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Farm family in India
Photo: Flickr / B. Sutherland (cc)

On April 25th, a mob of militants in Jalalabad village of Ghazipur District, Uttar Pradesh, beat Manoj Kumar and his wife Pushpa Kumari - along with ten other Christians - with sticks, accusing them of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. The same mob, supported by the village president, tried to force the believers to drink water from the Ganges River (considered holy by Hindus residing in the country). Despite the attack, the victims refused to participate or deny Christ.

In the villages of the Uttar Pradesh state, temperatures can soar to 40 degrees Celsius. Yet the militants are now refusing to sell water from their boreholes to these ostracized Christian families. Since water is required to irrigate the fields, the shunned believers' crops are dying in the sweltering heat. Even local police and the village chief have not intervened to restore the water supply, despite the Christians' appeals for help. Other reports addressing the challenges faced by Christians in India are available at our India Country Report.

May the Lord's reassuring presence be with these victimized Christians as they come under intense pressure to recant their faith. Pray that He will strengthen their resolve to stand strong in the midst of hostility, while granting them the grace to reflect His loving character before those opposing them. Please join us by prayerfully petitioning on their behalf, imploring that the urgent need for life-sustaining water be supplied so they can nurture their crops, livestock and families' daily needs. Also, intercede for the salvation of the other villagers, asking the Holy Spirit to work mightily in their hearts so transformation can take place in individual lives and, as a result, the village of Jalalabad as a whole.

Current Ministry Projects

In addition to providing persecuted Christians legal support and rehabilitation assistance, VOMC cares for children of martyrs by ensuring they have a safe home in which to be nurtured both physically and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and offers specialized ministry to further strengthen and support marginalized, persecuted Christian women.

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defence, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry

Country Information

Designation
Persecuted

Population
1,339,330,514 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), Mongoloid and other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Ram Nath Kovind (2017)

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

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    Photo: Flickr / India Water Portal (cc)

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