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India

• Students at orphanage forced to pay idol worship fee

  Christian orphans in West Bengal, India, have been forced to contribute funds for idol worship in order to gain admission to a high school. Rev. Dr. Subimal Dutta, the director general of Ambassadors Service Society which operates the Gilgal Children's Home, has faced threats for opposing the collection of money for idol worship at government schools or government-aided schools. In early September, the extremists stormed into the Society compound and warned Dutta to stop all Christian activities within seven days or that they would forcibly shut down the mission. They also sternly warned him that his life would be in danger if he involved police or any administrative officials.

  At a meeting on September 23 with the village head, the local political party, and the Ambassadors Service Society, an agreement was reached for re-opening the Society. However, the agreement required all students at the government high school to pay the idol worship fee without complaint.

  Please pray that the Lord will protect Dutta and the children he is responsible for. Pray that they will not be afraid to continue to meet together to worship Him. Pray the Lord will grant wisdom to Dutta in this difficult situation. Pray that those who oppose Christians would repent and know Christ.

  For more information on India's suffering believers, please visit the India Country Report.

• Pastor's father beaten unconscious

  Hindu extremists in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan State have threatened to kill a pastor after beating his family and violating an agreement to stop attacking them. Pastor Shantilal Ninama of Believers Church said that Hindu extremists beat his 65-year-old father until he fell unconscious in one of the attacks last month. After agreeing to do no further harm to Pastor Ninama and his family in exchange for him dropping police charges he'd filed over a previous attack, the Hindu extremists stormed into his home on the evening of June 8 and began beating his father, sister, wife and three children. As the pastor sought police help, his father fell unconscious and his wife and two of his children ran out into the darkness. Another daughter hid beneath a bed, and his sister escaped and hid in a valley.

  The Rev. Prabhatkar Malladi, secretary of the Udaipur Diocese in Rajasthan, shared that the extremists were threatening to kill the pastor. "The villagers are not allowing any Christian leaders to enter into the village to meet Pastor Ninama, but we are taking necessary steps to help the pastor, and one advocate is now taking up the case," he said.

  Pray for the Lord's protection upon Pastor Shantilal, his family and all Christians in the area. Pray his father will make a full recovery. Pray the Lord will minister to the perpetrators and those in authority involved in the case, using this incident as a witness for the gospel.

  Learn more about the tribulations that befall Christians in India at theIndia Country Report.

• Christians attacked and threatened in Jharkhand state

  Several Christians came under attack in Jharkhand state, India, in recent weeks. On May 28, Hindu militants beat the members of five Christian families in Palamu district. A week prior, a group of Hindu militants threatened to beat Pastor Sanjay Choudary of the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society if he did not stop leading worship meetings. He and his congregation then filed a complaint, leading the police to visit with them on May 28. Immediately after the police left, the enraged militants appeared and started beating people. One woman suffered internal injuries, and another believer was still missing at last report. The Christians have reportedly fled their homes. In a similar incident, Hindu militants in Karivadhi village are threatening to severely beat three families of new Christian converts if they do not return to Hinduism. These Christians have also fled the area and are now in hiding.

  Pray these Christians will look to the God of truth as their righteous refuge and tower of strength (Psalm 31:1-5). Pray they will be living witnesses to the love and hope of Christ, even to their persecutors. Ask God to work in the hearts of those who attack Christians in India, leading them to the path of repentance and peace.

  For more on the trials facing Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.

• Christian leader attacked by militants

  Pastor Ramesh Devda (Photo: Compass Direct)

  Hindu militants recently beat Ramesh Devda, 30, a pastor and evangelist, in Madhya Pradesh state, India. On April 4, Pastor Ramesh was travelling by motorbike with his two sons from Chikklia to Raseda when three militants on motorbikes suddenly blocked his way. The militants, drunk and armed with large bamboo sticks and clubs, beat the pastor in front of 10-year-old Elias and 8-year-old Shimon. They threatened to kill Pastor Ramesh and warned him not to come to the area again. They delivered brutal blows all over his body, including his head. The terrified cries of the young boys alerted people passing by to the situation. When others arrived on scene, the attackers fled. At last report, Pastor Ramesh was in the hospital receiving care for severe injuries, including a fractured skull. He was thankful that his sons were spared from beating, though his older son sustained a leg injury during the attack.

  Pastor Ramesh, who serves with the Christian Reformed Fellowship of India in three villages, suspects his attackers were Hindu militants angered by his Sunday worship services. Although he believes the attack was pre-planned, he does not want to report it to the police, as he fears retaliation.

  Ask God to heal Pastor Ramesh. Pray a spirit of trust in the Lord will guard his heart and mind against fear. Pray for guidance and safety for his wife and children, who are also active in Christian ministry. Pray Christians in India will look to the God of truth as their righteous refuge and tower of strength (Psalm 31:1-5).

  You can learn more about Christians in India serving as cross-bearing disciples at theIndia Country Report.

• Christians beaten and arrested

  Two Christian meetings were attacked by Hindu militants in India in recent weeks. On April 9, a mob of more than 100 attacked an open-air Christian worship meeting in Bhajanpura, East Delhi. The Christians had received permission from government officials to conduct the meeting, and five police officers were present. Shortly after the meeting began, militants armed with clubs and stones arrived on scene. They beat several Christians, including the pastor. The five policemen were also severely beaten. Two believers sustained head injuries. The militants destroyed furniture, a sound system, a generator and a Christian's vehicle. The attack lasted for about an hour before police reinforcements arrived and the attackers fled. At last report, two of the assailants had been arrested.

  On April 10, a pastor and other members of the New India Church in Mysore, Karnataka were attacked. Pastor Vinod Chacko was leading a prayer service when approximately 25 militants arrived on scene, accusing the believers of forcible conversion. They detained the worshippers inside the church building. The believers were asked to provide personal information and questioned about being lured to attend the service by the offer of money or other means. Police later charged Pastor Vinod, his wife, Asha, and three other Christians with "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings."

  Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray authorities will act justly and with integrity in reaction to these incidents. Pray Christians in India will continue to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Pray for an end to violence against followers of Christ in India.

  To learn more about the ongoing opposition of believers in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• 18 Christians arrested

  Photo from GCIC

  Eighteen Christians, including two pastors, were arrested on March 28 for converting to Christianity without official permit in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district. The arrests came after a police complaint was filed against the two pastors and 16 newly converted Christians. The Christians were brought before the SDJM Court at Baripada and were released on bail on March 30 and 31, charged under the "Orissa Freedom of Religion Act," which bans any conversion lacking a permit issued by authorities. Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, called on Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to withdraw the accusations and put a stop to anti-Christian violence in the state.

  Pray all charges will be dropped and that freedom of religion will truly be experienced by the people of Orissa. Ask the Lord to minister to the new converts and deepen their faith to help them overcome this opposition. Pray the Lord will continue to build His Church. Pray for all those who would oppose Him in India.

  For more information about the persecuted Church in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Police ransack church and arrest pastors

  Two pastors were recently arrested for conducting a worship service in a home in Tumkur, Karnataka state, India. On March 6, Pastor Mathew and Pastor Jose were holding a worship service in a house church when a police officer disrupted the meeting. The officer asked the pastors to stop the service, and then ransacked the building and confiscated Bibles and other Christian literature. Both men were arrested and taken to the local police station. They were told that a leader of a local Hindu militant group lodged a complaint against them for engaging in "forceful conversion activity." That evening, the pastors stood before the magistrate, who freed them on temporary bail.

  Thank the Lord that these pastors were released on bail. Pray all charges against them will be dropped. Ask the Lord to continue to strengthen His Church in India so believers will continue to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel despite opposition (Ephesians 6:18-20).

  Find out more about the suffering of Christians in India at theIndia Country Report.

• Spate of attacks on Christians erupts in Orissa

  Hindu extremists have attacked Koya tribal Christians in villages in a remote area of Orissa state at least 15 times since December 8, 2010. In the latest incident on February 23 in Murliguda, about 60 assailants from the Hindu extremist group RSS damaged Bhadan Hontal's eardrums and beat Markari Soma until he fell unconscious. Christian women and children were among those injured in the attacks on churches. The attacks began on December 8 in Katanpali village when about 35 Hindu extremists stormed the house of Pastor Mark Markani and beat him. Christians have suffered midnight raids on prayer meetings in which they have been beaten, resulting in some Christians fleeing their homes and going into hiding. At least four families have left their village and not returned due to militants' warnings.

  Pray the Lord will heal those who have been injured. Pray He will give them the grace to forgive and the courage to continue to be faithful. Pray against further attacks. Pray also for the perpetrators.

  Find out more about the trials facing Christians in India at theIndia Country Report.

• Pastor viciously assaulted

  Pastor Hari Shankar Ninama Photo from Compass Direct

  A 65-year-old pastor was recently the victim of a brutal assault by Hindu militants in Rajasthan state, India. On February 1, Pastor Hari Shankar Ninama was visiting his daughter in Ambarunda when her neighbor requested he pray for his 8-year-old son, who was ill. While Pastor Hari was praying, at least 10 Hindu militants stormed into the home. The militants beat the pastor, used abusive language against him and accused him of forcibly converting people. They also slapped his daughter and beat the sick boy's father. The militants forced the pastor onto a motorbike and drove to a location outside the village. There, they stripped off the pastor's clothes and beat him with wooden clubs. They threatened to kill him if he continued to spread Christianity. After stealing his watch, cell phone and a small amount of money, they fled, leaving him naked on the road. He walked five miles to the police station, where he filed a report. He was hospitalized and released on February 11, emotionally traumatized and still suffering bodily pain.

  When the militants reportedly threatened to burn down the home of the pastor's daughter if police prosecute, the family dropped the investigation. The attack has caused fear among Christians in the village, and Pastor Hari's church has not held services since he was attacked. Pastor Hari, however, has said that even in his feeble state, he is determined to evangelize and pray for people wherever and whenever called.

  Pray Pastor Hari will find strength in the tenderness and lasting care of his Heavenly Father as he recovers. Praise the Lord for his steadfast faith and commitment to sharing Christ, even amid great opposition. Pray God's protection on him and his family. Pray a spirit of power, love and trust, not fear, will govern Christians in this area and throughout India (2 Timothy 1:7).

  You can learn more about the trials facing followers of Christ in India at theIndia Country Report.

• Cover-up suspected in death of pastor

  A pastor whose house was targeted by Hindu militants during anti-Christian mob violence in 2008 (read the story) was recently found dead in Kandhamal, Orissa state, India. Originally, police officials claimed Pastor Saul Pradhan, 45, froze to death, but his relatives suspected murder. Officials have since detained Marda Pradhan and Baiju Mallick, members of a radical Hindu group.

  On the evening of January 10, two Hindu men came to Pastor Pradhan's house and asked him to come with them. When he failed to return the next day, his wife and a few villagers went to the house of one of the Hindu men. The man took them into the jungle but ran away after 30 minutes. Pradhan's wife and the other villagers found Pastor Pradhan's body lying near a pond. His pants were torn, his mouth was bloody, and his arms and legs looked twisted.

  Despite the battered state of Pradhan's body, police claimed they had little reason to suspect foul play. The officials also claimed that there were no injury marks on Pastor Pradhan's body. They have refused to file a report of suspected murder and accused the pastor's family members of "spreading rumours about murder in hopes of receiving compensation from the government" for the August 2008 attacks in the region. At last report, an autopsy was performed, but its results have not been made public.

  Thank the Lord for the life and faith of Pastor Pradhan. Ask God to fill his loved ones with a peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of their grief (Philippians 4:7). Pray the truth will come out in this situation and that true justice will reign. Pray those responsible for these heinous killings will be brought to justice and that they will come to faith in Christ.

  To find out more about the suffering of Christians in India, visit theIndia Country Report.