Church Leader Abducted and Beaten

Logo of the Mar Thoma church
The manager of compassion ministries for the Mar Thoma church, identified only as Santosh, was abducted from the Belamanahallil-Kolar district of Karnataka on February 1. According to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Santosh was forcibly taken from Vemkal to Bangalore city, which is thirty kilometres away. There he was beaten and left on the road.

 Ask God to heal Santosh and to protect him from further persecution. Pray that Santosh and other church leaders in India will have boldness and wisdom as they continue the work God has given them (1 Peter 5:1-4, Ephesians 6:18-20). Pray that those who persecute Christians will come to repentance and receive salvation, just as Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).

VOMC has recently released a new video on the increasing persecution of Christians in India. A preview of the video is available on https://www.vomcanada.com/. To purchase the thirty-minute DVD, go to
our catalogue.

For more information on the persecution facing 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.

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India News

  • Police Watch as Christians Suffer Mob Attack
    A large gateway to a section of a town.
    The entrance to a Hindu complex.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Ms. Sarah Welch

    As police officers stood by and watched, hundreds of people attacked 14 Christians in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on October 30th. The violent incident occurred after the victimized followers of Jesus refused to abandon their Christian faith, despite orders from tribal leaders to do so.

    Read more...

  • Christians Accused of Forcibly Converting Children
    A woman and two children are looking through a small bag of goods. Other women are seated around them.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Recently, 11 female evangelists from the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh travelled from Hyderabad (the capital of Telangana state) to Bhagwanpur (a town located within the northeastern state of Bihar) in order to spread the "Good News" of the Gospel in villages surrounding the area.

    Read more...

  • Pastor Sentenced for Alleged Forced Conversions
    Three men are standing on a shaded pathway. One of the men has his Bible open and is speaking with the other two.
    A pastor in India sharing God's Word.
    Photo: VOM International
     

    A church leader in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has been convicted on false charges of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. On September 25th, a court in Jhabua sentenced Pastor Vikas Nimach to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of over $1,600 CAD. His legal team intends to appeal the recent verdict, claiming that the trial lawyer mishandled the proceedings.

    Read more...

  • Pastor and Church Members Beaten in Violent Attack
    A group of men in white shirts are carrying orange flags and marching through the street.
    Hindu nationalists.
    Photo: Wikipedia / Suyash Dwivedi (cc)
     

    A pastor and several members of his church were physically attacked on September 8th when Hindu nationalists raided a worship service in Bhubaneswar, Odisha State. The Christians were accused of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

    Read more...

View All

India Videos

 
India: Christians Face Relentless Pressure To Convert To Hinduism
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Persecution Trends Report for 2024: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and China
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India: Defending Christians Against False Charges of Forcible Conversions
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Persecution Trends Report for 2023: Nigeria, China and India
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India: Church Demolition
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India: Church Planting and Persecution
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