Militants Beat Pastor, Disrupt Church Service in Chhattisgarh

26 September 2007

India map

Pastor Pradyuman Meshram (35) was beaten and severely injured when 20 young Hindu militants joined by approximately 20 local residents disrupted a worship service in the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh on September 23. The assailants first stood outside the church building and called for Pastor Meshram to come out. When he refused to do so, they forcibly entered the building and beat him until some of women present were able to rescue him. The militants then went outside and destroyed some of the church members' two-wheelers. When the police took the militants to the police station, a large group of local people gathered outside the building and complained that the Christians were involved in forcible conversion activities and conducting noisy meetings.

Pray for healing for Pastor Meshram. Pray that he and his congregation will keep their eyes on Jesus, finding their encouragement and strength in Him (Hebrews 10:32-39; 12:1-3). Pray that those who persecute Christians in India will come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.

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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