Attacks in Andhra Pradesh

All India Christian Council has reported two separate attacks on Christians in early December.

In Pedda Demili in the district of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh a church building was completely destroyed by fire following threats from local villagers. Three months ago, four villagers approached Pastor B. Vijay Kumar and demanded that he destroy the building or else they would.  On the night of December 1, while the pastor was staying with relatives, villagers informed him that smoke and flames were coming from his church building. Though villagers attempted to extinguish the fire, they were too late and the building was completely destroyed.

On December 4, a Christian media team visited the village of Malkapur in Sangareddy, Andhra Pradesh to show a film on Jesus. They obtained the necessary permission from the village head and then announced the screening to the villagers. However, while the film was being shown, police arrived and demanded to know what was happening. When one of the Christians told him that they had permission, the officer slapped him. A pastor who was present attempted to intervene but the officer demanded that the team leave immediately. The film was stopped and the team went to their place of accommodation. Early the next morning, the pastor found out that some of the local villagers were intending to burn the team's vehicle. Frightened, the team left the village.

Pray for efforts to rebuild the church in Pedda Demili. Pray that believers in Pedda Demili will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48). Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in Sangareddy and throughout Andhra Pradesh.

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

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 republic

    Legal 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.

India News

  • Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws
    The India Supreme Court building is surrounded by trees.
    The Supreme Court of India.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (cc)

    The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws enacted by several of the country's states. On September 16th, the court issued notices to the respective state governments, requesting their formal responses within four weeks. The case is scheduled to be heard in six weeks, and the judges have indicated that they may consider ordering the states to pause the enforcement of their existing laws until a decision is made.

  • New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom
    A brightly lit church building is filled with people.
    A church in India.
    Photo: Flickr / Ashish Kumar Milap (cc)

    Recent developments in two Indian states have raised serious concerns for Christians, particularly in relation to the newly heightened restrictions on religious conversions. In the first incident, police in Chhattisgarh notified more than 200 house churches around the state capital city of Raipur that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted.

  • Pastors Arrested and Assaulted
    A crowd is gathered around a church building.
    A screenshot of people disrupting the service in Bhilai.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On July 20th, six pastors were arrested after a mob disrupted a church service in Bhilai, a city located within the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The assailants chanted Hindu slogans and accused the pastors of engaging in forcible conversions. As the mob grew increasingly vocal, shouting obscenities and threatening violence, Pastor Baksh locked the church doors to protect his congregation members.