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India

• Christmas celebrations held in Orissa; Christian's vehicle torched

  Brother Suranjan Naik with his vehicle Photo from GCIC

  Several Christians were able to celebrate Christmas in Orissa state, India, this past weekend. In Bodimunda village, Christians reportedly celebrated Christmas together for the first time in three years. In Barakahma village, police kept watch as approximately 2,000 prayed together. The peaceful celebrations came as a relief for many, as there had been fear that the holidays could lead to a flare-up in anti-Christian violence, especially as the state has been the site of intense attacks in recent years (click here to learn more). Fear of attacks prevented Christians in remote villages from holding Christmas celebrations.

  Christmas weekend was not entirely without incident in Orissa, as a believer's vehicle was set on fire in Phulbani on December 25. Bro Suranjan Naik and his wife, a nurse, were staying on campus at the government hospital. They were away attending a Christian celebration when their vehicle was set ablaze.

  Thank the Lord that many brothers and sisters in Orissa were able to gather and joyously celebrate the birth of their Saviour, Jesus Christ. Pray a spirit of trust in the Lord, not fear, will govern the hearts and minds of believers in India. Pray those seeking to harm Christians in India because of their faith will repent of their ways and come to know Christ as Lord.

  To find out more about the trials of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Hindu militants beat Christians in Karnataka

  Suspected Hindu militants recently beat five Christians, including a pregnant woman, in Karnataka state, India. Approximately 40 local Hindus barged into New Public School in the district of Kolar, where Christians were gathered together for prayer. They then attacked five pastors, severely beating them. The assailants also struck Kejiya Fernandes, the wife of one of the pastors, in the stomach. Police eventually arrived on scene but, when the violence ceased, they took the Christian victims into custody instead of arresting the assailants. The believers were detained for more than seven hours, during which time they were denied medical treatment. They were released only after Kejiya, four-months pregnant, began to bleed profusely. She and her husband later received medical treatment. As a result of her injuries, Kejiya lost the baby she had been carrying.

  Pray that God will comfort Kejiya, upholding her with His love and hope. Pray that her husband and the other victims of this attack will continue to trust in the Good Shepherd to guide and encourage them (Psalm 23). Pray that believers in Karnataka will remain confident in their faith and that their passion for Jesus will be a light that helps lead others to come to know Him.

  To learn more about how Christ's followers are suffering in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Church building destroyed

  Before and after destruction Photos from Gospel for Asia

  Believers in an Indian village were working hard to construct a church building, only to have their hopes -- and their building -- dashed by anti-Christian militants. Pastor Paul Joseph and his congregation had completed much of the building when anti-Christian militants arrived September 14. That afternoon, the intruders demolished half the building. Pastor Paul and other church leaders approached the police, but they refused to help. On the following day, the militants pressured those living in the area to sign a petition against the church construction. Ignoring the believers' pleas to stop the destruction, they insisted, "We don't want any church in this area." They then reduced the rest of the building to a heap of rubble. Although the congregation had received government permission to build the church building, the militants accused the church members of not having the proper permission to build. (Source: Gospel for Asia)

  Please pray for Pastor Paul and his congregation, that the Lord will help them to overcome this disappointment. Pray they will continue to meet together and that their witness will be a light to the community. Pray for the Lord's protection and provision.

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

• 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.