Missionaries Attacked, Fears Abound as Orissa Anniversary Nears

ORISSA, INDIA – Nine Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries were arrested August 10 after an encounter with a group of anti-Christian extremists in Orissa, India.

The missionaries were handing out Gospel tracts and talking with people when the extremists began harassing them. The missionaries stood firm during the incident. They were taken to the police station and held there until a local Gospel for Asia leader could arrange their release. Read the rest of this entry »

Believers Suffer Another Onslaught in Orissa

ORISSA, INDIA -  On the evening of June 30, a group of believers in Orissa, India, was attacked with weapons by 40 to 50 people after refusing to participate in a Hindu festival. Villagers demanded that the Christians make donations and cooperate in the festival, but when the believers decided to stay in their homes instead of pay homage to Hindu gods, the crowd became angry. They broke into the Christians’ homes and began to beat them without mercy. Read the rest of this entry »

$250 Reward for Murdering Pastors

Far from letting the situation in Orissa settle down, extremist groups have offered a bounty to keep killing Christians-including a $250 reward for each pastor murdered.

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Three More Christians Killed in Orissa

Three more believers were martyred and twelve others were severely wounded in a fresh wave of violence in Orissa, India, on September 30. The latest attacks occurred in villages near Kandhamal, which has been the epicenter of violence against Christians since August 22.

The violence in Orissa came as attacks in two other Indian states targeted a Christian pastor and a Bridge of Hope center. Read the rest of this entry »