On December 3, members of the militant Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a pastor in Hyderabad, India. While Pastor Yesupadam was conducting a prayer service in the village of Ashaiah Nagar, someone called for him to come out. Thinking they were calling him outside to pray for them, he approached seven men who began to beat him. The Hindu militants then took him to the police station where approximately twenty other RSS members were waiting. Handing Yesupadam over to the police, the RSS accused him of converting Hindus to Christianity. The police sub-inspector said that Christians had become a serious headache. Mocking Yesupadam, the police officer said, "Did your mother conceive you through an English man or Telugu man? Are you a Telugu man? Are you an Indian? If you desire to live, stop preaching about Jesus Christ. You know people are killing pastors in the city but still you do not learn anything." In the presence of the police, the RSS members attempted to apply a tilak, a mark of Hindu devotion, on Yesupadam's forehead. When he refused, they threatened to kill him and harm his family. The police did nothing in response to these threats. When other Christians arrived to help him, they were refused entry into the police station and were threatened with death if they did not stop praying.
Pastor Yesupadam was eventually released but the threats continued. Services were cancelled on December 4 because of the threats.
Pray that Pastor Yesupadam will continue to be filled with boldness as he proclaims the good news of freedom in Christ. Pray that his courage will influence his persecutors toward a relationship with Jesus Christ.
For more information on India and the suffering of Christians there, click here.
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