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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.

• Missionary murdered

  Logo: Gospel for Asia

  Ajit Bansi -- a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary in Assam, India -- was killed by an anti-Christian militant group on May 20 while on his way home from purchasing construction supplies for a new church building. Pastor Ajit and three others were ambushed by the militants and then shot, their bodies left on the roadside. He was murdered just days before the building for his growing congregation of approximately 60 believers was due for completion. "Pastor Ajit was one of hundreds of missionaries risking their lives to share Jesus' love in this area," K.P. Yohannan, Gospel for Asia's President, has stated. "He was doing a great work, and his life brought hope to many people." (Source: Gospel for Asia)

  Pray for Pastor Ajit's wife and two small children as they mourn his loss. Pray for guidance for his congregation at this time. Pray for boldness and enduring faith for other Christians serving in Assam.

  To learn more about persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.

• Christian man dies, three injured after attack

  Amit Gilbert Photo from Indian Focus blog

  A 25-year-old Christian man was killed and three other believers were severely injured following an attack by militant Hindus on a prayer meeting in Saliya, Betul district, Madhya Pradesh on April 17. Between 15 and 30 assailants disrupted the meeting attended by more than 400 Christians and began to destroy Bibles and other property. They then accused the believers of forcible conversion and attacked them with sticks and iron rods. The Christians fled the scene, running outside into the darkness of the night. Amit Gilbert, a Master of Divinity student, fell into an open well, hit his head on the well's outer wall and drowned. One of the injured Christians sustained a fractured spine and remained in serious condition at last report. (Sources: Global Council of Indian Christians, Union of Catholic Asian News)

  Pray for those mourning the loss of Amit. Pray that the three injured Christians will fully recover. Pray that Christians in Madhya Pradesh will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).

  To find out more about the plight of Indian Christians,click here.

• A call to action and prayer for Christians in Orissa

  The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada is a member of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), a collaborative effort of Christian organizations in over a dozen countries to raise awareness of religious liberty issues around the world. Two years after an outbreak of mob violence against Christians in Kandhamal district, Orissa state, India (click here to read more), the RLP remains deeply concerned for believers there and is requesting united prayer for justice, reconciliation and peace in the area.

  The RLP urges you to remember our suffering brothers and sisters in Orissa by praying specifically for them this Christmas season. In particular, we encourage you to use the following prayer from Mgr. Raphael Cheenath, the Catholic Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in Orissa, in your churches on Christmas Day:

  "Gracious Father, Lord of all the earth, we praise you for the gift of Jesus Christ, sent into the world to break down the dividing walls of hostility. Have mercy upon those in Orissa who are suffering. Give them the peace and the justice that they crave, and cause the walls of bitterness and hatred in Orissa to be torn down. Comfort those who have been bereaved, counsel those who have been traumatised, provide for those who have lost everything. Give them the grace to forgive and confidence in your gracious favour. Do not let us forget them, our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace and look forward to his coming again in glory."

  For the full RLP report, "Orissa: A call to action and a call to prayer," please click here.

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

• Christians beaten, church burned down

  The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of attacks on Christians by Hindu militants in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in recent weeks.

  Hindu militants Photo from AsiaNews

  At approximately 2:00 a.m. on December 8, Hindu militants set fire to the Jesus Lights Manna Church in the village of Metpally, Andhra Pradesh. The building's main door, altar and window panels were destroyed and Bibles and other Christian literature were burned. At last report, several of the militants involved in the attack had been arrested by authorities.

  On December 9, Pastor N. Moses and several other believers were attacked by Hindu militants while returning home from a prayer meeting in Kistapuram village, Andhra Pradesh. Pastor Moses suffered severe internal injuries and young Christian girls were also beaten. The militants also shouted slogans against Christianity and accused the believers of forcibly converting people. (Source: All India Christian Council)

  Pastor Manjunath (26) and his wife Saraswati (24) were viciously attacked by a mob of Hindu militants who broke into their home in the town of KR Nagar, Karnataka on December 14. The militants accused the couple of forcibly converting people and severely beat them. Saraswati sustained serious injuries but was denied medical attention due to pressure from local militants. When Pastor Manjunath went to the local police station to file a report against the attackers, the officials detained him. The officials have also sealed up the couple's house.

  Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray that Pastor Manjunath will be released. Pray that those who seek to hinder the work of the Church in India will see the love and grace of Jesus in the lives of Indian Christians.

  To find out more about the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Pray for persecuted Christians in Orissa this Christmas

  Purna, one of the believers who was beaten in August 2008

  The Catholic Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in India's Orissa state has requested prayer from believers around the world this Christmas season for the victims of anti-Christian violence in the area. Please join him in remembering our brothers and sisters in Orissa. (Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

  "Gracious Father, Lord of all the earth, we praise you for the gift of Jesus Christ, sent into the world to break down the dividing walls of hostility. Have mercy upon those in Orissa who suffer for bearing your name. Give them the peace and the justice that they crave, and cause the walls of bitterness and hatred in Orissa to be torn down. Comfort those who have been bereaved, counsel those who have been traumatised, provide for those who have lost everything. Give them the grace to forgive and confidence in your gracious favour. Do not let us forget them, our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace and look forward to his coming again in glory."

  Click here to learn more about the ongoing opposition facing Christians in India.

• Three churches attacked in Tamil Nadu

  Window of the church in Sulur Photo from GCIC

  Three church buildings were attacked within two days in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. On November 29, a bomb exploded at a church in Thammathukonam, badly damaging the building's wall. Later that day, a statue of St. Francis Xavier was desecrated by militants in Konamkade while the local congregation was preparing for an Advent procession. The next day, a group of Hindu militants broke the windows of a church building in Sulur and threw stones inside. A bag containing a container of petrol, a diesel can and cotton scraps was later found, suggesting that the attackers intended to set the building on fire.

  Pray that Christians in Tamil Nadu will not give in to fear over these attacks but continue to be bold witnesses for Jesus. Pray that the perpetrators of this violence will be brought to justice.

  Click here to find out more about how Christians suffer in India.

• Christians throughout India targeted in violent attacks

  The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of violence against Christians in India throughout the week, including the following two incidents.

  On the morning of October 25, four men entered the Assembly of God church building in Old Hubli, Karnataka during a worship service and started taking notes and photographing the worshippers. When the pastor's wife, Radha David (42), asked the men to sit quietly and listen to the sermon, they immediately left. A few minutes later, a group of approximately 50 Hindu militants stormed into the church. They threatened the believers and dragged Pastor K.M. David Raj (47) outside. The militants then collected the Bibles, Christian literature and banners and burned them in front of the church building. Police arrived on scene and brought Pastor Raj, Radha, and three other believers to the police station. At last report, the five remained in police custody.

  On the same day, Pastor Pavithra Kumar (28) was brutally beaten following a morning worship service in Mastoori town, Madhya Pradesh. Approximately 11 Hindus called Pastor Kumar outside where they attacked him with their fists, wooden rods and field hockey sticks. Pastor Kumar was able to escape his assailants and run back inside the church building. However, he was badly injured on his hands, chest, back and head.

  Pray that these believers will keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in their faith, and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39, Hebrews 12:1-3). Pray that those who seek to hinder the work of the Church in India will see the love and grace of Jesus in the lives of Indian Christians.

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