If you've been reading the blog for the last few weeks in particular, then you're aware of all the persecution taking place in Orissa India right now. This afternoon I found this disturbing description of some of the persecution that has taken place there recently.
The air is still thick with tragedy in
Orissa state.
Someone just told me the story of a Christian widow he chanced upon in
the state capital, Bhubaneswar, who chokingly related the story of her
husband's death. She said that he fled from an angry mob that came to
his house in the night of August 28, but he was caught and told that he
and his brothers and all their families must convert to Hinduism or he
would be killed. He resisted the pressure, so they tied him to a tree,
took kerosene from his brother's house, poured it over him and set him
on fire. He escaped when the plastic ropes holding him melted, but had
suffered serious burns. He died the next day. Traumatised, his widow
left the body in the house, which began decomposing and attracted dogs.
After three days, he was buried, although the body was exhumed by
investigating police the next day. Their house was destroyed by one of
the mobs systematically attacking Christian targets, and its contents
looted. The widow and her four children now live in a relief camp,
wondering what their future could possibly hold.
The rest of the article is here.
Friends, please take the persecution going on in India seriously. This is just one story of many that has taken place. Please pray for strength for those who have survived persecution. Please pray for those who have lost their loved ones. Ask the Lord to help these believers to stand firm and remain faithful during the time of persecution.