Believers in Two Indian States Banished for their Faith
INDIA – Christian believers in two Indian states were expelled from their villages simply because they chose to follow Jesus, according to reports recently received by Gospel for Asia. “Once again, we are seeing how our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering persecution for His sake all across Asia,” noted GFA President K.P. Yohannan. “These two incidents clearly show the cost of discipleship in India and other South Asian countries.” One incident took place in a high-caste Orissa village known to be a center of religious extremism. There, in a place where followers of the traditional religion consider Christians to be low-caste, GFA-supported national missionary Galoknath Jena had established a regular prayer meeting in the home of Kanchan and Gayan Verma. Theirs was the first family in the village to follow Christ, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Gospel for Asia, India, Persecution
Indian Police Ransack Church and Arrested Pastors in Karnataka State
By James Varghese Special Correspondent in India for ASSIST News Service KARNATAKA, INDIA (ANS) — Two pastors were arrested by the Karnataka state police for conducting worship service at their residential premises on Sunday, March 6, 2011. Pastor Mathew (30), the minister-in-charge of this house church and Pastor Jose (34), a guest speaker, were the ones arrested. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), Pastor Mathew had invited Pastor Jose to speak in his church on Sunday. As the service progressed, a police officer walked into the church, and asked the pastors to stop the meeting, then ransacked the house church and took away Bibles and other Christian literature. It was also learned through GCIC that they pair were then arrested and forcefully taken to the local police station. According to a police source, they … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, India, Persecution
Indian Pastor Beaten And Left For Dead
By Dan Wooding,Founder of ASSIST Ministries ORISSA, INDIA (ANS) – Digal is a dedicated husband, father and pastor in the North Indian state of Orissa. He recently left his home at 5:30 am to attend a dedication service for children in a nearby village and stayed there until late in the night. Digal began making his way back home when strangers attacked him from behind. They covered his head with a towel and began hitting him with heavy metal rods. Over and over again they beat him, until he was unconscious and almost unrecognizable. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, India, Persecution
Woman Brutally Attacked for her Faith
Amodini, a Christian woman, was brutally attacked on Tuesday for sharing her faith in Karnataka, India. She is hospitalized and is in critical condition. Amodini, who is 40 years old, is a member of a church where a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary serves as pastor. She was at her home when a group of 15 men came to her house, called for her and began accusing her of forcing people to convert to Christianity. After making the accusation, they grabbed hold of the woman and began to beat her. Witnesses described a horrific scene. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Gospel for Asia, India, Persecution
Christian Man Attacked in Orissa
ORISSA, INDIA – A 19-year-old Christian man was attacked June 8 in Orissa, India. Bhakta is a member of a church where a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary serves as pastor. Bhakta was home alone when six people stormed into his house and dragged him out. They took him to a local temple and force-fed him food that had been sacrificed to the idols at the temple. They continued to humiliate him by dressing him in red clothing, which is a traditional symbol of adherence to the god of the temple. They also told him to dance and worship the idols in the temple. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Gospel for Asia, India, Persecution
