In 1904, Indian Christians and western missionaries gathered for the first of an annual series of conventions at Sialkot in what is today Pakistan. To support this time of spiritual renewal, John hyde and his friends formed the Punjab Prayer Union, setting aside half am hour each day to pray for revival. The results of their prayers were plainly seen at the Sialkot convention as a special anointing fell upon those gathered. Year by year the prayer union fasted and prayed, and at each convention avgrowing urgency for evangelism and intercession filled each attendee. John Hyde emerged as the prayer leader, and all were amazed at both the dept of his spiritual insight, and the ferocity of his burden for India.
By 1908, John Hyde dared to prayed was to many at the convention an impossible request: that during the coming year in India one soul would be saved every day; three hundred and sixty five people would be converted, baptized, and publicly confess Jesus as their Saviour. Impossible yet it happened. Before the next convention, John Hyde had prayed more than 400 people into God's Kingdom, and when the prayer union gathered again, he doubled his goal to two souls a day. Eight hundred conversions were recorded that year, and still John Hyde displayed an unquenchable passion for lost souls.
At the 1910 convention, those around Hyde marveled at his faith, ad they witnessed his near violent supplication; "Give me souls, O Lord or I die." Before the meeting ended, John Hyde revealed that he was again doubling his goal for the coming year
Four souls a day, and nothing less. During the next twelve months, John Hyde's ministry took him through out India. By now he was known "Praying Hyde", and his intercession was sought at revivals in Calcutta, Bombay and other large cities. If any day four people were not converted, Hyde said at night, there would be such a weight on his heart he could not eat or sleep until he had prayed through to victory. The number of new converts continually grew.
He prayed until the position of his heart shifted.
By 1908, John Hyde dared to prayed was to many at the convention an impossible request: that during the coming year in India one soul would be saved every day; three hundred and sixty five people would be converted, baptized, and publicly confess Jesus as their Saviour. Impossible yet it happened. Before the next convention, John Hyde had prayed more than 400 people into God's Kingdom, and when the prayer union gathered again, he doubled his goal to two souls a day. Eight hundred conversions were recorded that year, and still John Hyde displayed an unquenchable passion for lost souls.
At the 1910 convention, those around Hyde marveled at his faith, ad they witnessed his near violent supplication; "Give me souls, O Lord or I die." Before the meeting ended, John Hyde revealed that he was again doubling his goal for the coming year
Four souls a day, and nothing less. During the next twelve months, John Hyde's ministry took him through out India. By now he was known "Praying Hyde", and his intercession was sought at revivals in Calcutta, Bombay and other large cities. If any day four people were not converted, Hyde said at night, there would be such a weight on his heart he could not eat or sleep until he had prayed through to victory. The number of new converts continually grew.
He prayed until the position of his heart shifted.
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