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India

  • Church Building Demolished

    In an attempt to kill Pastor Shri Levi Chetti, a mob of 300 Hindu militants completely demolished a JLC church building in Gunthaput village, Orissa, on March 30, according to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. During the demolition, the militants demanded that all Christians leave the village and said they will not allow any Christian worship centers in the area.

    The church has been subject to persecution in the past. On March 2, 2005 their building was burned down by Hindu villagers along with Hindu nationalists. Money, food and musical instruments were stolen and Bibles were burned. Since then, local Hindus have desecrated the church building by urinating and defecating on it just prior to worship services. Attempts to build a wall to stop this have met with further violence.

    Pray that these Christians will be encouraged to continue to meet together despite their loss of property (Hebrews 10:23). Pray that persecutors will come to know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the faithfulness His followers (Romans 12:14, 21).

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here. Several recent video reports on India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Several Attacks on Christians throughout India
    Pastor Rajendra Chauhan
    Photo from
    Mission Network News
    This week, The Voice of the Martyrs has received several reports of brutal attacks on Christians throughout India. Here are several summaries.

    On March 25, Pastor Rajendra Chauhan and another unidentified pastor were arrested and in the village of Kundra, Uttar Pradesh after twenty six members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Hindu militant group complained to police that Chauhun was engaged in conversion activities. Both men have been charged under the Indian Penal code with "hurting religious sentiments" and cannot currently be granted bail. (Source: Open Doors USA).

    Pastor Basanta Nayak
    Photo from    Global Council of Indian Christians
    On March 27, Pastor Basanta Nayak (21) was severely beaten by a group of ten to twelve Hindu miltiants in the village of Sujeli, Orissa state. The militants demanded that Nayak deny Christ, punching him and strangling him with a towel. When he refused, they beat him unconscious. Thinking he was dead, they then dragged his body into a nearby forest.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On March 31, Pastor Hemant Vashiani and several other members of the True Worship Ministry Church in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra state were beaten by Hindu militants. After entering the church during an evening service and accusing Pastor Vashiani of committing forcible conversions, the militants beat him and several believers with iron rods and wooden clubs. Pastor Vashiani reportedly suffered head injuries and both legs were broken in the attack. The church building and some furniture were also damaged.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians, Evangelical Fellowship of India)

    On April 1, two mission workers sustained serious head injuries when they were beaten by Hindu militants armed with bamboo and sugarcane sticks in Damoh, Mahyha Pradesh. The attack occurred after the militants questioned the Christians about a Sunday school procession they were leading
    (Source: Evangelical Fellowship of India).

    Christian injured in Jabalpur
    Photo from
    Global Council of Indian Christians
    Also on April 1, the congregation of St. Paul's Church (Church of North India) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh was attacked during a Palm Sunday worship service by members of the pro-Hindu Bajrang Dal organization. Five believers were beaten and injured, including a baby girl.
    (Source: Evangelical Fellowship of India).

    Praise God for the courage and faith of these Indian believers. Ask Him to heal those who were injured. Pray that God will give the church leadership in India the wisdom to know how to shepherd the people through these difficult times (James 1:5).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Several video features on India are also available on our newly-redesigned multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christian Workers Beaten

    Reports of Christian workers in India being assaulted for their ministry activities continue to be received by VOMC.

    According to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), at approximately 8:00 p.m. on March 20, a Christian worker identified only as Pawar was attacked in his home in Navi, Mumbai by fifteen Hindu militants. Pawar's troubles began on March 12, when he counseled a suicidal college student named Kundan Yadav. Yadav initially told his principal that he was thankful for Pawar's help. Eight days later, however, he brought fifteen members of the Maharasthra Navanirman Samithi Hindu group to Pawar's home. The militants blackened Pawar's face with ink and beat him. The police have arrested seven of the attackers for trespassing and assaulting Pawar.

    GCIC also reported that, on March 23, an independent Gospel worker, Reverend P. Abraham, and a college professor, Jacob Thomas, were severely injured as they were beaten while returning from a gospel meeting in Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The police arrested them and took them into custody at the Jawahar Nagar police station. The attackers later arrived at the station and filed a complaint of forcible conversion against Rev. Abraham and Prof. Thomas.

    On March 24, a group of evangelists of Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) was beaten up by Muslim militants in the village of Mullakkudi, Kerala state. The three evangelists, Satheeth Kumar, George Thomas and Kunjumon Mani, were preparing for a meeting at noon that Saturday when a group of Muslims questioned them about their activities and then assaulted hem. They destroyed the megaphone the evangelists were using to preach to the public and threw Bibles and other Christian literature into the river. It is possible that the attack took place because a few young Muslims had recently come to faith in Jesus and had been helping the SVM evangelists distribute literature.

    SVM also reported this week that, on March 22, a group of Brethren Church evangelists was also assaulted while doing personal evangelism in Marayur, Kerala. The evangelists had finished distributing tracts throughout the village and were inside a lodge preparing to go to evening Bible class when a group of people suddenly arrived and severely beat them.

    Ask God to heal those injured in these attacks. Pray these workers will remain faithful to the task God has given them, knowing that they will receive the crown of life (1 Peter 5:1-4). Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India in the midst of severe opposition.

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. The Voice of the Martyrs has recently released a DVD report entitled, "Faith Under Fire: India." To order a copy, online catalogue.
  • Continuing Persecution in India

    India mapThe Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of continuing persecution of Christians in India this week.

    On March 10, members of the Hindu militant groups VHP and Bajrang Dal attempted to stop a women's prayer meeting in the home of Pastor Amit Sidhu in Bathinda, Punjab. The incident came to the attention of other area Christians who sought to intervene. In the ensuing clash, one of the VHP members was injured. Three pastors, Kulwan Raj, Chootta Singh and Harfool Singh were subsequently charged with making an attempt on the lives of the activists. The three appeared in court on March 12 and are being held in custody. Area Christians maintain that all allegations against the pastors are false. The following day, Vijay Bhardwaj, general secretary of VHP, and Sumit Kumar, co-coordinator of Bajrang Dal, led a group of fifty Hindutva activists and tried to attack the occupants of Pastor Amit Sidhu's house.
    (Source: All India Christian Council)

    On March 11, Pastor Matthew was returning to his home in Bangalore, Karnataka after serving as a translator at a meeting when he was ambushed by three men. He was repeatedly beaten with a cricket stump and has sustained injuries to his back and arms. It is believed the incident is in protest to a church Matthew has begun in the village of Cholanayakanahalli.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On the evening of March 13, an independent church in the village of Tadiparti in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh was burned by Hindu militants after Christians would not yield to warnings to stop proclaiming Christ. This is the second church in the village burned to the ground in the past month. Pastor G. Premanadam has appealed to the authorities to provide protection to the Christians in the community.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians, All India Christian Council)

    John SelvanVijay
    Pastor John Selvan and assistant Vijay
    Photos from    Global Council of Indian Christians

    On March 16, Pastor John Selvan (29) and his assistant Vijay (24) were about to leave a prayer meeting in Bangalore when approximately thirty young men surrounded them. The Christians in the home managed to hide Pastor John, but Vijay was taken to a eucalyptus grove and beaten.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On March 16, two pastors, Pastor Juan Singh Sesobia (24) and Thogabai (25), were arrested in the Khargon district of Madhya Pradesh and charged under Section 295A for a deliberate and malicious act to offend religious feelings. If convicted, the two could face up to three years in prison. (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    Hindu militants in the village of Nuagad in Ganjam District, Orissa are threatening to burn the homes of twenty Christian villagers. The threats follow the defeat on March 17 of the BJP candidate in local elections. Furious, the candidate attacked one of the Christians in the village, Abraham Burdhan, chopping off a finger and inflicting serious cuts to his hands. Police have arrested seven Christians and nine BJP supporters. (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    Pray for those church leaders who are presently in jail on false charges. Pray that Christians will stand firm, knowing that their comfort is in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that the persecutors will come to know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the faithfulness of these Christians (Romans 12:14, 21).

    VOMC has released a new video report on the persecution in India entitled "Faith Under Fire: India." The video can be purchased from our online catalogue. A preview of the video is available at https://www.vomcanada.com/. For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  • Several Christians Beaten Throughout India

    The Voice of the Martyrs has received several reports of attacks on Christians throughout India during the past week. Here are several summaries.

    On March 6, Pastor Binoy Kuriakose and ten other Christians were beaten by members of the Hindu organizations Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal (BJD) while distributing literature in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Pastor Kuriakose suffered injuries on his head, shoulders and legs. Several believers also sustained serious injuries.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    A missionary named Pastor Ashir was attacked on March 6 by a group of masked people armed with steel pipes and sticks, as he was returning from a prayer meeting in the village of Rikawaza, Kashmir region. His leg was broken and his family is also being. threatened
    (Source: Salem Voice Ministries)

    On the evening of March 7, two pastors were severely beaten by a mob of villagers in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan state. Villagers denied them any medical assistance for their injuries. (Source: Evangelical Alliance of India)

    Brother Bhaskar was beaten on March 7 in Lingarajapuram, Bangalore by two men who saw him handing out tracts to some women. The men pushed him up against the wall, punched him twice in the face and asked him why he had given the women these tracts. They also threatened to have him arrested if they found him distributing literature again.
    (Source: Global Council of Indian Christians)

    On March 11, in Andhra Pradesh, police officers and members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday (March 11) lured a pastor, Bakhthula Anand of the Bethesda Prayer House in Ambojipeta village into a remote forest. There they tied his hands and feet and beat him with wooden clubs as they accused him of offering money for Hindus to convert to Christianity. He is presently undergoing treatment for severe swelling and exhaustion after he managed to reach his home the following morning despite barely being able to walk. His wrists and ankles were bleeding and swollen after the militants untied and abandoned him six hours earlier. (Source: Compass Direct)

    Pray for Christians in India who face the rising threat of violence. Pray that they will rest in the knowledge that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this difficult time (Psalm 23). Ask God to grant a quick recovery to those who were injured. Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India in the midst of severe opposition.

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. A new DVD by The Voice of the Martyrs on the persecution in India entitled "Faith Under Fire: India" is available for sale through our online catalogue. For a free preview, go to www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christian College Attacked by Hindu Militants
    Photo fromGCIC
    On February 28, approximately 500 Hindu militants attacked a Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bible school in Brajarajnagar, Orissa state. According to a March 6 report from Compass Direct, the mob of Barjang Dal group members armed with sticks, axes and swords forcibly entered the campus of the Believers Church Bible College and started to beat the 240 students and staff members present. The women's dorm director and five of the students were seriously injured. One student is reported to be in critical condition. The attackers also ransacked the campus, destroying many school building roofs and disconnecting the electricity. They demanded that the school be closed and that GFA cease all their work in the state. At last report, no one had been arrested for the attack.

    Pray that God will give healing to all those who have been injured. Pray for Christians throughout India who are facing opposition from Hindu groups determined to stop the spread of Christianity.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.
  • Youths Beaten for Distributing Christian Literature

    Two Christian youths were beaten by members of the Bajrang Dal (BJD) Hindu militant group on March 3 for distributing Christian literature, according to a March 6 report from Compass Direct. Bobby D'Souza (24) and Sandip Mohite (21) were handing out tracts at the Kandivli railway station in Mumbai, Maharashtra state when approximately fifty-five to sixty militants snatched the leaflets from their hands and started to hit and kick them. They dragged the youths to the local police station and filed a complaint against them on allegations of forcible conversion and denigration of other religions. Both of the youths were hospitalized for injuries.

    Pray that God will enable Bobby and Sandip to proclaim the Gospel even while suffering (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Pray that they will make a full recovery. Pray that Christians in India will never be ashamed of the gospel because God's power brings salvation through it (Romans 1:16).

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. VOMC has recently released a video report on the persecution facing Christians in India. You can view excerpts at www.vomcanada.com or order a DVD copy of "Faith Under Fire: India" from our online catalogue.
  • Police Refuse to Press Charges Against Church Leaders
    Pastor Amul Raj
    Photo from    GCIC
    For the past five years, Pastor Amul Raj (36) has been working as an evangelist. A year ago, he built a prayer hall in Harishchandra Ghat in Chritradurga district, Karnataka. For the anniversary of the building, the church held two days of meetings on February 16-17. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, on the morning of the second day, Hindu militants barged into the meeting and started to beat those present. The militants broke chairs and other furniture. They then ran to the stage and began to beat Pastor Raj and other speakers. The Hindus shout slogans, including "We are all Hindus and we are all one."

    The attackers went to the police station and insisted that the police return with them to file charges against the pastors. However, the police refused, insisting that any person who was converted could lodge a complaint. Since the incident, however, Pastor Amul has received numerous threatening phone calls. Other believers in the area have also been threatened and are now fearful for their safety.

    Pray for Pastor Amul Raj his wife Mary Shaila and two sons, Abhishek (10) and Solomon (8). Pray that they and the church will trust God during this time (Revelation 2:10). Pray that God would be glorified as they steadfastly fix their eyes on what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Recent video reports on persecution in India are available on VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com.
  • Christian Meeting Disrupted in Madhya Pradesh

    As many as fifteen Hindu militants attacked a Christian meeting in the Pathakhera area of Madhya Pradesh on March 2. According to a March 6 report from Compass Direct, Pastor Avinash Kanchan was leading the meeting of an independent church when the militants burst into the room and started to beat the twenty-five women and five men present. They slapped Pastor Kanchan, beat him with shoes and threatened the believers gathered. Kanchan's motorcycle was damaged and his cell phone, watch and Bible were stolen.

    Pray for protection and help for Pastor Kanchan and the other believers in Pathakhera. Pray that they will take comfort in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21). Pray that they will have opportunities to share their faith with their persecutors.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  • Young Pastor Killed in Andhra Pradesh

    On February 17, Pastor Goda Israel (28) left home for a prayer meeting and failed to return. Three days later, his body was found with stab wounds in a canal near his home in the village of Pedapallparru, Andhra Pradesh.

    Israel had graduated from the Emmanuel Bible Institute in 2003 and was supervisor over fifteen churches in the region. According to a February 27 report from Compass Direct, he had previously faced threats from Hindu militants because of his ministry. At this point, the reasons for his murder are unknown. Israel is survived by a wife and young children.

    Ask the Lord to give comfort to Goda's wife, children and others who mourn for him. Pray that they will find peace in the fact that the Lord will be exalted, whether in life or in death (Philippians 1:20). Pray that those who persecute Christians in India will come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. 

    For more information on persecution in India,click here.

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