Christmas in Orissa Involved Reaching Out to Enemies of the Cross

This year was an intense period of persecution for believers in Orissa, India.  Which is why this story from Asia News is very encouraging.  Here we see the Church that has been persecuted, reaching out to her persecutors and telling them about why Jesus came to earth.

Here's how the article begins:

Bhubaneswar, Orissa - The Christmas celebrations in Kandhamal district were held in a peaceful atmosphere, but the majority of Christians have lived in fear, father Puroshatam Nayak of the diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar told AsiaNews. In remote villages there were no celebrations for fear of attacks. The district administrations provided protection to the larger churches. AsiaNews interviewed Raphael Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Orissa state, which was the scene of bloody anti-Christian pogroms in 2007 and 2008.

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We, in Kandhamal and in Orissa, wetry to reach the poor, the Dalits and tribals so that they can be freed from some of the traditions and customs of the upper classes of society. The love of Christ inspires the Christians in Orissa to be strong enough to withstand the pressures of society. So the message of Christmas is to break down the barriers and walls of caste, colour, creed and religion to create a community of brothers and sisters united in love, including our Hindu brethren.