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Nationalist Symbol Planted on Shuttered Church in Southern India
India – On January 17, a saffron flag, a symbol of Hindu nationalism, was planted on a church in southern India that has been shut down for the past 10 months. The incident has left the local Christian community afraid that increased persecution is on the horizon.
The incident took place in Chittimitti Chintala village, located in the Cudapa District of Andhra Pradesh. The church’s pastor, Pastor James Prasad, claims this is just the latest sign of anti-Christian activities as radicals attempt to make it a “Christian-free” village.
Ten months ago, Pastor Prasad and his family were driven out of Chittimitti Chintala by village leaders. The village leaders summoned the pastor to a meeting and told him he had to leave the village because they did not want a church or any Christian prayers to take place in the village.
“It has been very hard moving from one place to another as we cannot go back to my home in Chittimitti Chintala,” Pastor Prasad told International Christian Concern (ICC). “I lived in that home for the last 22 years. Now I cannot even go into the village.”
Age 48, Pastor Prasad began sharing the Gospel in Chittimitti Chintala when he arrived in the village 22 years ago. After leading several house church groups, he built a small church where 40 to 50 Christians regularly gathered for worship. Since Pastor Prasad has been banished from Chittimitti Chintala, the Christian community left behind has been threatened with severe consequences if they do not return to their traditional religion.
Pastor Prasad sought assistance from local police to help him return to his home in Chittimitti Chintala. To date, police have done nothing to help the displaced pastor or his family.
“All I want is to go back to my house,” Pastor Prasad told ICC. “I am now wondering if the church will ever be opened for the members to gather and to do prayers.”
Incidents of anti-Christian violence continue to be reported from across India. In 2020 alone, the Evangelical Fellowship of India reports Christians suffered at least 327 violent incidents of persecution. Due to this severe persecution, Open Doors has ranked India the 10th most difficult country for Christians in the world.
Sources:persecution
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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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
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ചര്‍ച്ച് ഓഫ് ഗോഡ് മൈസൂര്‍ ആരാധന പുതിയ സ്ഥലത്ത്
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