Our speaker from India began by comparing India to the U.S. "You think India is a democracy, just like here," he said. "So when you hear about persecution, you think, 'How can this happen?' We are asking that question too. How can this happen?"
Indians worship 33 million different gods, from snakes to monkeys and everywhere in between. Less than three percent of Indian citizens are Christians. Last year, seven Christians were martyred for their faith in India.
One of the martyrs had made a commitment to attempt to win one soul for Christ each day. It was his effective witness that drew the attention and anger of radical Hindus. They thought they could put an end to his witness for Christ by beating him to death with a bolder. But his witness hasn't ended, even with his death. Still the church in that area is growing and Hindus are coming to know Christ in a personal way.
Pastor Prem Kumar was martyred 16 days ago. No one has been arrested for the crime.
Pastor Paulus has ministered faithfully for more than 20 years, in spite of repeated attacks from radical Hindus and even arrests and interrogations by the police. Paulus was badly beaten on Easter. He suffered many broken bones.
When they spit in his face, he told his attackers: "You are spitting on my face, but really you are spitting in the face of Jesus. He will forgive you!"
India has the second largest number of Muslims of any country (second to Indonesia). An evangelist named Paul used to be a Muslim Mullah. When he chose to follow Christ his own family tried to poison his two daughters, ages 12 and 15. He hasn't been discouraged, and instead is making plans to reach more Muslims for Christ.
On May 28 two women were attacked after their husbands had been tied to trees. One of the women was three months pregnant, yet the radical Hindus insisted on molesting her. The women reported the names of their attackers, yet no one has been arrested. Instead, the women were questioned at the police station for eight hours, without being allowed to seek medical treatment. The pastor assisting the women was arrested for "creating communal disharmony."
VOM recently arranged for the widows of five martyred pastors to meet together. What an amazing time as they shared their stories and encouraged each others. Many said that they thought they were alone, yet after meeting together they had a new sense of encouragement and love, realizing that there are others who understand exactly their loss and pain.
Pray for Christians in India, and especially for evangelists who are planting the seeds of the gospel in such difficult fields.