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India

  • Women Beaten by Neighbours for Evangelization
    Uma Jasmine with her daughter
    Uma Jasmine with her daughter
    Photo from    GCIC
    At approximately 10:00 a.m. on August 14, Uma Jasmine (38) was beaten by the next-door neighbours of a local family that she had been witnessing to for the past few months in Bangalore. The neighbours saw that the wife of this family had started to pray and read the Bible and were angry at Jasmine for sharing her faith. When Jasmine and her seventeen year old daughter went to visit the wife, the neighbours severely beat them. Jasmine is currently suffering from breast cancer and her heath has worsened as a result of her injuries.

    Thank the Lord for Uma's boldness in proclaiming His Word in an environment of opposition. Pray that her faithfulness will be a light that draws her persecutors to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16). Ask God to give healing to her and her daughter.

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Pastor and Church Members Beaten by Militants

    Chhattisgarh, IndiaPastor Babula Changra Paik, another church leader and an elderly man were beaten by approximately fifty Hindu militants during a Sunday morning church worship service at a house church in the city of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh on August 5. Church property was damaged and Bibles were torn during the attack. The militants were angered by Pastor Paik's alleged involvement in forcible conversion activities. Pastor Paik denied these accusations and insisted that he only conducts worship services for local Christians.

    Pray for healing for these three Christians. Pray that they will trust God to enable them to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Pray that those who accuse Pastor Paik of forcible conversion will be silenced.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Christian Beaten and Stoned to Death
    Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy
    Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy
    Photo: Global Council of Indian Christians

    A Christian named Amos was killed in the Hosu District, Tamil Nadu on July 29. Two men arrived at Amos' house and interrogated him and his family about his brother, Pastor Paul Chinnaswamy. Amos' wife and mother-in-law told the men that Amos was a Christian and confirmed that he was Pastor Chinnasamy's elder brother. The men then beat Amos with a club and threatened to kill the three small children present if the women did not throw stones at him. Fearing the men, the woman complied.

    Pray for comfort for those who mourn the loss of Amos. Pray that Christ will be exalted through this tragedy and that people in India will come to know Him as Lord (Philippians 1:20).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Church-Owned Building Demolished

    India map

    At 2:00 a.m. on August 4, approximately 200 masked men demolished a building under construction which belonged to the Catholic Church in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The assailants also injured the watchman. The local bishop suspected that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were responsible for the attack. He reported that a known VHP member had led a previous attack on a priest looking after the building. The bishop also noted that local Christians had received telephone warnings against constructing the building, which was planned to serve as a priest's residence, a school and a hospital.

    Pray that, despite the loss of their building, these believers will be reassured of their lasting and more precious inheritance (Hebrews 10:36, 37). Pray that Christ will be glorified as Christians in India courageously remain true to Him despite opposition (Philippians 1:20).

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report. Video reports on persecution in India are also available at www.vomcanada.com.
  • Pastor Pressured to Close House Church in Kashmir
    Pastor Bashir Masih
    Pastor Bashir Masih
    Photo from    GCIC
    As Pastor Bashir Masih was getting ready for Sunday worship at the Shalom Prayer Hut in Kanlibagh, Kashmir on July 29, a leader from a nearby mosque, along with five other men, ordered him to vacate and close the house church. Pastor Bashir's handicapped son has reportedly been beaten by Muslims in the past for his faith in Christ. Muslims have also stopped supplying Pastor Bashir and his three children with drinking water in order to pressure them into leaving the area.

    Pray for strength and endurance for Pastor Bashir, his family and his congregation. Pray that those opposing the message of Christ will come to trust the God of the Bible.

    For more information on persecution in India, go to theIndia Country Report.
  • Church Service Disrupted and Believers Attacked in Karnataka

    Sagar Taluka, Karnataka, IndiaApproximately fifteen Bajrang Dal activists disrupted a worship service on July 29 in Sagar Taluka, Karnataka and beat those present, according to a July 29 report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. The militants, armed with cricket bats and knives, broke down the door of the Believer's Church. They destroyed the furnishings and seriously injured several of the church members. They also destroyed a car and moped parked outside the building. A police complaint has been registered and arrests are expected. Police officers are also posted at the hospital to protect those injured in the attack.

    Pray for healing for those injured in these attacks. Pray that this congregation will experience God's peace that is beyond comprehension (Philippians 4:4-7). Pray that they will be encouraged to continue meeting together, despite the opposition (Hebrews 10:23-25).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Video reports of persecution in India are available on www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christians Beaten by Police Inspector

    Karnataka, IndiaWhile a small group of Christians were gathered for worship in Thadesa, Karnataka on the morning of July 15, the local police inspector entered the gathering and assaulted Pastor Ravi Benjamin (32) and Vijay (23) in front of the other believers. The inspector then took the two to the police station where he continued his assault for another three hours.

    Pray for healing for these two Christians. Pray that, in the midst of the difficulties they face, the believers in Thadesa will be keenly aware of the presence of Christ suffering there with them.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to theIndia Country Report. To view video reports on persecution in India, go to our multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Attacks on Christians in Karnataka

    India map

    The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of violence against Christians in Karnataka, India over the past week.

    On July 4, sixteen members of the Bajrang Dal Hindu militant group beat Dyamappi Chalawadi and his wife Geeta in the village of Baloga. The militants barged into Chalawadi's house and dragged him outside where they kicked him and hit him with wooden sticks. Some of the attackers dragged his wife by her hair, punched her shoulders and back and told her, "We will kill you and your husband if you continue your Christian prayers."

    On July 4, approximately fifteen Hindu militants from the Bajrang Dal group attacked Pastor C.J. Samuel and Pastor Moses while they were returning home from a meeting in the village of Belthur. After ambushing the pastors on the road, the Hindus beat them, cursed their faith and accused them of forcibly converting poor villagers. More than fifty others joined in the assault, which lasted for nearly an hour and ended with the militants threatening to kill the pastors if they visited Belthur again.

    On the morning of July 8, approximately ten members of the Ram Sena Hindu militant group beat two Christian workers, G. Mohan and M.G. John, in Bangalore. The militants dragged the men out of the house of a local Christian, beat them and paraded them half-naked to the police station where they were arrested on charges of "hurting religious feelings" and "creating enmity between religious communities." Both have since been released on bail.

    Pray for the recovery of those who have been beaten in these attacks. Pray that the incomprehensible peace of Christ will rule their hearts and minds in the face of persecution (Philippians 4:7). Pray also that the Lord would strengthen them to lovingly and boldly proclaim His truth, even to their enemies (Ephesians 6:18-20).

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

    Video reports on the persecution of Christians in India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christians Beaten by Militants
    Father Sylvester Pereira
    Photo from    GCIC

    On June 25, a Carmelite priest and four other Christian men were attacked by a group of Hindu militants in Kundapurna, Karnataka state. Father Sylvester Pereira, Joyson Saldanha, John Pradeep, and Mukunk Bhandary were in the waiting room of the Surgeon General Hospital along with their neighbour, Valerian D'Silva, when the militants started to insult them and accuse them of forcibly converting Hindus. The attackers threw Fr. Pereira down a flight of stairs and beat him. When the four others came to his aid, they were also beaten. The Christians were then taken to the police station where the militants filed a complaint of forcible conversion against them. All five have been hospitalized for their injuries.

    On June 21, Pastor John Peter M (30) was beaten by approximately twelve Hindu militants near the village of Medak, Andhra Pradesh. According to the All India Christian Council, Pastor John was on his way to Medak when the militants stopped his vehicle with their car. They took him to a temple in the village of Narayankede, approximately 100 km away and demanded that he worship an idol. When he refused, they stripped him, shaved his head and beat him. As he lay unconscious, they robbed him and left him in a forest area. He was able to make his way home the next day. A month ago, Pastor John was reportedly warned by Hindu militants not to share the Gospel in the area.

    Ask God to give strength and healing to these Christians. Pray that there would be many conversions as a result of their testimony. Pray that increased persecution in India will result in increased boldness among believers there (Acts 4:29-31).

    For more information on persecution of Christians in India,click here. You can view video reports and testimonies of the Persecuted Church in India on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Books on the Life of Christ Burned Five hundred copies of a book called "The Life History of Jesus Christ" were burned on June 18 by Hindu militants in central Karnataka who claimed the books were being used to convert school children to Christianity. When the militants received word that the books were to be distributed in local schools, they went to the Block Education Office in Sirsi, Karnataka to protest. Discovering no books there, they learned that the books were being stored in the office in Siddapur, a city south of Sirsi. They took the books from the Siddapur office, brought them to Sirsi and burned them.

    Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India, despite the attempts to hinder and stop the ministry. Pray that Christians in India will continually and confidently rest in the promises of God's provision and strength (Heb. 10:32-39).

    For more information on the challenges facing Christians in India,click here.

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