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India

• Christians Beaten by Police Inspector

  While a small group of Christians were gathered for worship in Thadesa, Karnataka on the morning of July 15, the local police inspector entered the gathering and assaulted Pastor Ravi Benjamin (32) and Vijay (23) in front of the other believers. The inspector then took the two to the police station where he continued his assault for another three hours.

  Pray for healing for these two Christians. Pray that, in the midst of the difficulties they face, the believers in Thadesa will be keenly aware of the presence of Christ suffering there with them.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. To view video reports on persecution in India, go to our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.

• Attacks on Christians in Karnataka

  

  The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of violence against Christians in Karnataka, India over the past week.

  On July 4, sixteen members of the Bajrang Dal Hindu militant group beat Dyamappi Chalawadi and his wife Geeta in the village of Baloga. The militants barged into Chalawadi's house and dragged him outside where they kicked him and hit him with wooden sticks. Some of the attackers dragged his wife by her hair, punched her shoulders and back and told her, "We will kill you and your husband if you continue your Christian prayers."

  On July 4, approximately fifteen Hindu militants from the Bajrang Dal group attacked Pastor C.J. Samuel and Pastor Moses while they were returning home from a meeting in the village of Belthur. After ambushing the pastors on the road, the Hindus beat them, cursed their faith and accused them of forcibly converting poor villagers. More than fifty others joined in the assault, which lasted for nearly an hour and ended with the militants threatening to kill the pastors if they visited Belthur again.

  On the morning of July 8, approximately ten members of the Ram Sena Hindu militant group beat two Christian workers, G. Mohan and M.G. John, in Bangalore. The militants dragged the men out of the house of a local Christian, beat them and paraded them half-naked to the police station where they were arrested on charges of "hurting religious feelings" and "creating enmity between religious communities." Both have since been released on bail.

  Pray for the recovery of those who have been beaten in these attacks. Pray that the incomprehensible peace of Christ will rule their hearts and minds in the face of persecution (Philippians 4:7). Pray also that the Lord would strengthen them to lovingly and boldly proclaim His truth, even to their enemies (Ephesians 6:18-20).

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

  Video reports on the persecution of Christians in India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com.

• Christians Beaten by Militants

  Father Sylvester Pereira Photo fromGCIC

  On June 25, a Carmelite priest and four other Christian men were attacked by a group of Hindu militants in Kundapurna, Karnataka state. Father Sylvester Pereira, Joyson Saldanha, John Pradeep, and Mukunk Bhandary were in the waiting room of the Surgeon General Hospital along with their neighbour, Valerian D'Silva, when the militants started to insult them and accuse them of forcibly converting Hindus. The attackers threw Fr. Pereira down a flight of stairs and beat him. When the four others came to his aid, they were also beaten. The Christians were then taken to the police station where the militants filed a complaint of forcible conversion against them. All five have been hospitalized for their injuries.

  On June 21, Pastor John Peter M (30) was beaten by approximately twelve Hindu militants near the village of Medak, Andhra Pradesh. According to the All India Christian Council, Pastor John was on his way to Medak when the militants stopped his vehicle with their car. They took him to a temple in the village of Narayankede, approximately 100 km away and demanded that he worship an idol. When he refused, they stripped him, shaved his head and beat him. As he lay unconscious, they robbed him and left him in a forest area. He was able to make his way home the next day. A month ago, Pastor John was reportedly warned by Hindu militants not to share the Gospel in the area.

  Ask God to give strength and healing to these Christians. Pray that there would be many conversions as a result of their testimony. Pray that increased persecution in India will result in increased boldness among believers there (Acts 4:29-31).

  For more information on persecution of Christians in India,click here. You can view video reports and testimonies of the Persecuted Church in India on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.

• Books on the Life of Christ Burned Five hundred copies of a book called "The Life History of Jesus Christ" were burned on June 18 by Hindu militants in central Karnataka who claimed the books were being used to convert school children to Christianity. When the militants received word that the books were to be distributed in local schools, they went to the Block Education Office in Sirsi, Karnataka to protest. Discovering no books there, they learned that the books were being stored in the office in Siddapur, a city south of Sirsi. They took the books from the Siddapur office, brought them to Sirsi and burned them.

  Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India, despite the attempts to hinder and stop the ministry. Pray that Christians in India will continually and confidently rest in the promises of God's provision and strength (Heb. 10:32-39).

  For more information on the challenges facing Christians in India,click here.

• Pastor Beaten by Militants in Madhya Pradesh

  Pastor Teras Khaka was beaten by forty members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Hindu militant group when they stormed a prayer meeting in Sehore District on June 16. According to a June 19 report from Compass Direct, when Pastor Khaka lodged a complaint against the attackers, they filed a counter-complaint of forcible conversion against him.

  Ask God to give healing to Pastor Khaka. Pray that he will take comfort in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21). Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws others to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Go to www.vomcanada.com to view a number of VOMC video reports and testimonies on India.

• Recent Update on Pastor Raj

  Pastor Hosula Raj Photo fromGCIC

  Pastor Hosula Raj, who was assaulted by militants on May 13 (click here for more details), was attacked again in the village of Pandavapura, Karnataka on June 16. At approximately 10:00 a.m., Hindu militants forcibly entered Pastor Raj's home, accused him of forcible conversion and beat him when he refused to tell them the whereabouts of his wife, Geeta. Following her husband's May 13 beating, Geeta and their infant son went into hiding when she and Raj were falsely charged with forcibly converting Hindus. Pastor Raj sustained injuries to his face, hands and legs in this latest attack.
• Christians Beaten, Accused of Forcible Conversion in Karnataka

  Pastor Laxmi Narayana Photo fromCompass Direct

  Pastor Laxmi Narayana (35) was attacked by members of the Hindu militant organization Bajrang Dal in the city of Hesargetta, Karnataka on June 8. According to the All India Christian Council, at approximately 7:00 p.m., fifty militants stormed into Pastor Narayana's home and threatened him with violence if he did not leave the area. Shortly thereafter, 100 more militants arrived and assaulted Narayana in front of his wife and two small children. One of the attackers doused Pastor Narayana with kerosene and attempted to set him on fire with a burning Bible. The militants then stripped Narayana naked, hung a sign around his neck that said, "I am the one who converts people" and paraded him through the city streets while over 1,000 Hindus joined in harassing him. He is currently in hospital with swelling and numerous bruises.

  On June 10, nine Christians were attacked in the town of Siris, Karnataka by members of the militant Hindu organization Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) who accused them of committing forcible conversions. The militants barged into a house where the believers were gathered for Sunday worship, disrupted the service and tore pages from a song book. They then handed the believers over to the police, claiming they had been conducting conversions for the past three months in a local hut.

  Pray that these Christians will come into a deeper relationship with Christ as they embrace the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:7-10). Ask God to give those injured a speedy recovery. Pray that those who persecute will come to know Christ as Lord.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com has several features from India.

• Christians Beaten in Madhya Pradesh

  At approximately 2:30 pm on June 3, a mob of Hindu militants disrupted a church service that Pastor Mukesh Pal was conducting in his home. The militants threatened the believers present with dire consequences if they did not leave. They warned Pastor Pal against continuing his Christian work in the area and also damaged the building.

  In a separate incident on June 3, the home of Pastor Bheem Singh in Kharward district was attacked after he returned from a Sunday morning service. Singh's aged father and his wife were injured.

  Ask God to strengthen and heal those who have been assaulted. Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws others to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).

  For more information on the continuing persecution of Christians in India,click here. Several videos on the persecution of Christians in India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.

• Christians Attacked by Militants, Accused of Forcible Conversion

  The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of continuing violence against Christians in India this week.

  On May 21, a pastor and a church elder in the town of Bangarpet, Karnataka were beaten by members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for distributing gifts at a vacation Bible school. According to a May 25 report from the All India Christian Council, the militants accused the Christians of using the gifts to convert children to Christianity. Both men were arrested by the police and later released.

  On May 23, two evangelists, Bernard Christopher and Ravinder Gautam, were beaten, tortured and tonsured by approximately forty-two Hindu militants in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The militants also forcibly "reconverted" the Christians to Hinduism and threatened to kill them if they did not flee the district.

  Also on May 23, seven evangelists were arrested in the village of Sira Taluk, Andhra Pradesh after local Hindu militants accused them of forcibly converting local Dalits to Christianity. They were interrogated and released with a warning.

  On May 25, evangelists J. Tumada and R. Dilat were stripped, beaten and accused of forcible conversion by approximately twenty Hindu militants while returning home from a prayer meeting in the village of Sakwar, Maharashtra. Later that evening, four of the militants also stripped and beat two other believers while they were returning home from a prayer meeting in the village of Bhui Gaon and accused them of also forcibly converting villagers.

  Ask God to give strength and healing to these Christians. Pray that they will continue to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Pray that their persecutors will see that their message is one of a free gift, not coercion, and respond in faith to Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

  For more information on persecution in India,click here. Videos of interviews and recent attacks on Christians in India are available online at www.vomcanada.com.

• Evangelist Attacked, Arrested in Madhya Pradesh

  Pastor Kunal Pariacha, an evangelist from the Indian Evangelical Mission, was attacked by members of the Siva Sena Hindu militant group in Narayanpur village, Madhya Pradesh while he was preparing show the Jesus film on the evening of May 14. The militants beat Pastor Pariacha and dragged him to the local police station where a complaint was registered against him under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. He was brought to court on May 15 but denied bail.

  Dr. Joseph D'souza, president of the All India Christian Council, has written an open letter to the leaders of India urging action in the face of increasing persecution of Christians in the nation. To read the letter, click here. The Voice of the Martyrs would urge you to write to India's Prime Minister as well, using the address supplied in this letter.

  Pray that all charges against Pastor Kunal will be dropped and that he will be released. Ask that his persecution will embolden his faith (Acts 4:29 -31). Ask God to enable Indian Christians to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18).

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.