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India

• Christians Killed, Churches and Homes Destroyed in Mob Violence in Orissa

  Image from video report onIBNLive

  Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed in a spate of attacks on Christians over Christmas in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state. The violence began on December 24 in the village of Brahmani when a mob of Hindus belonging to the Vishva Hindu Parishad militant group attacked Christians and their shops in order to protest their planned Christmas celebrations. The violence then spread throughout the area and continued in the following days.

  Christians remain at risk as religious tensions persist in the region. On December 31, at least three houses were burned down in three separate attacks in the villages of Rabingia, Barpada and Daringbadi, according to the Indo-Asia News Service. The Evangelical Fellowship of India has reported further incidents as late as January 2. Local Christians believe that the violence is a direct attempt to intimidate the Christian community and stop missionary work in the state, which is one of several Indian states with strict anti-conversion laws.

  According a memorandum submitted to the National Human Rights Commission on December 31, at least 90 churches have been burned and 600 houses torched or vandalized in the attacks. Thousands of Christians have been displaced and others are still missing. The total number of Christians killed is unknown. Full details of the carnage are still uncertain since authorities are often denying church groups and fact-finding teams access to the area.

  Pray that God will strengthen and protect the believers in Orissa. Pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that believers will continue to rely on their Saviour in this time of trial. Ask God to enable Indian Christians to act as ambassadors of reconciliation who help to draw even their persecutors to faith in the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. The January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter features the persecution of Christians in India. To receive your copy, subscribe today.

• Pastor and Wife Beaten by Hindus in Andhra Pradesh

  Pastor William Cary and his wife were beaten in their home by two Hindus in the village of Kandla Koyya, Andhra Pradesh on the evening of December 10, according to a December 10 report from All India Christian Council. A day before the attack, Pastor Cary, who leads a local church affiliated with Bharat Bible College, had asked nearby Hindus gathered for worship nearby to reduce the sound of their service. The Hindus peaceably agreed to the pastor's request. At approximately 9:30 p.m. the next day, however, two people came to the pastor's house and asked him if he was the one who had asked the Hindus to turn down the volume. When he told them he had, the visitors forcibly entered his home and beat him along with his wife.

  Pray for Pastor Cary and his wife as they recover from this attack. Pray that they will find opportunities to share Christ with their persecutors. Pray that non-Christians throughout India would be challenged by the consistent witness of God's people and come to know Him (Romans 12:14, 21).

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

• Militants Destroy Church Building Under Construction in Delhi

  At approximately 7:30 a.m. on December 5, a group of 150-200 Hindu militants destroyed a church building under construction in Pitampura in north Delhi. According to a December 5 press release from the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, who owns the building, the attackers roughed up the site foreman and threatened to assault any labourers who remained on the site. They also threatened to return if their threats were not heeded. The militants reportedly opposed the building of the church because they feared it would increase the conversions of local people to Christianity. The ground-breaking ceremony for the building of the Church of Divine Mercy had only taken place a month ago.

  Pray for wisdom for the members of this church, as they consider the future in light of this attack. Pray for the spread of the Gospel throughout India, despite those who oppose its message.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. To view a trailer of "Faith Under Fire: India," a video documentary by The Voice of the Martyrs, go to our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com. You can order a copy of this thirty-minute DVD at out online catalogue.

• Pastor Beaten

  

  On the evening of December 5, Pastor Nandu Rathod (38) was rturning from a Bible study in the Gadag district of Karnataka, India when he was stopped by 10-15 men. The men asked him if he was a Christian preacher and accused him of forcibly converting people. They severely beat him, fracturing his ribs and legs and left him with serious internal injuries. Believing he was dead, they left him on the side of the road. Others passing by found him and took him to a hospital where he received treatment.

  Pray for a full and quick recovery for Pastor Nandu. Pray that those responsible for this attack will come to understand and accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. The feature story of the January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter tells the exciting testimony of a Hindu persecutor who came to know Christ and is now serving Him, despite persecution. Subscribe here for free.

• Two Pastors Stripped, Beaten and Arrested

  According to a November 29 report from Compass Direct, two pastors, C.J. Joemon and C.J. Jojo, and another believer, G. Anil, were stripped, tied to a pole and beaten after a worship service at the Christ Vision Church was raided in the Hassan district of Karnataka on November 25. When police arrived several hours later, they took the Christians to the police station and charged the pastors with forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. The Christians have reportedly refused to press charges, saying that they have forgiven their attackers.

  Pray for a full recovery for those injured in this attack. Pray for endurance to stand firm, despite the opposition. Pray for the continued ministry of Christ's Church in India. Pray for Christian converts throughout India who are facing pressure to renounce their faith in Christ.

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

• Church Building Demolished, Young Man Killed

  Hindu militants beat a pastor and others and demolished a house church in Mandwa village, Chhattisgarh on November 19. According to a November 27 report by Compass Direct, members of the Bajrang Dal, together with local villagers, surrounded the church, tied up Pastor Suduru Kashyap and his associates and severely beat them. The church building was also destroyed. Reports indicate that they tried to kill Pastor Suduru by throwing a large stone at his head.

  The pastor and his associates went to the local police station where they were detained for twenty-four hours without food and water. They were finally released without an official complaint being registered.

  The following day, the body of 21-year-old Aayatu Kashyap, a distant relative of the church's pastor, was found fifteen kilometres from the village. The police superintendent claims that the killing was a separate incident but told Compass Direct that villagers were angry with the pastor because he used to criticize other gods.

  Pray for the family of Aayatu Kashyap as they mourn his death. Pray for a full recovery of those injured in this attack. Pray for the continued ministry of this church despite the on-going opposition they face.

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

• Police Officer Part of Attack on a Church

  

  Pastor Siddarama Gokhavi (60) and six other Christians were beaten by Bajrang Dal activists who attacked them as they were worshiping in Ananda Nagara, Karnataka on November 18. The attackers vandalized the building, burned Bibles and chanted slogans against Christians. The militants included a senior police officer. Pastor Gokhavi and his wife, Rekha, were injured in the attack, along with five others. The attackers accused the Christians of coercing Hindus into becoming Christians.

  Praise God that there were no serious injuries in the attack. Pray that those responsible for the attack will come to recognize the love and grace of God and turn to Him in faith. Pray for the continued ministry of this house church.

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

• Church Building Destroyed and Pastor Beaten in Chhattisgarh State

  On the evening of November 19, Hindu militants attacked a church at Manduwa in Chhattisgarh State, India, tied up and beat the pastor into unconsciousness and burned down a recently constructed church building. There are no reports on the present condition of Pastor Sudharu. The Hindus accused the church of being involved in the conversion of tribals in the region. According to reports, missionaries in this remote area face regular threats from Hindu militants.

  Pray for the continued witness of this church. Pray for healing for Pastor Sudharu as he recuperates from the assault.

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

• Christians Beaten by Militants

  On the morning of November 4, six Christians, including Pastor Vishnu Barad and his wife, were beaten by Hindu militants in the Thane district of Maharastra. The believers were reportedly targeted for attending prayer meetings in the area. Pastor Barad was detained when he went to the local police station to register a complaint against the militants.

  On November 10, a group of approximately fifty Hindu militants attacked Pastor P.C. Nayak of the Believers Church in the city of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, local villagers called Pastor Nayak to a meeting regarding the construction of a church building. When he arrived at the construction site the militants beat him. He was hospitalized with internal injuries.

  Pray that Pastor Barad will be released. Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray that Christians in India will maintain the attitude of Christ and respond to their persecutors with love and grace (Matthew 5:43-44).

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

• Violence against Christians Continues in India

  The Voice of Martyrs has received several reports of violence against Christians in India in the last week, including the following:

  On the afternoon of October 27, evangelist Phiroj Lima (28) was beaten by a group of approximately thirty Hindu militants while distributing tracts and visiting with patients at the Bhadrak Government Hospital in Bhubanseswar, Orissa. The militants beat Lima for two hours, confiscated his gospel tracts and threatened to kill him. They then gathered the relatives of the patients together and told them that Lima was forcibly converting patients to Christianity. The militants called the police who took Lima into custody. He was detained at the local police station for nearly three hours before being released.

  On October 28, Hindu militants attacked a Christian farmer, Bharat Bhai, and his family in Ambapani village, Gujarat, according the Evangelical Fellowship of India. The militants beat Bhai and told his family that they would be killed if they continued to go to church and serve Christ. Later that day, the militants went a local church and threatened the pastor and his congregation that they would be killed if they kept holding services in the building.

  On November 2, Hindu militants disrupted a prayer service and beat and injured thirteen believers present in the village of Timnar, Chhattisgarh. The militants also stole jewelry, food and other possessions from the believers. Two days later, Hindu militants attacked several of the same believers again.

  Ask God to enable these Christians to respond to their persecutors with love and grace. Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that the gospel will continue to go forth in India, despite threats and acts of violence against God's messengers (Acts 4:29-21).

  For more information on persecution ofChristians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. To view videos on the situation of Indian Christians, go to www.vomcanada.com. The January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will feature the testimony of a Hindu militant whose life was changed by the power of Christ. Make sure to receive your copy by subscribing to our free newsletter today.