Church Building Converted to Hindu Temple

14 December 2005


^{Pastor Bhatti}	^{Pastor's home converted into a Hindu temple}
^{Pictures courtesy of}^{Gospel for Asia}

The November 16 Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on sixty Christians in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh who were under death threats if they did not reconvert to Hinduism (click here for more information). According to a December 12 report from Gospel for Asia, the home of Pastor Ramesh Masih Bhatti, where the church was meeting, has been taken over by area Hindus and converted into a Hindu temple. A Hindu god has been placed at the doorway and Bhatti has been forced to take his family from the home where they had lived for twenty-five years and move in with relatives. Local officials appear to have sided with the militants who drove the family from their home. A militant leader in the area has reportedly announced a campaign to move throughout the area villages forcing Christians to reconvert to Hinduism.

(Source: ASSIST News Service)

India

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VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
Country Information
Population
1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

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