USA (MNN) — Three dignitaries from India met yesterday with worshippers who survived a mass shooting in Wisconsin, reports the Associated Press.
On August 5, 40-year-old Wade Michael Page opened fire in a Sikh temple outside Milwaukee. Six worshippers were killed, and four people were wounded before Page turned the gun on himself. 18-year-old Harpreet Singh Saini lost his mother in this attack, and in September he appeared before the U.S. Senate.
"Senators, I came here today to ask the government to give my mother the dignity of being a statistic," he said in a hearing that brought over 400 people to Capitol Hill. "My mother and those shot that day will not even count on a federal form. We cannot solve a problem we refuse to recognize."
Sikhs gathered that day seeking protection from religious discrimination, asking government officials to guard their communities.
Sikhism was founded in South Asia and is the world's fifth-largest religion. The International Mission Board
asks believers to pray for Sikhs worldwide. Sikhs believe in the
existence of one god but don't know Christ. In India, one IMB
partner is using his background as a Sikh to share the Gospel.
Livtar and Jas Singh* had devoted themselves to this religion, but now they preach Christ crucified.
Livtar Singh plants churches among his people, the Sikhs of India. He and his ministry partners work in 47 different Sikh neighborhoods in one of India's megacities. Singh wants to see a church planted in each of the Sikh neighborhoods by 2015.
The Singh's gave their lives to the Lord after He literally saved them from themselves. Livtar and Jas were overwhelmed by financial difficulties and decided to kill themselves. Flames enveloped the bed where the Singh couple sat holding hands, waiting for the fire to put an end to their struggles. That's when someone stepped in to help.
"[Jas] told me she saw the hands of Jesus pulling [her] out of the fire," Livtar said. After being rescued, Jas pulled her husband off the bed. "The Lord pulled us out of the fire."
After this experience, the couple went searching for God. They began attending church, and within two weeks they had found jobs.
"Since then, we've started walking with the Lord," said Livtar. "I gave my life to Him."
IMB representative Bryan Evans* works with national church planters like the Singhs to introduce Sikhs to Christ. Evans created a Web site to help believers learn more about the Sikh religion and how to interact with them. You can visit that Web site here.
* Names have been changed for security purpose.
