India
Converts Arrested, Beaten
Seven baptized converts from Islam in INDIA were detained and beaten by police on accusations of accepting money to convert. The Muslim background believers say that they converted willingly and deny being bribed. They were released on November 2.
Ask God to strengthen and encourage them in their faith. “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Pastor Accused, Arrested
A pastor in INDIA was arrested on November 17 after Muslims accused him of “luring” other Muslims to Christianity. He was released on bail.
Pray for courage for him and his family during this time. “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
Believer Threatened with Arrest
A Muslim background believer who fled Afghanistan after an arrest warrant was issued for his conversion is now being threatened with arrest in INDIA. He says that he and fellow refuges have no legal protection and face harassment and attacks from both Indian and Afghan Muslims.
Ask God to protect the Muslim background believers and give them courage. “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time...to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.”
God’s Protection in India
UPDATE: Our ministry partner in INDIA thanks people for praying for his regional coordinator who was threatened and says that situation seems to be under control at present. Ministry in the area is continuing.
Thank God for his protection! “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
Christian’s Life in Danger
Our ministry partner in INDIA reports that one of his regional coordinators has been threatened and questioned by Muslims and has to move constantly. The situation is especially dangerous because the coordinator’s predecessor was martyred.
Pray for courage and protection. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
Prayer Disrupted, Believers Captured
On August 4 in INDIA, Muslims disrupted a prayer meeting at a Muslim background believer’s home and threatened to burn her house if she did not flee the area or re-convert. Earlier this year Muslims interrupted her baptism and also stripped and beat her. In July three other area Christians were held captive by Muslims, who threatened to burn them alive.
Pray for perseverance and protection. “You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and You preserve all of them.”
Believers Beaten, Questioned
In INDIA this spring Muslims beat two believers who were showing Christian films. Police took the believers into custody and questioned them until 3:00 AM. Muslims threaten violence if they show films again.
Pray for healing and protection. “...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend ... the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”
Woman Forbidden from Attending Church
In INDIA, Muslims forbade a Muslim background believer from attending church. When they saw her unswerving faithfulness to Jesus, they told villagers not to buy from her family’s business and ordered shopkeepers not to sell to her. They are threatening that her family (also Muslim background believers) will have to pay a large fine.
Pray for provision and endurance for these believers. “We must obey God rather than men.”
Christian Beaten, Pastor Threatened
In INDIA, a group of Muslims beat and severely injured a Muslim background believer. They also damaged Christians’ water pipelines, pelted a pastor’s home with stones, and are threatening the pastor by telephone daily.
Pray that God will protect the believers and continue to transform lives in this region. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Believer Arrested, Threatened
A Muslim background believer was arrested in INDIA for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Mohammed. He had organized a Christian meeting and distributed tracts comparing Jesus’ teachings with Mohammed’s. Christians say that Muslims reprinted the tracts with additional lines insulting Mohammed in order to fabricate a case against the believer. His life has been threatened.
Church Furniture Burned
In INDIA, several churches have been attacked by Muslims. The furniture in one church was burned. Some missionary leaders were forced to flee in order to save their families.
Pray that God will protect and encourage the believers in this region. “I wait for Your salvation, O LORD.”
Believer's Field Destroyed
Muslims destroyed a Christian’s vegetable field in INDIA. They had warned him they would burn his crops if he continued to worship Jesus.
Pray that God will provide the food and income that this believer needs. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
Professor's Hand Chopped Off
In INDIA on July 4, a Christian professor’s right hand was chopped off. Muslims had threatened they would do this because of “objectionable” written remarks he made about Mohammed.
Pray that God will give the doctors wisdom as they treat his hand. “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”
Christian Ambushed and Beaten
In INDIA, Muslims ambushed a Christian as he was walking home on June 14 and beat him on the head. They demanded that he convert to Islam.
Pray for his protection. Ask also that he will remain firm in his faith. “For I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”
Shops Turn Away Christians
In INDIA, Muslim extremists have threatened to burn alive Christian converts from Islam and are forcing local shopkeepers to turn away Christians and to deny them water.
Pray that God will give these Christians courage. “But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.”
Sharing the Faith in India
Imagine...
children in imminent danger of death. Imagine working in a mission field seeking to win souls for Christ for more than two decades with no fruit. Imagine the determination required to continue day House arrest of Christian family in India
On Good Friday local mosque members broke into a Muslim-background believer's house in India, demanding to know why he was not offering Islamic prayers, and dragged him to the mosque. when he said he would worship no one other than Christ, his father struck him and brought official charges against him. He and his wife were arrested and held; after about a week they were released, but remain under house arrest.
