Waves of Persecution in India Rise
Spiritual Harvest in India Is Ripe
Pastor Vijay Kumar* was arrested in April and released on bail after several days. Four weeks ago, he was again put behind bars and falsely accused of deceiving citizens and inducing conversions through allurement. Other charges include creating enmity between communities (Hindu and Christian), thus creating divisions and instability in the Indian society. Of course, all such accusations are lame attempts to squash the spread of the Gospel and intimidate followers of Jesus who seek to share their faith as commanded by our Savior.
Heavy-handed radical Hindus have been working aggressively to try to make India an exclusively Hindu nation, despite guarantees in the constitution concerning the freedom of religion. Christian workers are regularly opposed and persecuted for their faith. Some have been beaten and killed, while others have been arrested and interrogated. Reports of worship services being broken up by rowdy and threatening neighborhood groups is not infrequent. In some cases, church buildings have been burned and destroyed.
Please pray for Pastor Vijay Kumar as he languishes in jail. Ask God for strength of faith, peace, and opportunities to shine the light of Christ in his confinement. A legal advocate is representing his case. However, applications for bail have twice been denied by the local magistrate. So far, no witnesses have not been produced to substantiate the charges. Authorities have 90 days to do so. They are putting pressure on Pastor Vijay Kumar to admit to the accusations, but he is remaining resolute in his innocence. Church members are also being scrutinized and interrogated as authorities seek to make the charges stick.
Food provided to Pastor Vijay Kumar is not good. His wife and two children are struggling to deal with the absence of both husband and father. They also need God’s comfort, protection, and support.
Despite all this, the spiritual harvest in India is ripe. Unreached people groups are being reached as never before. Many are hearing and embracing the Good News of Jesus; discovering healing, deliverance, and the forgiveness of sin. New believers gather in homes for fellowship and worship, but must do so carefully and discreetly. Those who are baptized do so privately and quickly to avoid trouble. Ask God to give Christ-followers boldness and wisdom.
Christ is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The wave of persecution only serves to fan the flames of the Holy Spirit’s work. Hungry hearts are feeding on the Bread of life and drinking from the Fountain of living water. May God help us to intercede regularly for our Indian Christian brothers and sisters as they obey the Great Commission and share the transforming love of our risen Lord.
*Name changed for security.
By R, OMS India representative