The Voice of Martyrs has received several reports of violence against Christians in India in the last week, including the following:
On the afternoon of October 27, evangelist Phiroj Lima (28) was beaten by a group of approximately thirty Hindu militants while distributing tracts and visiting with patients at the Bhadrak Government Hospital in Bhubanseswar, Orissa. The militants beat Lima for two hours, confiscated his gospel tracts and threatened to kill him. They then gathered the relatives of the patients together and told them that Lima was forcibly converting patients to Christianity. The militants called the police who took Lima into custody. He was detained at the local police station for nearly three hours before being released.
On October 28, Hindu militants attacked a Christian farmer, Bharat Bhai, and his family in Ambapani village, Gujarat, according the Evangelical Fellowship of India. The militants beat Bhai and told his family that they would be killed if they continued to go to church and serve Christ. Later that day, the militants went a local church and threatened the pastor and his congregation that they would be killed if they kept holding services in the building.
On November 2, Hindu militants disrupted a prayer service and beat and injured thirteen believers present in the village of Timnar, Chhattisgarh. The militants also stole jewelry, food and other possessions from the believers. Two days later, Hindu militants attacked several of the same believers again.
Ask God to enable these Christians to respond to their persecutors with love and grace. Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that the gospel will continue to go forth in India, despite threats and acts of violence against God's messengers (Acts 4:29-21).
For more information on persecution ofChristians in India, go to the India Country Report. To view videos on the situation of Indian Christians, go to www.vomcanada.com. The January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will feature the testimony of a Hindu militant whose life was changed by the power of Christ. Make sure to receive your copy by subscribing to our free newsletter today.
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