This site was desiged for standard modern browsers. Please upgrade your internet browser to Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

Prayer for Sikhs

Lorna Johnston /Thursday, April 13, 2023

 

While we count down the last days of Ramadan, observed by the world’s almost 2 billion Muslims, (which ends on April 20), we also want to stand in prayer for the often-overlooked spiritual needs of Sikhs worldwide.

Sikhism

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of South Asia during the 15th century as a reform movement within Hinduism. It is one of the youngest of the major world religions, boasting 28 million adherents worldwide. Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world.

The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism include faith and meditation on the name of the One Creator, the unity and equality of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for social justice for the benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood. Sikhs believe in reincarnation and that their good works will earn merit for the next life. The ultimate goal is to merge in essence with the “Ultimate.”

About 770,000 Sikhs, primarily Punjabis, call Canada home, and they will likely be the second largest ethnic group after the Chinese by 2031. Concentrated in British Columbia and Ontario, Sikhism is the second largest religion in the Greater Vancouver area. In Surrey, almost a quarter of the population is Sikh, making it the largest Punjabi settlement outside Punjab.

Sikhs are wary of Westerners trying to convert them to Christianity. Their proud cultural heritage, intertwined with their faith, may cause their families to view conversion to any other faith as a rejection of the community they so deeply value, and will shun the family member who converts.

Vaisakhi

April 13/14 is the start of Vaisakhi, a spring harvest festival, that is observed in northern India and in diaspora communities around the world—including here in Canada. Baisakhi holds great significance in the Sikh religion as it commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa, a community of baptised Sikhs, by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in 1699.

During the Vaisakhi festival Sikhs will visit Gurdwaras (temples) to offer prayers and seek blessings, as well as participate in processions, festivals, shared community meals and more. In Surrey, the largest Vaisakhi Parade anywhere in the world outside of India, will be held on April 22, culminating a festival that beings on April 13 and wraps up on the 23rd.

As this community celebrates spring harvest, this is an opportune time to pray that the Lord of the Harvest will produce much fruit among them. Use this link to access the prayer guide and join the global community in praying 5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs (2023 Edition) PDF (worldprayerguides.org)

Lorna Johnston is the Diaspora Ministries Leader at Outreach Canada. She leads two national teams--Loving Muslims Together (LMT) and Simply Mobilizing Canada (SMC). She works with teams of diverse and experienced leaders and ministries across Canada to alert and activate the church in Canada to the changing opportunities to engage God's mission right here in Canada.

print


Show All Blogs

Praying for Alberta

Praying for Alberta

This week our guest contributor, Luchie Swinton, shares how we can join with the Alberta team as they serve across the province.

Praying for Ontario

Praying for Ontario

Ontario is home to 40% of the population of Canada, with the Greater Toronto Area containing just over 6 million people alone. How can we mobilize the local churches to reach out? This week's guest contributor, Randall Mah, shares how the Kairos course is inspiring and equipping disciples to reach out to the diverse community of Ontario, and how we can pray for them.

Praying for the Quebec Region

Praying for the Quebec Region

Quebec has seen significant changes in religious affiliation over the past decades. Our guest contributor, Michael H. Gagnon, shares some of the upcoming strategies to encourage re-engagement with God's missional heart for the Quebec region. Let's pray together for power and passion to fuel these movements!

Praying for the Chinese Christian Community of Canada

Praying for the Chinese Christian Community in Canada

The Chinese Christian community in Canada is a vibrant and growing part of the country's multicultural mosaic. Alfred Chui, Chinese Language Coordinator with Outreach Canada, has shared these powerful prayer points with us as we lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Praying for the Atlantic Provinces

Praying for the Atlantic Provinces

I’m here today shamelessly enlisting you to pray for the Atlantic Provinces. Honestly, if you’re looking for a place to find solitude, rest, community, and to connect with God in nature, just come to Atlantic Canada. This isn’t a tourism ad, though it’s hard to speak about my home region without sounding like one. It is just that beautiful – rugged, remote, picturesque, quirky, fun, and cozy. Everything that you’ve heard about the natural and cultural beauty here is true. So come here to stay, play, and pray, but also pray for us.

Empowered to Influence: Part 4

Paradigm 4 – Works in the Church and Works of the Church

In this fourth paradigm, Ken Chua examines the difference between the works in the church and the works of the Church—in other words, what happens on Sunday during our gathered community time and what happens the rest of the week when we are scattered in our various communities.

An Invitation to Pray: Week 7

An Invitation to Pray
WEEK SEVEN: Witness

As we enter into this final week of prayer leading up to Pentecost Sunday (May 19th), we pray for a disciple movement that is a witness movement among all nations, all generations, and all hearts. Please join us as we lift our hearts to God, seeking His guidance and empowerment in this ongoing prayer initiative.