Books on the Life of Christ Burned

27 June 2007

Five hundred copies of a book called "The Life History of Jesus Christ" were burned on June 18 by Hindu militants in central Karnataka who claimed the books were being used to convert school children to Christianity. When the militants received word that the books were to be distributed in local schools, they went to the Block Education Office in Sirsi, Karnataka to protest. Discovering no books there, they learned that the books were being stored in the office in Siddapur, a city south of Sirsi. They took the books from the Siddapur office, brought them to Sirsi and burned them.

Pray for the continued spread of the Gospel in India, despite the attempts to hinder and stop the ministry. Pray that Christians in India will continually and confidently rest in the promises of God's provision and strength (Heb. 10:32-39).

For more information on the challenges facing Christians in India, click here.

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.

India News

Christian Couple Forced from Their Home

A village in India.
Photo: Wikimedia / Nikhil More (CC)

Three years ago, "Sameer" (whose name has been changed for security reasons) came to faith in Jesus after witnessing his wife's miraculous healing from a life-threatening health condition. "That day, we knew the love and power of God," he recounts, "and we gave our lives to Christ." Following their decisions, however, the new believers began to experience opposition from unapproving members of their community.

Read more...
Pastor Acquitted of Anti-Conversion Charges

Believers in India.
Photo: VOMC

In October 2021, Pastor Nandan Singh was gathered with 25 other Christians for an all-night prayer meeting when militant Hindus, primarily from nearby villages, stormed into his home. Accused of converting people to Christianity, Pastor Nandan became the first individual to be charged under Uttarakhand's anti-conversion legislation.

Read more...
Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws

The Supreme Court of India.
Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (cc)

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of anti-conversion laws enacted by several of the country's states. On September 16th, the court issued notices to the respective state governments, requesting their formal responses within four weeks. The case is scheduled to be heard in six weeks, and the judges have indicated that they may consider ordering the states to pause the enforcement of their existing laws until a decision is made.

Read more...
New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom

A church in India.
Photo: Flickr / Ashish Kumar Milap (cc)

Recent developments in two Indian states have raised serious concerns for Christians, particularly in relation to the newly heightened restrictions on religious conversions. In the first incident, police in Chhattisgarh notified more than 200 house churches around the state capital city of Raipur that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted.

Read more...