Arise Mumbai!! Arise Church!!

I am sure all of us are well aware of what happened to our city on Wednesday the 26th of November. This indeed was our own 9/11.

The media was all over the place – from start to finish – giving the whole world all the gory details. Titles like ‘Terror Strikes Mumbai’, ‘Mumbai under siege’, ‘Warzone Mumbai’, ‘India’s 9/11’, and then towards the end ‘Enough Is Enough’ constantly reminded us of the mini-war that was taking place in the city that never sleeps.

For those who still don’t know the details all too well – on Wednesday, November 26th, terrorists attacked different key locations of Mumbai. CST [formerly known by its British name Victoria Terminus], The Taj Hotel at Apollo Bandar, the Oberoi Trident building and Nariman house were the ones affected the worst.

Like most evenings the restaurants at the Taj was full of diners and visitors and hotel guests. Similarly at the Oberoi Trident and Oberoi. Two terrorists, after paying for their dinner at Leopold began their killing spree.



At the same their other accomplices satiated began their bloodbath at the Taj and the Oberoi by taking hostages and killing everyone and everything in their sight.





The situation was beyond what the Mumbai police could handle by themselves and the NSG (National Security Guard) was called in, a day later for assistance.

By this time the entire city was shaken up and the true damage of the situation was settling in. People stayed at home while continuously being glued to their TV sets. Thursday was a relatively quiet day with many people opting to stay at home enquiring about the wellbeing of their loved ones, friends and family. By then people also began hearing devastating news of people who had died in the carnage.

The situation seemed under control and people kept expecting relief come through that evening. But the people didn’t know that the siege would go on until the early hours of Saturday the 29th.

What NOBODY anticipated is that the terrorists were very heavily armed.

Day two began with similar hopes that the operation could end any time. Some of the terrorists had already been eliminated in the encounter and with them a few top cops too. The situation seemed bleak. By then a depressive gloom had spread through the city.

Live feed from the Taj, Oberoi Trident kept showing windows being shattered by controlled blasts and firing at regular intervals all while the death toll kept rising. AT the same time relief came as hostages were being
rescued from their rooms.







The operation then went on to day three and by the early hours of Saturday morning the last of the 15 or so terrorists was eliminated. Even though it was a matter of joy, the flipside showed the growing numbers of the bodies found and the fractured structure of the Taj in the background.




At the Friday Prayer Meeting we cried out to God for our city and mourned for the people who had lost their loved ones.

God spoke to us and reassured us through his word and through prophecies saying that He is The LORD. He is the beginning and the end. In times when the economy is crumbling and the very safety of our city is on shaky ground, He reminded us saying that He is our security. It was a call to trust in Him, a call to acknowledge His Lordship on our life.

In a time where there is fear and uncertainty around, now more than ever before, our city needs to know the Love of Jesus. Its now, that the city needs to be asked the question about their security in eternity.

Let the Church Rise and call on the name of the Lord for peace and blessing upon the city. Let’s take every opportunity to share the good news of our Lord Jesus for He alone can save.

Pray for:

• Peace in the City

• Forgiveness and love to flow like a river in the city

• Rulers of this nation to open their eyes to see and to assess the real situation
and bring the necessary changes in the law & order as well as the security of our nation.

• Ministers in authority will stop the blame shift and own up responsibility for the betterment of the society

• Corrupt politicians to repent and have a change of heart

• God to protect the city from violence and evil

• Religious & Regional divides & tensions to ease in the city

• God would expose the works of the enemy

• Comfort and peace for the families of those who have lost their loved ones

• City to unite in a time like this to see peace & prosperity

• Message of the gospel will reach everyone in this city

• Revival fire upon the churches in the city.