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India

• Attacks on Christians in Madhya Pradesh

  There were at least two attacks on Christians by Hindu militants in Madhya Pradesh in recent weeks, according to a February 25 report from Compass Direct.

  On February 22, Hindu militants forcibly entered a local Christian's home in the district of Balaghat where a group of Christians were gathered together for worship. The militants shouted "Stop conversions" at one of the men present and dragged him outside. When another believer tried to come to the man's aid, the militants also dragged him outside, where 15-20 militants were waiting. The mob beat the two men along with three other believers with bamboo poles, rods and belts. Both men sustained internal injuries. Later the militants took some of the Christians to the local police station where they accused them of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity.

  At approximately 2:30 p.m. on February 24, a mob of at least 125 Hindu militants forcibly entered the compound of the Masihi Mandir Church in the Chawani area of Indore while 15 Christians were preparing to begin a worship service. The militants beat drums and shouted slogans such as, "He who talks in favor of only Hindus will rule the nation," and "Stop conversions." When the believers vacated the building and locked it, the mob shattered the windows and destroyed a cross on the lawn. A Christian college student was severely beaten while trying to flee the scene. During the attack, the militants apparently voiced plans to set the church building on fire, but when the police arrived they were able to stop them from causing further damage.

  Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray that those who accuse Christians of forcible conversion will be silenced. Ask God to enable Christians in India to grow in Christlikeness through their trials (James 1:2-4).

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. VOMC has a number of video reports on the persecution of Christians in India on our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com. 

• Pastor Beaten

  

  Pastor Abraham (70) and several of his family members were beaten by militants while they were preparing for a weekly prayer meeting in the village of Tharamangalam, Tamil Nadu on the morning of January 18. At approximately 10:00 a.m., a group of local Hindus armed with rods and stones barged into Pastor Abraham's house, which is also used as a church building, and beat him, his wife and five children. When the pastor went to the police station for help, several other Christians arrived at his home to attend the scheduled meeting and were attacked by the militants. Several of the beaten believers were hospitalized with serious injuries.

  Pray for healing for those injured in this attack. Pray that Christians in India will continue to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

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

• Christians Attacked by Hindu Militants in Chhattisgarh

  Several Christians were injured in two separate attacks over the past week in Chhattisgarh state, according to a January 18 report from Compass Direct.

  On January 16, Hindu militants attacked a large group of believers who were meeting together in a makeshift structure in the Durg district. The militants beat several believers and local villagers present, injuring at least 80 people. The militants also vandalized the structure.

  On January 17, a mob of Hindus attacked a missionary health camp in the Dhamtari district. The militants accused the Christians of participating in a conversion ceremony and beat and injured at least a dozen believers.

  Ask God to give healing to those injured in the attacks. Pray that Christians in India will put their hope in the Lord as the One who upholds their cause (Psalm 146). Pray that their faithfulness will be a light that draws others to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. Check out our video reports on India on www.vomcanada.com.

• Two Christians Abducted and Beaten by Militants in Madhya Pradesh

  Two men, Vijaya Kumar Maurya and Keera Lal, were abducted and beaten by Hindu militants in Madhya Pradesh on January 17, according to a January 22 report from Compass Direct. At approximately 8:00 a.m., six armed men stormed a house church meeting in the village of Pathigaon and accused the believers present of forcibly converting Hindus. The militants demanded that Maurya and Lal accompany them to the police station. When other believers requested that they go along to the station, the militants beat Maurya and Lal and kidnapped them. Both men were taken to a jungle, where they were beaten again. They were then taken to a nearby temple. The militants planned to sacrifice the two to the temple god, but decided not to do so after the police informed them that a complaint had been filed against them. The militants forced Maurya and Lal to call the police and say that they had not been kidnapped and also forced them to sign a paper making the same claim. At approximately 8:00 p.m., both believers were released.

  Pray for healing for Maurya and Lal, who both sustained serious injuries. Ask God to embolden Christians in India to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering.

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

• Help Christians in Orissa, India

  During Christmas, Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state experienced violence at a level never before seen in the region. At least 90 churches have been burned and 600 houses torched or vandalized in the attacks. Thousands of Christians have been displaced and others are still missing. The total number of Christians killed is unknown. Full details of the carnage are still uncertain since authorities are often denying church groups and fact-finding teams access to the area.

  The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada is responding to the situation by working together with our partners in India in projects that will provide relief aid and support rebuilding efforts in the effected region in the coming weeks and months. You can join us in lifting up our brothers and sisters in Orissa by contributing to VOMC's Relief and Development Fund. Donations can be made online using our secure donation form or through CanadaHelps at our Donations Page.

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

• Believers Attacked During Prayer Meeting in Rajasthan

  

  Hindu activists attacked a group of Christian families while they were conducting a prayer meeting in a believer's home in Udaipur, Rajasthan at approximately 9:00 p.m. on January 6. According to a January 8 report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the militants surrounded the house and then barged into the home and beat those present, injuring several people.

  Pray that these Christians will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4). Pray for healing for those injured. Pray that the faithfulness of Indian Christians will be a light that draws others to Christ.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. Video reports on India are available on VOMC's main website, on our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com, and on our YouTube and Facebook pages.

• Christians Killed, Churches and Homes Destroyed in Mob Violence in Orissa

  Image from video report onIBNLive

  Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed in a spate of attacks on Christians over Christmas in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state. The violence began on December 24 in the village of Brahmani when a mob of Hindus belonging to the Vishva Hindu Parishad militant group attacked Christians and their shops in order to protest their planned Christmas celebrations. The violence then spread throughout the area and continued in the following days.

  Christians remain at risk as religious tensions persist in the region. On December 31, at least three houses were burned down in three separate attacks in the villages of Rabingia, Barpada and Daringbadi, according to the Indo-Asia News Service. The Evangelical Fellowship of India has reported further incidents as late as January 2. Local Christians believe that the violence is a direct attempt to intimidate the Christian community and stop missionary work in the state, which is one of several Indian states with strict anti-conversion laws.

  According a memorandum submitted to the National Human Rights Commission on December 31, at least 90 churches have been burned and 600 houses torched or vandalized in the attacks. Thousands of Christians have been displaced and others are still missing. The total number of Christians killed is unknown. Full details of the carnage are still uncertain since authorities are often denying church groups and fact-finding teams access to the area.

  Pray that God will strengthen and protect the believers in Orissa. Pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones. Pray that believers will continue to rely on their Saviour in this time of trial. Ask God to enable Indian Christians to act as ambassadors of reconciliation who help to draw even their persecutors to faith in the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. The January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter features the persecution of Christians in India. To receive your copy, subscribe today.

• Pastor and Wife Beaten by Hindus in Andhra Pradesh

  Pastor William Cary and his wife were beaten in their home by two Hindus in the village of Kandla Koyya, Andhra Pradesh on the evening of December 10, according to a December 10 report from All India Christian Council. A day before the attack, Pastor Cary, who leads a local church affiliated with Bharat Bible College, had asked nearby Hindus gathered for worship nearby to reduce the sound of their service. The Hindus peaceably agreed to the pastor's request. At approximately 9:30 p.m. the next day, however, two people came to the pastor's house and asked him if he was the one who had asked the Hindus to turn down the volume. When he told them he had, the visitors forcibly entered his home and beat him along with his wife.

  Pray for Pastor Cary and his wife as they recover from this attack. Pray that they will find opportunities to share Christ with their persecutors. Pray that non-Christians throughout India would be challenged by the consistent witness of God's people and come to know Him (Romans 12:14, 21).

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

• Militants Destroy Church Building Under Construction in Delhi

  At approximately 7:30 a.m. on December 5, a group of 150-200 Hindu militants destroyed a church building under construction in Pitampura in north Delhi. According to a December 5 press release from the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, who owns the building, the attackers roughed up the site foreman and threatened to assault any labourers who remained on the site. They also threatened to return if their threats were not heeded. The militants reportedly opposed the building of the church because they feared it would increase the conversions of local people to Christianity. The ground-breaking ceremony for the building of the Church of Divine Mercy had only taken place a month ago.

  Pray for wisdom for the members of this church, as they consider the future in light of this attack. Pray for the spread of the Gospel throughout India, despite those who oppose its message.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. To view a trailer of "Faith Under Fire: India," a video documentary by The Voice of the Martyrs, go to our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com. You can order a copy of this thirty-minute DVD at out online catalogue.

• Pastor Beaten

  

  On the evening of December 5, Pastor Nandu Rathod (38) was rturning from a Bible study in the Gadag district of Karnataka, India when he was stopped by 10-15 men. The men asked him if he was a Christian preacher and accused him of forcibly converting people. They severely beat him, fracturing his ribs and legs and left him with serious internal injuries. Believing he was dead, they left him on the side of the road. Others passing by found him and took him to a hospital where he received treatment.

  Pray for a full and quick recovery for Pastor Nandu. Pray that those responsible for this attack will come to understand and accept the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. The feature story of the January edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter tells the exciting testimony of a Hindu persecutor who came to know Christ and is now serving Him, despite persecution. Subscribe here for free.