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India

  • Attacks Against Christians Continue in India

    Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and KarnatakaThe Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of attacks on Christians in India over the past week.

    On August 25, Pastor Heeralal Kushwaha (27) was beaten by Hindu militants on accusations of converting people in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. When two local Christians tried to interfere, the militants threatened to kill them and the pastor with a pistol. Pastor Kushwaha has since left the area in fear of further attacks.

    At approximately 12:30 p.m. on August 26, a church service was disrupted by members of the Bajrang Dal Hindu militant group and local police following a series of baptisms in Chhattisgarh. All fifty-two church members were summoned to the station for interrogation. Forty of them were allowed to leave at 4:00 p.m. but twelve were detained for further investigation. The militants then hired people to falsely testify against two of the church members, Pastor S.D. Patel (65) and Neeraj Martin (35). Both men were placed in police custody and their application for bail was rejected on
    August 27.

    On August 26, Pastor Emmanuel Venketesh (38) and three believers were beaten and injured by approximately twenty Hindu militants who disrupted a prayer service and accused the Christians of converting people in Kolar district, Karnataka. The pastor and another believer were stabbed and a female believer received injuries on her leg and face.

    Ask God to give healing to those injured in these attacks. Pray that the two detained Christians in Chhattisgarh will be released. Pray that Indian Christians will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition to their faith (James 1:2-4).

    For more information on the persecution facing India's Christians,click here.
  • Christians Beaten and Detained
    Kunduwada Lake
    Kunduwada Lake

    On August 21, eighteen members of the Davangere Full Gospel Church along with some Bible school students were attacked by approximately fifty Hindu militants while picnicking near Kunduwada Lake, Karnataka. Five believers sustained serious injuries. The militants dragged the Christians to the local police station and lodged a complaint against them for allegedly converting people. The police detained ten of the believers for questioning. At last report, they were still in custody.

    Pray that the believers will display the love of Christ to their Hindu neighbours and trust God for justice (Romans 12:17-21). Ask God to give healing to those injured. Pray that those detained will soon be released. Pray for wisdom for Indian Christians, as they continue to minister under repressive conditions.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Church Building Vandalized and Christians Beaten
    Hindu symbols on the walls of the church building
     Pastor Thomas Koshy's family
    Pastor Thomas Koshy's
    church building
    and family
    Photos from    GCIC
    Pastor Thomas Koshy (36) has been living in Yelahanka, Karnataka with his wife Elcy (32) and children Tincy (8) and Jason (2) for the past five years. Since 2004, he has also been pastoring a church in the community. On August 18, Hindu militants came to his house and threatened to burn him and his wife to death unless Koshy stopped holding services in the community.

    The next day, as believers were gathering to worship, militants forced their way into the church building. They locked the doors and beat several of the believers who had gathered. The attackers then forced the believers outside, painted Hindu symbols on the building and held a Hindu worship ceremony in the building. At last report, Pastor Koshy has been unable to return to his home and is staying with friends for his protection.

    Pray for protection for the believers in Yelahanka. Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that the Christians will be a testimony of the love and grace of Jesus Christ in the face of opposition.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Evangelists Threatened, Accused of Forcible Conversion

    India mapA team of evangelists was threatened by Hindu militants while distributing Christian literature to children in the town of Nagarkurnool, Andhra Pradesh on August 8, according to a report from the All India Christian Council. Four women, along with Pastor Joseph and a few church members of the Mennonite Brethren Assembly, had stopped at a local restaurant when they were surrounded by children from a nearby school who asked them for tracts and books. The militants approached the Christians and threatened to beat them if they did not leave. The Christians left the town but later returned in order to interact with the children and other local people. The militants then alerted the local media about the incident. The media photographed the team and published false reports that claimed the Christians were forcibly converting people.

    Pray that these Christians will remain steadfast in the work the Lord has given them (1 Corinthians 15:58). Ask God to thwart the militants' efforts to slander and intimidate. Pray for the provision of Bibles and other Christian literature to reach areas in India where they are in the shortest supply. (Psalm 119:42-43).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Women Beaten by Neighbours for Evangelization
    Uma Jasmine with her daughter
    Uma Jasmine with her daughter
    Photo from    GCIC
    At approximately 10:00 a.m. on August 14, Uma Jasmine (38) was beaten by the next-door neighbours of a local family that she had been witnessing to for the past few months in Bangalore. The neighbours saw that the wife of this family had started to pray and read the Bible and were angry at Jasmine for sharing her faith. When Jasmine and her seventeen year old daughter went to visit the wife, the neighbours severely beat them. Jasmine is currently suffering from breast cancer and her heath has worsened as a result of her injuries.

    Thank the Lord for Uma's boldness in proclaiming His Word in an environment of opposition. Pray that her faithfulness will be a light that draws her persecutors to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16). Ask God to give healing to her and her daughter.

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Pastor and Church Members Beaten by Militants

    Chhattisgarh, IndiaPastor Babula Changra Paik, another church leader and an elderly man were beaten by approximately fifty Hindu militants during a Sunday morning church worship service at a house church in the city of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh on August 5. Church property was damaged and Bibles were torn during the attack. The militants were angered by Pastor Paik's alleged involvement in forcible conversion activities. Pastor Paik denied these accusations and insisted that he only conducts worship services for local Christians.

    Pray for healing for these three Christians. Pray that they will trust God to enable them to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Pray that those who accuse Pastor Paik of forcible conversion will be silenced.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Christian Beaten and Stoned to Death
    Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy
    Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy
    Photo: Global Council of Indian Christians

    A Christian named Amos was killed in the Hosu District, Tamil Nadu on July 29. Two men arrived at Amos' house and interrogated him and his family about his brother, Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy. Amos' wife and mother-in-law told the men that Amos was a Christian and confirmed that he was Pastor Chinnasamy's elder brother. The men then beat Amos with a club and threatened to kill the three small children present if the women did not throw stones at him. Fearing the men, the woman complied.

    Pray for comfort for those who mourn the loss of Amos. Pray that Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in India will come to know Him as Lord (Philippians 1:20).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Church-Owned Building Demolished

    India map

    At 2:00 a.m. on August 4, approximately 200 masked men demolished a building under construction which belonged to the Catholic Church in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The assailants also injured the watchman. The local bishop suspected that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were responsible for the attack. He reported that a known VHP member had led a previous attack on a priest looking after the building. The bishop also noted that local Christians had received telephone warnings against constructing the building, which was planned to serve as a priest's residence, a school and a hospital.

    Pray that, despite the loss of their building, these believers will be reassured of their lasting and more precious inheritance (Hebrews 10:36, 37). Pray that Christ will be glorified as Christians in India courageously remain true to Him despite opposition (Philippians 1:20).

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report. Video reports on persecution in India are also available at www.vomcanada.com.
  • Pastor Pressured to Close House Church in Kashmir
    Pastor Bashir Masih
    Pastor Bashir Masih
    Photo from    GCIC
    As Pastor Bashir Masih was getting ready for Sunday worship at the Shalom Prayer Hut in Kanlibagh, Kashmir on July 29, a leader from a nearby mosque, along with five other men, ordered him to vacate and close the house church. Pastor Bashir's handicapped son has reportedly been beaten by Muslims in the past for his faith in Christ. Muslims have also stopped supplying Pastor Bashir and his three children with drinking water in order to pressure them into leaving the area.

    Pray for strength and endurance for Pastor Bashir, his family and his congregation. Pray that those opposing the message of Christ will come to trust the God of the Bible.

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Church Service Disrupted and Believers Attacked in Karnataka

    Sagar Taluka, Karnataka, IndiaApproximately fifteen Bajrang Dal activists disrupted a worship service on July 29 in Sagar Taluka, Karnataka and beat those present, according to a July 29 report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. The militants, armed with cricket bats and knives, broke down the door of the Believer's Church. They destroyed the furnishings and seriously injured several of the church members. They also destroyed a car and moped parked outside the building. A police complaint has been registered and arrests are expected. Police officers are also posted at the hospital to protect those injured in the attack.

    Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray that this congregation will experience God's peace that is beyond comprehension (Philippians 4:4-7). Pray that they will be encouraged to continue meeting together, despite the opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Video reports of persecution in India are available on www.vomcanada.com.

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