Prayer Requests Concerning Conditions in India

August 2-7, Pastor's Conference in Chennai

Special Prayer Requests for Pastors Conference August 2^nd through 7^th, 2010

Travel mercies for the pastors from 22 states of India.
Good climate during the conference days.
Good health and protection for each participant.
Facilities staff – protection and strength for making all physical arrangements for the conference.
Hospitality staff – preparation of almost 2400 meals each day, protection and health.
Uninterrupted power supply during the conference.
Translation units (wireless headphones) to work well so that the pastors will hear the message directly in their languages.
Cultural program on the inauguration day and participants to appreciate the various cultures of India through songs, music and dance.
Worship Teams that will mobilize the participants to have a meaningful worship to God.
Speakers and Translators as they deliver God’s Word to the participants. God’s Wisdom and power to prevail and God’s name will be glorified.
Small group leaders – for God’s wisdom.
Ministry of short term team “Hymnz” in the conference.
Dr. George Rebsamen, Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church, the key note speaker – God’s anointing, health and strength.
Participants to make a commitment to work towards the fulfillment of Vision 2020.
God’s provision to meet all the expenses – Travel, board, Lodge of the pastors and conference arrangements.
Baccalaureate and Graduation service on 7^th August – graduating students.
God’s presence, protection and blessings through out the conference.

June 2010

A Bible school in Chennai, for which we provide books and other library materials, sends us a regular newsletter to share both praises and prayer needs. In a recent letter the president reminded us that thousands of pastors and church planters throughout India have never attended a theological school. The only training they get is when they can attend the short seminars and pastors conferences put on by this school and others like it.

He tells of a young pastor who attended one of their seminars and finally understood that it is his responsibility to equip the saints and release them to fulfill the great commission. Before leaving the seminar this pastor set a goal to reach 18 unreached villages with the gospel and to plant churches. He went home and began teaching his people. In 12 months his little church has launched 8 new churches in 8 previously unreached villages. He has discipled 10 additional workers to continue this work in order to reach his original goal.

The Bible school will be hosting another conference in August to which hundreds of 'barefoot' pastors have been invited from 22 Indian states. The goal is to encourage and equip these workers to fulfill the task of the church. They have set a goal of 200,000 pastors being trained who then train others and establish 1 million churches in India by year 2020. Please pray for the leaders, speakers, and participants.

November 2009

Flood approaches the buildings Heavy rains have been lashing south India causing death and destruction. Reports dated November 7, state the bad weather is expected to continue for some time. The principal of one of two Bible schools in Chennai to which we send books and materials reported that water is affecting much of the campus and is coming into some of their offices. He asks for prayer for safety of staff who travel long distances through water to reach campus. Pray that the water will not rise further into the buildings. Pray for protection from disease that is widespread.

In a report dated 11/12/2009 BosNewsLife alleged that Christians suffering in the aftermath of major flooding in south India now face more difficulties as distribution of relief supplies is for "higher caste Hindus." They state that Christians and low-caste Hindus are unable to enter temple premises, particularly in Karnataka, where supplies are being distributed. "In fact, instead of receiving relief supplies, Christians ...have been threatened from partaking of any of the government provided benefits." See more of the story on www.bosnewslife.com or on www.persecution.org.

November 16 update from the campus in Chennai: "We heard from many of you that you prayed and were continuously praying. The rains seems to have stopped today and it is cool outside! Many parts of our state are experiencing heavy rains. Please pray especially for “Ooty” a hill station in Tamil Nadu where 48 people died due to heavy rains. Pray for the families that lost their loved ones. There was a huge land slides and the roads are closed for repair and renovation.
The rain caused some damages on our campus. The greatest damage is visible in the exteriors of our buildings that have become black from the moisture and they certainly need to be painted. We also had a second area of damage and that is in the day care center facilities for our child care and kindergarten programs. The roof experienced a lot of damage and is now leaking and we need to replace the whole roof so that the children are safe and stay healthy. We praise God for the safety of our staff and the residents of HBI campus. One of our staff who works in our house keeping department had to stay inside her house for three days because her entire house was surrounded by water. Praise God the fourth day she and her family could come out of the house.

October 2009

The rains have come with a vengeance. Heavy rains have been falling and continue in several parts of south India after months of drought. At least 270 people have been killed in the ensuing floods and literally hundreds of thousands have been put out of their homes. At least one of our partners is anxious to participate in providing emergency relief in an adjoining district. A town he visited just two weeks ago is now said to be under ten feet of water.

The emails regarding attacks on Christians in India continue to come from many including those with whom we have connections. Several of our partners have experienced first hand the beatings, threats, property damage, and denial of service meted out by radical non-Christian elements in society. They ask for prayer that they may continue to share the gospel, that seekers will not be intimidated, that they will stand firm even if attacked and that God would preserve his people.

Pray for those in authority that they will act in a timely manner to protect all and to resolve disputes and to prosecute those who are guilty of intimidation and violence against religious minorities.

Notes from partners:

"It is with a great burden that I share this prayer request with you that you may pray for us and also encourage your family and friends to go to their knees to seek the Lord on behalf of the Christians who are persecuted in Orissa, Karnataka, and in the other parts of India during the past months, and is still continuing."

"So far hundreds of churches have been demolished...,houses burnt to ashes, many people tortured, beaten and murdered.... Thousands of people have become homeless and are taking shelter in the thickets of the nearby jungle that is home to many wild animals including tigers. There is nothing to protect them from sun, rain and the cold at night. The children have no milk..., the adults have no food, no clothes to change, and no clean water to drink. The people keep on moving from place to place for fear of being detected by the fanatics. ...People risk their lives to sneak into nearby villages at night to grab what they can to feed their families."

"Your prayers are very much needed for God to touch ... those who are against the spread of the gospel.... Thank you in advance for taking this into your heart. We ... greatly appreciate your concerned prayers on our behalf."

"Please continue to pray for the fundamentalists who are continuously oppressing and bringing hurdles to the Christian community. Your prayers are highly valued and earnestly sought on our behalf and at the same time we assure our fervent prayers on your behalf."

"Thanks for your continued prayers for us and for our ministry. There are always threats and fears. But we keep trusting the Lord for His continued help and protection." September 18, 2009

India February 10, 2009

According to the latest information provided by the All India Christian Council, the Evangelical Fellowship of India and some of our partners, fear and uncertainty continue to characterize the attitude of believers, not only in Orissa, but throughout many parts of India. Incidents of threat, vandalism, beatings, false arrest, and destruction of homes and churches continue sporadically in many areas. Hundreds of police cases have been filed against the perpetrators but few have been resolved and it is often the victim that must sit in jail for a time. Please continue to pray for those who are persecuted, for those who have been injured or who have suffered loss of homes and property, for those who faihfully share the good news of the gospel, for the salvation of the perpetrators, and for relief from the fear of terrorism that has spread across the land.

THE TOLL — ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE IN ORISSA, 24 August - 29 September, 2008

From Evangelical Fellowship of India:

Villages destroyed - 300
Houses burnt - 4,300
Homeless - 50,000
People murdered - more than 100
Men, women, children injured - 18,000 (injuries suffered during attack, flight and in forest)

SUMMARY FOR JANUARY 2009

From World Christian Ministries, February 10 newsletter, representing summaries from Evangelical Fellowship of India and Compass Direct:

Jan. 1 - Hindu extremists burned a house church of Resurrected God's Ministry in Malai Bennur, Karnataka, and threatened to burn Pastor B. Gangadhar and his family alive. This was the second attack on the pastor since 2007. One suspect has been arrested. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 4 - About 25 people belonging to the Hindu extremist group Bajrang Dal, stormed the worship service of the India Christian Revival Mission in Kanakapura, Karnataka, verbally abused the congregation, and then chased them from the building. They also repeatedly beat the pastor and his son, and took them to the police station, where the falsely charged them with practicing forced conversion. When the Global Council for Indian Christians intervened, a compromise was reached. The pastor said he would not file charges and was released, and the police promised adequate protection. (CD)

Jan. 5 - Some miscreants had taken trash left from a Dec. 25 church picnic in Chhattisgarh to the temple and took a picture. Hindu extremists then used that photo to file charges against the church for desecrating a Hindu temple. On that basis police arrested nine Christians and the associate pastor of Bastar for Christ Church. They were released on bail the same day. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 5 - Police arrested two Christians in Kashalpura village of Madhya Pradesh on the basis of a complaint by a group of RSS and VHP hard-line Hindus that they engaged in forceful conversion and defiled a place of (Hindu) worship with intent to insult. The Christians were released on bail Jan. 7. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 5 - Police arrested three Christians in Bangalore on charges of luring a man to convert to Christianity with monetary incentives by offering the man money and a job if he converted. They were also charged with trespassing and denigrating Hindu gods. They were later released on bail. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 5 - Pastor Kantilal Bhuria was conducting a house-blessing meeting when it was stormed by about 10 members of the RSS & VHP, who assaulted the Christians and charged the pastor with forcible conversions. The extremists called the police, who came and arrested the victims, allowing the attackers and accusers to remain free. (CD)

Jan. 7 - St. Legory's School in Merlapadavu village in Karnataka state handed out Bibles on Jan. 2, with the public announcement that these were only for Christians. Still, some non-Christians took some copies. Hindu extremists then came and beat a teacher at the school on Jan. 7, falsely charging the school with distributing Bibles to Hindus. The teacher said he filed a complaint with the police and said he could identify his attackers, but no arrests had been made by the time the news item was released. (CD)

Jan. 9 -Pastor Iswar Albannavar of Throne of Grace Ministry was conducting an evening prayer meeting when police entered and arrested him and another Christian on the basis of a complaint filed by Hanmant Gargoti on the basis of section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code which makes it a crime to hurt the religious sentiments of others. They are still in jail as this newsletter is released. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 11 - Two couples were the only Christians in their village and worshiped at Calvary Gospel Centre in Tiptur. About 10:30 p.m. nine local Hindu extremists barged into their house, abused them with foul language, accused them of forced conversions, and burned their Bibles. They then threatened to burn down their houses if they continued to go to church. Then police arrived, arrested the couples and took them to jail. When the pastor from Tiptur arrived the next morning, police refused to allow him to file a complaint, and instead insisted the Christians forgive their attackers before they could be released. (CD)

Jan. 16 - Six persons with their faces masked barged into Pastor Yakobu Jacob's house, beat him, shaved his head, and burned his house and all his belongings, saying they would not tolerate any Christian pastor in their village. The pastor filed charges with the police, but no arrests have yet been made. (CD)

Jan. 18 - About 1000 Hindu extremists in Palnar, Chhattisgarh, shouted anti-Christian slogans against Christians, expressed their intention to wipe out all Christian activity in that area, and attacked and beat many Christians. After calls by several Christian leaders, police came and dispersed the crowd. (EFI)

Jan. 18 - Police questioned a pastor in Annupur, Madhya Pradesh, after hard-line Hindus found the book, Secularism and Hindutva by M.G. Matthew, in the Christian bookstall during a three-day Christian convention. The Hindus filed a complaint that some of the statements in the book hurt Hindu religious sentiments, a crime in India. The police said they took the pastor into custody for his safe keeping, though no charges were filed. They also told him to be ready for further questioning. (EFI, CD)

Jan. 22 - Hindu extremists from the RSS assaulted Pastor T.T. Abraham of the Brethren Assembly Church in Kerala state for distributing gospel tracts. They punched and kicked the pastor until he fell unconscious on the road and left only when they saw an approaching rickshaw. The rickshaw driver took the pastor to the government hospital, saving his life. The pastor said he forgave his attackers and chose not to file a complaint against them. (EFI)

Jan. 24 - In Assam a congregation of about 400 Christians went to Majuli Island to witness the ordination ceremony of the first Mishing Catholic priest. On the way back, they were attacked by a mob of 600 Hindu extremists from a local group affiliated with the RSS. The mob kicked, punched and beat the Christians, including women and children, and forced them to walk barefoot, while pulling their ears for 5 km. The incident lasted an hour and ended when police finally arrived in response to a call by a participating priest. No arrests had been made by the time the report was sent to me on Feb. 6. (EFI)

Jan. 26 - Some 12 extremists from the RSS barged into St. Mary's School in Kandri, Andhra Pradesh, charging them with not flying the Indian flag on Republic Day. The extremists destroyed furniture, broke window panes, and physically attacked the sisters. School officials explained that the flag had not been raised outside since students had stayed home because of the solar eclipse, but that the flag had been displayed inside the school. A deputy police official said only that a "compromise" between the attackers and the school had been reached. (CD)

Jan.30 - While members of the Navjivan (New Life) Fellowship Church were conducting a baptism at Gngapur Dam in Maharashtra, a group of 10 to 12 men armed with cricket stumps, iron rods and sticks came and beat the Christians, including women and children, and damaged a car. Several Christians suffered injuries such as a fractured hand, a broken leg, and head injuries. The group left behind no clues to their identity. (CD)

Of course, we don't know how many additional incidents occurred that were never reported to authorities.