Pastor Pradyuman Meshram (35) was beaten and severely injured when 20 young Hindu militants joined by approximately 20 local residents disrupted a worship service in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh on September 23. The assailants first stood outside the church building and called for Pastor Meshram to come out. When he refused to do so, they forcibly entered the building and beat him until some of women present were able to rescue him. The militants then went outside and destroyed some of the church members' two-wheelers. When the police took the militants to the police station, a large group of local people gathered outside the building and complained that the Christians were involved in forcible conversion activities and conducting noisy meetings.
Pray for healing for Pastor Meshram. Pray that he and his congregation will keep their eyes on Jesus, finding their encouragement and strength in Him (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3). Pray that those who persecute Christians in India will come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.
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