Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on accusations of forcible conversions leveled against Christians in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (click here for more details). According to a July 28 report from AsiaNews, a panel set up to investigate the allegations has shown them to be completely false. Hindu leaders in the area told the panel that the tribal people in the area have been drawn to Christianity because of the care they receive and not because of coercion. A local leader of the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Pintoo Jaiswal, told the panel that the missionaries "embraced" the tribal people when Hindus were hesitant to even touch them. Jaiswal sends his own children to a Christian school and reports there have been no attempts to convert them.
UPDATE: Forcible Conversion Allegations Dismissed
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 republicLegal 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.
