and hearing the Gospel.

This pandemic is dark and deadly. The Church in the United States and around the world has a powerful opportunity to shine and to reach people with the light and love of our Lord.

Editor’s Note: Earlier this week, I read something very helpful about talking with people about Jesus. A man shared that he was friends with a woman who was a strong Christian who often talked to him about the Lord. He hadn’t seen her in a while. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she asked him, “How are you and Jesus doing?” I love the simplicity, directness, and nonjudgmental compassion in this question. His response? Not very well. But he wanted suggestions of what to do. Here is the simple prayer she told him: “Jesus, come and get me.” It’s a wonderful prayer. What then? She said, “Read the Bible every day as if it is God’s Word to you and that Jesus is who He says He is.” He wanted to know if there was more he should do and she told him to keep praying that prayer and go to church. God prompted him to go to church on a night when there was a special service and his life has never been the same again.

As this article explains, people are seeking “good news.” How have you been sharing the “Good News”? How do you talk about Jesus with others? If you don’t, what keeps you from talking about Jesus? Share with us by leaving a comment.

Aaron Mercer is a Contributing Writer with two decades of experience in Washington, D.C.’s public policy arena and Christian associations. A seasoned strategist, he aids organizations with research, analysis, and writing services, and he reflects on faith, technology, and the public square at FTPolicy.com.

Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash.