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Pastor in Nepal Released After More Than Three Months in Jail

Nepal – According to Morning Star News, Pastor Keshab Raj Acharya, who was arrested in March on charges of spreading false information about COVID-19, was released from jail earlier this month after paying a large bail amount.
Pastor Acharya was arrested on March 23 after he was accused of spreading false information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to that accusation, Pastor Acharya reportedly said that prayers can heal the COVID-19 virus. Pastor Acharya was released on April 8 and then re-arrested for allegedly outraging religious feelings and proselytizing.
After more than three months in jail, Pastor Acharya was released on bail after paying $2,500.00 USD to the courts.
“It was very difficult for me,” Pastor Acharya told Morning Star News. “I would think of my little children and my wife, and I would cry out to the Lord in prayer. I would look up at Him in the hope that if it is in His will that I should be put through this, He will get me out of this.”
“I was released on bail after my wife paid 5,000 Nepalese rupees ($41.00 USD) on April 8, but after few minutes, I was again taken into custody,” Pastor Acharya explained to Morning Star News.
The police said he had gone against Nepalese religious customs by distributing Gospel tracts in several places. Also, police found Gospel tracts on his mobile phone. The officers mocked him and used the “evidence” to charge him with outraging religious feeling and proselytizing.
Pastor Acharya was once again in jail and a bail amount of 500,000 Nepalese rupees ($4,084.00 USD) was set.
Pastor Acharya was denied bail on May 22, but more than a month later, a judge decided to release him temporarily after paying a bail amount of 300,000 Nepalese rupees ($2,500.00 USD). This bail amount was paid and Pastor Acharya was finally released on July 3.
Sources:Persecution
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ചര്ച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് മൈസൂര് ആരാധന പുതിയ സ്ഥലത്ത്

മൈസൂര്: കഴിഞ്ഞ 17 വര്ഷമായി മൈസൂര് ബന്നിമണ്ഡപ് ഇന്ഡസ്ട്രിയല് ഏരിയയില് പ്രവര്ത്തിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്ന ചര്ച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് ഇന് ഇന്ത്യാ മൈസൂര് സഭ, മൈസൂര് ഹെബ്ബാള് ഏരിയയിലേയ്ക്ക് മാറി പ്രവര്ത്തനം ആരംഭിച്ചു. ഹെബ്രോന് ചര്ച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് എന്ന് അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന സഭ ഇനി മുതല് ചര്ച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് (ഫുള് ഗോസ്പല്) ഇന് ഇന്ത്യ,മൈസൂര് എന്ന പേരിലായിരിക്കും അറിയപ്പെടുന്നത്. ദൈവസഭ കര്ണാടക സ്റ്റേറ്റ് ബൈബിള് കോളേജ് ഡയറക്ടറും കൗണ്സില് മെമ്പറുമായ പാസ്റ്റര് റോജി ഇ സാമുവേല് ഈ സഭയില് ശുശ്രൂഷിക്കുന്നു. മൈസൂര് പട്ടണത്തില് മലയാളം ആരാധനയ്ക്കായി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവര് ഈ സഭയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടുക.
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Indian Pastor Bound and Beaten for Refusal to Contribute to Tribal Rituals

India – According to Morning Star News, a pastor in India’s Jharkhand state was bound and publicly beaten by fellow villagers after he refused to contribute funds to the ritual worship of tribal deities. Despite this intense persecution, the pastor remained steadfast in his faith.
On January 24, Pastor Lakshman Oraon was called before the elders of Jungur village, located in the Latehar District of Jharkhand. The elders of the village demanded he contribute funds to the ritual worship of the village’s tribal deities. When he refused, his arms were tired behind his back and he was beaten.
“When they tied me and started kicking me, I was not at all angry,” Pastor Oraon told Morning Star News. “The Lord reminded me of the verses in Matthew 5:11-12. I received great strength from these words. There was a smile on my face all through.”
After the beating, village elders threatened to excommunicate Pastor Oraon and the other Christians of the village if they continued to refuse to contribute to the tribal rituals.
Facing expulsion, Pastor Oraon reached out to the Alliance Defending Freedom India (ADF). ADF contacted the local police station. Officers called Pastor Oraon and the village elders to the station to work out the situation.
“At the police station, we were asked to give the money, and we gave it,” Pastor Oraon told Morning Star News. “We are praying for the salvation of village leaders and the devotees of tribal deities. The police assured us that they will be a phone call away if any problem arises, and that we will not face any troubles from the villagers after giving the money.”
Sources:persecution