In two separate incidents in the past week, mobs of Hindu militants had Christians arrested on charges of forcible conversion in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
On August 14, Pastor Shaun Kushwaha asked Pastor Vinod Karsal to come and pray for him before he underwent surgery. According to an August 16 report from Compass Direct, as they were praying together in Kushwaha's house in Jabalpur, neighbours gathered together as many as fifty Hindu militants outside. Hearing the ruckus, the pastors hid a Bible before the mob could enter. The house was searched but when no Christian literature was found, they began to search Karsal's scooter. In the confusion, the mob planted evangelistic tracts on the vehicle and then accused him of coercing people into converting to Christianity. When Karsal was taken to the police station, two false witnesses accused him of offering them money to convert. Pastor Karsal has been charged under Madhya Pradesh's anti-conversion legislation
On August 20, shortly after the worship service of the Sheopur Bible Fellowship Church in Shivpuri, approximately fifteen Hindu militants attacked four Christians including Pastor K.K. Jwala. The militants beat the Christians with field hockey sticks and dragged to the local police station where they were charged under the state's anti-conversion legislation. According to an August 22 report from Compass Direct, one of the attackers alleged that he had been offered a job if he would convert to Christianity. The four Christians were remanded in custody but released the next day. They have been ordered to appear in court on August 30.
Pray that Pastor Karsal will be acquitted of all charges. Pray that the believers in Shivpuri who are to appear in court will rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit will direct their testimony (Matthew 10:19). Pray that they will set Christ apart as Lord without giving in to fear of those who falsely accuse them (1 Peter 3:13-17).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, click here.
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