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India

• Pastor charged with forced conversions

  Photo from GCIC

  On Sunday, September 26, Hindu militants stormed a small, mostly tribal fellowship in Umachagi village, Karnataka, which has been led by Pastor Shivanda Siddi (45) for the past five years. After interrupting prayers, they tried to argue with Pastor Siddi while abusing believers and taking their Bibles. For the next half hour they insulted, beat and stripped the pastor before phoning the police and falsely accusing him of forced conversions. When the police arrived they arrested the pastor, seven women and two children. While the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) was able to intervene to get the women and children released, Pastor Siddi was tried and charged under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits "forced" conversions. At last report, the pastor had been released on bail.

  Omar Beiler, a regional director with AG World Missions, has shared, "Although I'm deeply pleased that GCIC was able to secure the release of Pastor Siddi...this kind of incident is not isolated or restricted to India. Persecution is a very real experience for many Christians around the world. I believe our prayers for the suffering Church can make the difference between life and death for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who experience -- at the very least -- daily threats." (Source: Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, AGNews)

  Thank the Lord that this pastor has been released on bail. Pray that all charges will be dropped. Ask the Lord to continue to strengthen His church in India so they will remain faithful in spite of the opposition. Pray for the perpetrators of this attack and those in authority.

  For more information on persecution in India, please visit theIndia Country Report.

• Five Christians arrested

  A church was recently attacked and five Christians arrested in Patagunta village, Andhra Pradesh, India. On September 5, Hindu militants destroyed a local building being used for worship. The following day, the militants filed a case against two pastors and three believers belonging to the church, alleging that the Christians had destroyed local temples and Hindu idols. The police then took all five believers into custody. (Source: All India Christian Council)

  Pray for the immediate release of these believers. Pray that they will have opportunity to boldly proclaim their faith, even in chains. Pray that, like Paul, those behind this injustice will repent of their actions and come to embrace Christ as Lord and Saviour.

  For more on those suffering for righteousness' sake in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Buddhists assault Christian aid workers

  A visually impaired Christian and his friend have accused drunken Buddhists of abducting and assaulting them. The incident happened on September 1 in the town of Leh in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Christians had been distributing relief aid in the area where flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses and killed around 200 people in early August.

  The attackers, identified as members of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), abducted Ram Kumar Thapa, Stanzin Chosphel and his pregnant wife Putali Sherpa because of their Christian faith and beat the men, the victims said. According to the victims' complaints to the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission, LBA members were upset that Thapa was preaching Christianity to displaced residents. The assailants took Thapa to the LBA office at the Soma Monastery, where a Buddhist monk was also present, and beat him again. He was then moved to a room where he could hear the voice of his friend, Chosphel, with his wife. The attackers showed Thapa's bruised and bleeding face to Chosphel to warn him against continuing as a Christian. Chosphel confirmed that he and his wife were taken to the LBA office at the monastery. "They dragged me into a room and gagged my mouth so I could not cry out as they beat me with rubber pipes and rods and fists continuously," Chosphel said. "All along they kept telling me to leave my wife and also renounce my faith in Christianity and return to Buddhism." The men released the couple at around 12:30 a.m. after giving them two days to leave Leh or convert to Buddhism, "or else they will chop my wife into pieces and kill me and also kill my family... who are still practising Buddhists," stated Chosphel. (Source: Compass Direct)

  Please pray the Lord will minister to these believers and give them the grace and strength to overcome these attacks. Pray for their physical healing and pray for their protection. Pray also for the perpetrators, for their salvation.

  For more information on the challenges facing Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Pray for Christians in India and Sri Lanka

  Two VOM staff members recently returned from India and Sri Lanka, where they met with partners and visited with persecuted Christians in need of prayer as they serve Christ amid great opposition. In India, reports of violence against believers, village churches being destroyed, and church leaders being threatened by local Hindus continue to be a daily reality. Converts to Christianity are often cast out of their families, denied inheritance rights and face poverty and ostracism. In Sri Lanka, Christians often face opposition from militant Buddhists intent on ridding the nation of Christianity. Churches have been burned, believers beaten and Christian leaders killed.

  Pray for lasting fruit from the time VOM staff spent in India and Sri Lanka as projects are developed. Pray that the suffering believers they met with will look to the Lord for encouragement. Pray also that VOM will be effective in equipping Canadian Christians to understand the situation facing Christians in India and Sri Lanka and stand in solidarity with them.

  You can learn more about the trials facing Christians in India by visiting theIndia Country Report. You can also stay informed about persecution facing Christians in Sri Lanka by visiting theSri Lanka Country Report.

• Twelve Christians arrested

  Pastor Satish and Ravi Photo from Persecution Update India

  On August 15, police arrested 12 believers in Mandya district, Karnataka state, India. Pastor Satish and Ravi, an evangelist with India Campus Crusade for Christ, were conducting a service in a believer's home when approximately 30 people entered the building and started to accuse them of forcibly converting locals. Later that day, 10 of the believers were released; Pastor Satish and Ravi remained in detention at last report. (Source: VOM-USA, Christian Persecution Update India)

  Pray for the release of these believers. Pray that their testimonies of faithfulness amid adversity will draw non-believers into fellowship with Christ. Pray that the Word of God will continue to be declared with clarity, boldness, love, and power in India (Ephesians 6:19-20).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Four students taken into custody in Lucknow

  A team of students from a Bible college in Lucknow of Uttar Pradesh have been attacked and detained by the police for their alleged conversion activities.

  The police first beat up the four students belonging to Compassion for India Ministry late in the evening of July 24. The students had been engaged in serving the poor and underprivileged in and around Lucknow. The police team forced the students' pastor to visit them at the police station. The police accused them of participating in conversion activities. The pastor and his team were questioned about their work in detail. The police also extracted money from the pastor before releasing the students from custody. (Source: All Indian Christian Council)

  Thank the Lord for the many faithful Christian workers and evangelists in India. Pray these students will be spurred on to continue the good work the Lord has prepared in advance for them. Pray the police will be moved by the witness of these Christians.

  For more information about persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Christian woman brutally attacked

  A Christian woman, Amodini, was brutally attacked on July 6 for sharing her faith in Karnataka, India. Amodini (40) is a member of a church where a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary serves as pastor. She was at her home when a group of 15 men arrived and began accusing her of forcing people to convert to Christianity. They then grabbed and began to beat her. Witnesses of the horrific scene said, "Amodini's clothes were removed in public and she was attacked with knives." At last report, she was hospitalized and in critical condition. Police have arrested 14 of the accused attackers. (Source: Assist News Service)

  The believers in the area ask for prayers for Amodini, that the Lord would heal her wounds. They also ask that the peace of God will keep her firm in her faith. Pray also for the men who so cruelly attacked her. Pray that they will repent and turn to Christ. Pray that believers in India will continue to be bold in sharing the Gospel amid violent opposition.

  Click here to find out more about persecution in India.

• Assailants sever Christian's hand

  Photo from AsiaNews

  A group of unknown assailants attacked a college professor and severed his right hand and part of his arm in Kerala, India. TJ Joseph, a professor at Newman's College in Thodupuzha, allegedly offended some of his Muslim students two months ago with some questions he included in a test. Due to protests from Islamic groups, Joseph was suspended from his job and apologized for his "unintentional error." Nevertheless, he continued to receive threats.

  On July 4, Joseph was returning from a Sunday service at his church when a van pulled up beside him. The assailants forced him from his car and attacked him with knives and swords, amputating his lower arm and inflicting deep wounds to his body. At last report, doctors were attempting to save his limb.

  The attack has been condemned by many Islamic groups. The attackers are suspected to be members of the militant Popular Front of India. (Source: AsiaNews)

  Pray for full and rapid healing. Pray that the misunderstanding which led to the attack will be resolved. Pray for peace amongst India's religious communities.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Two pastors attacked; vehicles burned

  Two pastors from the Assemblies of God Church denomination were attacked on June 23 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The pastors -- Shiju Kuriakose (35) and Jayan (30) -- had left a prayer meeting at a fellow believer's house when a group of unknown people began beating them with iron rods. Both pastors were badly injured and were admitted to the hospital.

  On June 22, seven vehicles belonging to Jesus With Us Ministries were burned by suspected Hindu militants in Tamil Nadu. The vehicles were being used to transport believers to and from Hosur, where a Gospel meeting was taking place. Hindus had earlier protested against the meeting and, due to the opposition, the organizers were eventually forced to change venues. (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

  Pray for healing for Pastor Shiju and Pastor Jayan. Pray that the Lord will make them strong to lovingly and boldly proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20). Pray that Christians in Tamil Nadu will not become fearful but will trust the Lord in all things.

  Click here to find out more about persecution in India.

• Christian beaten, forcibly reconverted to Hinduism

  A young Christian man was recently beaten, tortured and forced to undergo a ceremony of reconversion to Hinduism in Nuapada district, Orissa, India. Six Hindu militants stormed 19-year-old Bhakta Bivar's home on June 8, intending to kill him and his parents, Neheru and Budhabari. Since Bhakta's parents were not home, they instead beat him and dragged him to the local Hindu temple where he was forcibly "re-converted" to Hinduism. The next day, police arrested five of the assailants, who were charged and then released.

  The national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians has stated, "There are hidden interests behind the threats and violence against the Christian community in Orissa. Just as the community was slowly learning to live a normal life again after the 2008 pogroms, we get this kind of violence." (To find out more about the attacks in 2008, please click here.) (Source: AsiaNews)

  Pray that Bhakta will not be fearful, but will turn to the Lord for his daily strength. Pray that the persecution he has faced will embolden him to be salt and light to his Hindu neighbours (Matthew 5:13-16). Ask God to bring healing and peace to India's Orissa state.

  Go to theIndia Country Report to learn more about persecution in India.