Militants Disrupt Prayer Service, Beat Believers

31 October 2007 0 minutes read

Maharashtra, India Pastor Victor Periera was beaten by Hindu militants and a group of local villagers who were angered by his organizing of prayer meetings that were attended by Hindu tribals in the Thane district of Maharashtra state on October 23. Pastor Periera was conducting a prayer service at a local church when the attackers barged into the building. The militants shouted curses against the Christian faith and beat the pastor along with several other believers present. Pastor Periera's rib was broken in the attack.

Ask God to give healing to Pastor Periera. Pray that he and his congregation will abandon all glory for themselves and embrace the fellowship of Christ's sufferings (Phil. 3:7-10). Pray that nonbelievers in India will come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.

India

India Information

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
Country Information
Population
1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.