Government To Take Over Christian Health Centre

25 October 2006

The Chhattisgarh state government is planning to take over control of a Christan-run health centre following allegations of forcible conversions in the facility. According to an October 19 report from Compass Direct, authorities ordered the takeover of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) facility in the village of Lundra on October 10, firing seventeen of the employees. According to one of the dismissed workers, Sister Emilina Xess, the government was jealous of the reputation that ICDS had in the community. An independent enquiry board was formed after allegations began in September 2005. In its May 2006 report, the board reported that it had been unable to find any cases of conversions connected to the facility. The facility in Lundra has been managed by the Raigarh-Ambikapur Health Association (RAHA), a Catholic organization, since 1995.

Pray that the administration of the health centre will be returned to the RAHA. Pray that the employees who have been fired will be allowed to return to work. Ask God to work in the hearts of government leaders throughout India to allow religious organizations to carry on their work unhindered.

For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India, click here. A video report on some of the ways VOMC is assisting Indian victims of persecution is available on the multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.

India

India Information

Current Ministry Projects
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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