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India

  • 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.
  • Christians Beaten by Militants in Raipur, India

    On February 19, a pastor's wife was beaten in Raipur, Chhattisgarh by a man responsible for an attack on her husband, Pastor Kanhaiya Lal Sharma, and five other pastors in December 2005. According to a February 23 report from Compass Direct, Kanti Sharma was at the community water tap with Jogi Sahu (19), an associate of the Hindu militant group Dharma Sena, when she saw him manhandling a female minor. She told him to stop abusing the girl. A few minutes later, Sahu and his brother sought the pastor's wife out at her home. They dragged her out of the house by her hair and beat her, giving her a bloody nose and a swollen eye.

    When Pastor Sharma took his wife to the Urla police station, the police refused to file a complaint against her attackers, insisting that the parties solve their dispute on their own.  The pastor's wife had to wait more than two hours for the police inspector to arrive before she was allowed to seek hospital treatment. Though the police stated that there was no religious motive for the beating, Christian leaders in Chhattisgarh claim that the incident was triggered by opposition to Pastor Sharma's hosting Sunday worship services in his home.

    On February 20, three pastors were also beaten in Raipur in an attack led by Panat Ram, a local politician from the Hindu nationalist Bjaratiua Janata Party (BJP). According to a February 26 report from Compass Direct, Elisha Baker, Balbir Kher and Nan Sai of the Believer's Church were attacked at approximately 3:00 p.m. while attending a three-day Christian meeting in the house of a local believer. They all received minor injuries. Prior to the attack, Ram had filed a police complaint against the organizers of the February 18-20 meeting for allegedly converting Hindus but police investigation proved his allegations false.

    Pray for the healing of all those who were injured in these attacks. Pray that church leaders in India will remain faithful to the task God has given them, knowing that they will receive the crown of life (I Peter 5:1-4). Pray that Indian Christians will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. VOMC has recently released a video report on the persecution facing Christians in India. You can view excerpts at https://www.vomcanada.com/ or order a DVD copy of "Faith Under Fire: India" from our online catalogue.
  • All India Christian Council Challenges Himachal Conversion Law

    Last week VOMC reported on the governor of Himachal Pradesh's decision to give his assent to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2006 (click here for more details). This week VOMC partner, the All India Christian Council (AICC), announced that they will challenge the act in the Himachal High Court. In a February 22 press release, AICC stated that they are prepared to take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary. Please pray for these Christians as they fight for recognition of their religious rights
  • Persecution Persists Throughout India
    Photo of Philadelphia Church destruction fromwww.persecution.in
    The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of persecution from across India this week:

    (a) In Maharashtra, a mob severely beat five Bible college students while they were sharing their faith on the streets of a local village on February 18, according to a report from Gospel for Asia. One of the students managed to escape and get help from the leaders of their college. Rushing to the scene, the leaders found the other four students who were badly injured. When they were taken to the hospital, doctors refused treatment until a police report was filed. Two of the students are in critical condition with head injuries and bleeding.

    (b) Also in Maharashtra, Hindu militants were recruited by a disgruntled former church leader to stop the construction of a prayer house for the Philadelphia Fellowship Church in the village of Vagda, according to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. After receiving building permits, the church began construction despite opposition. On the night of February 10, the partially constructed building was seriously damaged.

    (c) Thirteen workers of a Christian centre in Prem Nagar, Haryana were forced to move out of the area for their safety, according to a February 18 report from Compass Direct. On February 13, local officials demanded that the workers obtain official permission to run a Christian centre which provided education and a daily meal to approximately 100 underprivileged children. Authorities then locked the workers out of the house. Local villagers have been collecting signatures in an attempt to have the centre re-opened.

    (d) On February 8, a mob assaulted Father George Thoppil, Principal of the St. Thomas Higher Secondary School in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, according to a February 18 report from Compass Direct. The militants barged into his office, shouting obscenities against Christianity. They smashed furnishings and equipment, ransacked the residential quarters of the priests and destroyed a statue of Mary.

    The riot began after two young children were struck and killed by a truck 500 metres from the school. According to the Times of India, Hindu activists accused the school of creating a traffic hazard by keeping one of its gates closed. Saji Abraham from the All Indian Christian Council believes Hindu militants took advantage of the accident to attack Christians. Nine of the attackers have been arrested.

    (e) The Voice of the Martyrs expresses its deep disappointment to learn from the Evangelical Fellowship of India that Shri Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, the governor of Himachal Pradesh has decided to give his assent to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006.

    The Act forbids any attempt of a person to convert from one religion to another through inducement or fraud. Those found to be at fault will be imprisoned up to two years and/or fined. Anyone wishing to convert has to give thirty days prior notice to the district magistrate. The magistrate will then arrange an investigation to check the motives of the person wishing to convert. Similar legislation has been misused in other states to harass Christian workers and obstruct genuine conversions.

    Pray that as persecution increases in India, believers will find their comfort in Christ to be more than enough for them (2 Corinthians 1:5). Pray that the students who have been injured will recover quickly. Pray that those who have experienced property damage will rest in the fact that they have "better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:36, 37). Ask God that, in His time, He would open the way for the Christian workers in Haryana to return to their ministry. Pray that persecutors throughout India would be challenged by the consistent testimony of believers and be drawn to Christ (Romans 12:14, 21).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Video reports on persecution in India are also available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. A new video entitled "Faith Under Fire: India" is also available for sale on VOMC's newly updated online catalogue.
  • Mob Violence against Christians in India; One Believer Killed, Others Beaten
    Photo of S. Stanley fromSalem Voice
    The Voice of the Martyrs received several reports of incidents of mob violence against Christians in India this week.

    On February 10, a Christian man named S. Stanley (58) was murdered by a group of rioting youths in front of his house in Pavaloor, Kerala state. According to VOMC sources, the youths gathered around Stanley's home and started to shout words against Christianity. After he and his wife came outside to ask them to leave, the mob started throwing stones at the house and tried to force their way through the locked gate. When Stanley went inside to telephone the police, they jumped over the gate and entered the house. Stanley was killed as they stabbed him several times in his back, neck and stomach and also assaulted his wife.

    On February 6 in the village of Bashabri in Assam state, Rahbindra Narzaree and his wife were beaten by Hindu villagers for refusing to "reconvert" to Hinduism. Villagers have been ostracizing Narzaree and his family since he converted to Christianity two years ago. Although Narzaree briefly gave in to their pressure and reconverted to Hinduism, he later declared that he remained a Christian. The villagers responded by calling him and his wife to a meeting on February 6. During this meeting, they denounced him for refusing to return to Hinduism. They also attacked him and his wife with sticks. Fearing for their lives, the couple took refuge at a local police sub-station and then moved to Narzaree's brother's house. Their assailants have not been apprehended.

    On the night of February 8, three Christian workers of the Church of Nazarene were attacked by a group of Hindu militants, according to a February 9 report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India. Rev. Ravi Shambhakar, Mr. Ramprakash Sahu and a man identified as Satpute were attacked while they were showing the "Jesus Film" in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Satpute was immediately rushed to the hospital. The others received minor injuries. The team's projector and sound equipment were also damaged. When the Christians went to file a complaint about the incident, the police replied with a letter that claimed the Christians were in the wrong. A hearing date was set for February 13.

    Pray that those who mourn for Stanley will find comfort in the fact that Christ is victorious over death and that those who die in Christ will be raised with Him. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Ask God to heal those who were injured in the attacks. Pray that, in the midst of persecution, Christians in India will persevere in their faith and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3). Pray that those who persecute will come to repentance and receive salvation.

    VOMC has recently released a new video on the increasing persecution of Christians in India. A preview of the video is available on https://www.vomcanada.com/. To purchase the thirty-minute DVD, go to our online catalogue.

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

    A Christian was beaten in the city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on February 5, according to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians. At approximately 11:00 a.m., Mukesh Badehi was attacked by a group of nearby shopkeepers, many of whom were members of the Hindu militant groups Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The shopkeepers ransacked Badehi's shop and accused him of killing cows. They also accused him of assaulting Hindu shopkeepers. The militants virtually shut down the city with their actions and are planning a rally against local Christians on February 11.

    Ask God to give Mukesh comfort and healing. Pray that Christians in India will rejoice in the fact that God commends those who suffer for doing good (1 Peter 2:20-21). Ask God to thwart the attempts of those who seek to intimidate believers through violence, threats and false accusations. Pray that there will be no further violence at the planned rally on February 11.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. Video reports on the persecution facing Christians in India are available on https://www.vomcanada.com/.
  • Church Leader Abducted and Beaten
    Logo of the Mar Thoma church
    The manager of compassion ministries for the Mar Thoma church, identified only as Santosh, was abducted from the Belamanahallil-Kolar district of Karnataka on February 1. According to a report from the Global Council of Indian Christians, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Santosh was forcibly taken from Vemkal to Bangalore city, which is thirty kilometres away. There he was beaten and left on the road.

     Ask God to heal Santosh and to protect him from further persecution. Pray that Santosh and other church leaders in India will have boldness and wisdom as they continue the work God has given them (1 Peter 5:1-4, Ephesians 6:18-20). Pray that those who persecute Christians will come to repentance and receive salvation, just as Paul did (Acts 9:1-19).

    VOMC has recently released a new video on the increasing persecution of Christians in India. A preview of the video is available on https://www.vomcanada.com/. To purchase the thirty-minute DVD, go to
    our catalogue.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.
  • Pastors' Conference Attacked by Hindu Militants

    A pastors' conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh state was attacked by about 100-150 members of the Hindu militant group Dharam Sena (Religion Army) on February 2.

    At approximately 3:30 p.m. the militants barged into the Singh Palace banquet hall in Pandri, a sub-district of Raipur. When the female manager tried to stop them from entering, they manhandled her and started to attack the people. At least ten of the Christian leaders present were injured. Two foreigners, identified only as Mr. Jack and Mr. Coli, were also beaten by the mob. The militants verbally insulted the Christians and accused them of forcibly converting Hindus. The mob damaged chairs on the property and stole a laptop, two mobile phones, digital cameras and 5,000 rupees ($134 CAD) in cash from the participants.

    Police registered a complaint against the "unidentified" attackers for several violations of the Indian Penal Code, such as rioting and use of deadly weapons, but did not register the local pastor's complaint.

    Ask God to give healing to all those who were injured in this attack. Pray that these believers will continue to be faithful to the task the Lord has given them, relying on the Lord's strength and not on their own (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). Pray that Christians in India will exemplify the love of God through consistent love and prayer for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:43-48).

    For more information on persecution in India,click here. The February edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter features the persecution of Christians in India. Click here to subscribe and read the feature article today.

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