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India
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Christian Beaten by Militants in Maharashtra
A Christian worker was beaten by Hindu militants in the district of Yavatmal, Maharashtra state on May 13, according to a May 13 report from All India Christian Council. Shrikant Chandekar, who works with Maharashtra Village Ministries, was holding a prayer meeting in his home when approximately 30 Hindu militants arrived and demanded that he stop the gathering. When he refused to do so, they severely beat him.
Pray for healing for Shrikant. Thank the Lord for his example of standing firm in Christ. Pray that the bold faith of Christians in Maharashtra will be a light that draws others to Jesus
(Matthew 5:14-16).For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
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Pastor Martyred in Jharkhand
Pastor Letaro Horo was killed by a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Hindu militant group in the village of Burju, Jharkhand state on April 28. The militant, Durgan Mundu, invited Pastor Horo to his home to pray for healing for his family members. When Horo closed his eyes to pray, Mundu sliced his throat with an axe, killing him instantly.Pray that those who mourn for Pastor Horo will find strength, courage and peace in Christ. Pray that God will raise up other cross-bearing disciples to continue His work in India.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
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''Anti-Conversion'' Law Implemented in Gujarat
An anti-conversion law passed in 2003 in the Indian state of Gujarat came into effect on April 1, increasing Christians' concerns that it will open the door to false accusations by Hindu militants. The law is supposed to curb religious conversions made by "force," "fraud" or "allurement." However, Christians and human rights groups believe that the law actually obstructs all conversions, as Hindu nationalists invoke it to harass Christian workers with arrests and imprisonments, which are often accompanied with violence against the accused. The law dictates that any person who intends to convert must notify the government or will be declared an offender and prosecuted under criminal laws. It also stipulates that those convicted of "forcible conversion" could be jailed for up to three years.Anti-conversion laws are now enforced in five states -- Gujarat, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh -- and have been passed but are yet to be implemented in Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Ask God to strengthen Christian workers in Gujarat as they face more opposition in serving the Lord. Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws many to the love of Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).
For more information on the persecution of Christians, go to theIndia Country Report.
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Pastors Beaten By Militants in Andhra Pradesh
Three pastors were beaten with sticks by approximately 50 Hindu militants while distributing Christian tracts to children in the town of Devarkonda, Andhra Pradesh on April 14. Pastor John Kumar's hand was broken and the other two were severely injured in the attack.
Pray for healing for these believers. Ask God to give them and other church leaders in India the wisdom to know how to shepherd the believers through times of suffering (James 1:5).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go tothe India Country Report.
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Case against Pastor's Attackers Closed in Rajasthan
In April 2007, Pastor Walter Masih was severely beaten by Hindu militants in Manipur, Rajasthan
(click here for more details). On April 20, the state government refused to sanction prosecution of his attackers and closed the case. Local Christians see the government's refusal to seek justice for Masih as indicative of its open support of Hindu militant groups, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, which continue to threaten and oppress believers in the region.For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.
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Christian Killed for Practicing ''Black Magic''
A Christian leader, Thakur Sing Bhil (55), was killed by his brother in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh on April 3, according to an April 15 report from Compass Direct. Bhil was at home with his wife and son when his brother, Mangar Singh, entered their house in a drunken rage and shot an arrow in his chest at close range, killing him instantly. According to Bhil's wife, Singh thought that his brother's Christian faith was "black magic" that caused his teenage daughter's death three months ago from an illness. Bhil had reportedly faced opposition from his relatives since converting to Christianity two years ago.Pray for Bhil's wife, son and daughter-in-law as they mourn for him. Pray that they will rely on the Lord's strength and not on their own. Pray that Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in this area will continue to be drawn to Him (Phil. 1:20).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
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Christians Attacked in Andhra Pradesh
Church pastors and members of the Manna Ministry in Krishnapuram, Andhra Pradesh were beaten by a group of 20 Hindu militants on April 2, according to a report from Global Council of Indian Christians on April 8. The Christians were returning from an evangelistic outreach when their car was stopped by the attackers. One of the ministry's leaders, Pastor Gopal, sustained serious injuries. The militants also tore up the Christians' evangelistic tracts.Ask God to heal Pastor Gopal. Pray that Indian Christians will continue to share the gospel with boldness despite their suffering (Acts 4:29-31).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.
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Christian Family Attacked by Hindu Militants in Madhya Pradesh
Hindu militants attacked and severely injured the grandparents and aunt of a 15-year-old girl in the village of Bahera, Madhya Pradesh when the Christian family stopped the mob from raping her, according to a March 27 report from Compass Direct. On March 22, nine Hindu militants demanded that the father of the girl, Brij Gopal Saket, turn over his daughter, Urmila, so that they could abuse her. Saket refused to hand her over and locked himself, his wife and daughter inside their home. The militants, who had reportedly threatened other local Christians with violence for worshipping Christ, then grabbed Saket's parents and his sister who were outside the house and beat them with rods, sticks and stones.
Pray for the healing for Urmila and her injured family members. Pray that, in their sufferings, they will find strength in Christ (2 Cor. 1:3-5).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
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Christian Couple under House Arrest in Srinagar
Peerzada Shakeel, a convert to Christianity from Islam was arrested along with his wife, Arifa, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on charges of forcible conversion on March 26, according to a March 31 report from Compass Direct. On March 21, local Muslims broke into Shakeel's house and beat him. They dragged him to a mosque where they beat him again when he told them he would worship only Christ. Shakeel's father, a local mosque member, then brought false charges of forced conversions against him because he refused to deny Christ.
Shakeel and his wife were arrested and taken to a police station at Sonwar, Srinagar. Although the couple was released on bail the following day, they remain under house arrest. Shakeel has faced severe opposition from his family and community since he became a Christian in 2006.
Pray that Shakeel and Arifa will not give in to fear but be enabled by God to stand in His grace and remain faithful in the face of societal rejection and hostility for their Christian faith (1 Peter 5:10-12).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
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Two Nuns Attacked in Alibaug
Sister Mercy Tuscano and Sister Philomena D'Mello were attacked by approximately 50 Hindu assailants on March 23 in the town of Alibaug, Maharashtra for allegedly converting tribal groups to Christianity. The nuns were injured in the attack by the mob, which included women, who are followers of a spiritual leader in the area. Both nuns were treated in hospital and have since been released. They are members of a non-governmental organization that extends humanitarian services such as AIDS awareness to tribal groups in the region.
Pray for the recovery of the two nuns from their injuries. Ask the Lord to strengthen Indian Christians to continue serving the Lord despite pressure for their faith (1 Peter 5:10).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report. To view a video report on this incident, click here.
