Maimed Believer Acquitted of Blasphemy

Asia News, Global Council of Indian Christians 21 November 2013 1 minute read

TJ Joseph after reattachment surgery
Photo: AsiaNews

TJ Joseph, a Christian professor accused of blasphemy in 2010, was finally acquitted on November 15th. The accused professor was suspended from his job in March of 2010 after he included questions in a test that were deemed offensive to several of his Muslim students.

Several months later, a group of assailants attacked him on his way home from a church service, amputating his lower arm. Later that year, TJ was fired from his teaching position. Along with his recent acquittal, TJ has been offered the opportunity to return to his job by school authorities. (For more information on the 2010 attack, please click here.)

Thank the Lord for this answer to prayer! Pray that God will enable TJ to forgive those who so terribly attacked him, as well as the school authorities who fired him unjustly. Pray that TJ's ordeal and testimony will draw many to Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

Please visit the India Country Report to learn more about India's persecuted church.

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.