ചുങ്കത്തറ • ഇന്ത്യൻ പെന്തക്കോസ‌്തു ചർച്ച് (ഐപിസി) സംസ്ഥാന കൺവൻഷൻ ഇന്ന് മുതൽ 8 വരെ പാലുണ്ട ന്യൂ ഹോപ് ബൈബിൾ കോളജ് ഗ്രൗണ്ടിൽ നടക്കും.
സംസ്ഥാന പ്രസിഡന്റ് പാസ്റ്റർ കെ.സി.തോമസ് ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്യും. പാസ്റ്റർമാരായ ഷിബു തോമസ് ഒക്കലഹോമ, ബാബു ചെറിയാൻ, ഫിലിപ് പി.തോമസ്, വിൽസൺ വർക്കി, രാജു മേത്ര, സാം ജോർജ്, ഡിഗോൾ ലൂയിസ് എന്നിവർ പ്രസംഗിക്കും.
സമ്മേളനത്തിനോടനുബന്ധിച്ച് എല്ലാ ദിവസവും വൈകിട്ട് 5.30 മുതൽ പൊതുയോഗങ്ങൾ, 5ന് രാവിലെ 10 മുതൽ മലപ്പുറം, കോഴി ക്കോട്, വയനാട്, കണ്ണൂർ, കാസർ കോട് ജില്ലകളിലെ ശുശ്രൂഷക കുടുംബസമ്മേളനം, 6, 7 തീയതികളിൽ രാവിലെ 10 മുതൽ ഉണർവ് യോഗങ്ങൾ, 6ന് ഉച്ചയ്ക്ക് 2 മുതൽ സംസ്ഥാന വിമൻസ് ഫെലോഷിപ് സമ്മേളനം, 7ന് ഉച്ചയ്ക്ക് 2 മുതൽ സംസ്ഥാന പി വൈ പിഎ – സൺഡേ സ്കൂൾ സമ്മേളനം എന്നിവ നടക്കും.
8ന് രാവിലെ 9 മുതൽ സംയു ക്ത ആരാധനയോടെ കൺവൻ ഷൻ സമാപിക്കുമെന്ന് ജനറൽ കൺവീനർ പാസ്‌റ്റർ ജോൺ ജോർജ്, മലബാർ മേഖലാ ജനറൽ സെക്രട്ടറി പാസ്‌റ്റ‌ർ ബിജോയ് കുര്യാക്കോസ്, ജനറൽ പ്രസ്ബിറ്റർമാരായ പാസ്റ്റർ കെ. സി.ഉമ്മൻ, പാസ്റ്റർ വർഗീസ് മാത്യു, പ്രോഗ്രാം കോ ഓർഡിനേറ്റർ സജി മത്തായി കാതേട്ട്, കൺവൻഷൻ കോ ഓർഡിനേറ്റർ ജയിംസ് വർക്കി എന്നിവർ അറിയിച്ചു
Sources:gospelmirror

http://theendtimeradio.com

In the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, eight village councils have passed a resolution that bans Christians from staying in their villages, requiring them to either renounce their faith or leave. The order impacts about 100 Christians whose property and fields were threatened with confiscation if they did not comply, according to reports.

The villages in Sukma district collectively approved the resolution, instructing Christians to either abandon their faith or face the loss of all belongings and property, reported the U.K.-based organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

A local leader from one of the affected villages, Michwar, upheld the decree, reportedly asserting that the authority of the village councils supersedes India’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion under Article 25.

The ban, which appears to be a targeted effort to eradicate Christianity in these areas, has forced at least 40 people from their homes, according to Asia News.

On Nov. 18, a group of Christians lodged a complaint at the Gadiras Police Station, presenting audio evidence of statements made by the village chief of Michwar. However, the police refused to register a formal complaint, which is necessary to initiate a legal investigation.

Instead, police officers asked the complainants to take them to the fields. When they arrived, they encountered a mob of about 1,500 people who had begun looting the Christians’ crops and demanding their renouncement of Christianity. The police subsequently withdrew without intervening, leaving the community without protection.

On Nov. 19, representatives from the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum approached the district collector and the superintendent of police, urging them to take action. The authorities suggested that a complaint be filed.

Despite the directive, the registration was delayed until Nov. 21, leaving villagers without recourse in the immediate aftermath of the looting.

About 40 villagers whose properties were destroyed are now seeking shelter in a church building in Michwar. The lack of immediate police action has contributed to the sense of vulnerability among Christians in the region who fear continued attacks and persecution.

Asia News quoted Fr. Thomas Vadakumkara of the Jagadalpur diocese as saying that “fundamental rights are systematically denied” to Christians across many districts of Chhattisgarh. He explained that Christians are denied the right to cultivate their fields, bury their dead and live on their own land.

The violence and forced eviction of Christians from the villages of Sukma come against a backdrop of increasing tension for the community across India.

The United Christian Forum, a Delhi-based organization, recorded 673 incidents of violence against Christians across India through October this year. Chhattisgarh itself accounts for 139 of these incidents, ranking second only to Uttar Pradesh in terms of reported hate crimes.

In a separate incident on Oct. 30 in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, a group of 14 Christians was reportedly attacked by a mob as police officers watched, reported the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

The Christians, who had defied orders to abandon their faith and proceeded to harvest crops from a communal field, were beaten with wooden rods. Several victims, including two women, sustained serious injuries, including broken bones and head trauma. The homes of the victims were also destroyed, and the police officer attempting to intervene was injured during the attack.

Nagesh Micha, a Christian rights activist, questioned the police’s inaction. “The police, which are supposed to uphold the fundamental rights of an individual, have allowed 14 people to be beaten in their presence. This means there are higher authorities who are supporting the mobs,” he was quoted as saying.

Chhattisgarh’s Sukma and Dantewada districts are part of the state’s tribal, or indigenous, belt, where local councils, or panchayats, often wield considerable influence.
Sources:Christian Post

http://theendtimeradio.com

India — A Baptist pastor who also works as a teacher was arrested last week in the Northeastern state of Assam following complaints from villagers that he was attempting to convert people through prayers.

Attempting to heal people by praying for them is illegal under the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act, enacted in February.

This law purportedly wants to create science-based knowledge and a safe environment to protect human health. It also aims to end “evil” and “sinister practices” that lawmakers believe thrive on ignorance and people’s ill health. The law criminalizes practices resorting to “magical healing” (prayers) and stipulates a three-year jail term and a fine for violations.

Christian leaders believe the legislation is ultimately an attempt to restrict and curb the spread of Christianity in Assam.
The pastor, Pranjal Bhuyan, a resident of Padmapur village and part of the Baptist Diocese in Assam’s Golaghat district, now holds the dubious distinction of being the first person to be arrested under this law.

A few months ago, locals grew concerned that Pastor Bhuyan had been preaching the Bible to children during sessions, so they prevented their children from going to his house for studies.

Parents filed a complaint with the village police, and Pastor Bhuyan was detained under the Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Act.

Under Section 6(a) of the healing legislation, any person who violates the provisions of the act or its rules may be punished, upon conviction, with imprisonment for up to one year for a first offense, which can extend to three years, or with a fine of 50,000 rupees (about $600) or both.

The Assam Christian Forum (ACF) chief and the Archbishop of Assam have strongly condemned the “wrongful arrest.” The leaders have unequivocally said that the law’s cognizable and non-bailable offenses grant police the broad authority to arrest and detain anyone without due process, compromising citizens’ rights, even to go to their own relative’s house for prayer.
Sources:persecution

http://theendtimeradio.com