Pastor Killed for Sharing Faith

Pastor Vinod (inset) and his wife, Sunita. - Photos: Morning Star News www.morningstarnews.org
Ask God to comfort Pastor Vinod Kumar's wife and daughter.
Photos: Morning Star News

In the village of Sangoi, which is located in northern India, Pastor Vinod Kumar had been sharing his faith for over two months with a man who was recently released from prison on bail. The Hindu man, Sonu Kashyap, had even been to the pastor's home for prayer. However, Sonu had rejected any call to faith in Christ.

On the evening of June 30th, Pastor Vinod had just finished leading an online prayer meeting when he received a phone call from Sonu's brother, saying that a villager was sick and in need of prayer. As Pastor Vinod was leaving the village on his motorbike, Sonu was waiting to ambush him. The former prisoner then struck the pastor from behind with a wooden beam, knocking him to the ground. Sonu then repeatedly struck Pastor Vinod to the point of death.

Immediately after the attack, a group of villagers captured Sonu, who was still holding the beam in his hand. Without intervention from the police, the perpetrator could have been killed by the mob of villagers. Police have listed the motive for the murder as "trivial animosity," but the pastor's wife, Sunita, is convinced that the attack was religious in nature. "I do not know what came upon [Sonu] that he took such a drastic step of killing Vinod so brutally," she says. However, Sunita and several others believe that Pastor Vinod was killed for sharing his faith with the man. Police have also charged Sonu's father and brother for their part in the murder.

Pastor Vinod is survived by his wife and 11-year-old daughter. Well respected by the community, the representing village chief spoke fondly of the dedicated pastor. "He has a good testimony and name here," the chief states. As a registered medical practitioner, Pastor Vinod was referred to as "Doctor," for he faithfully served members of the village by also ministering to their physical needs.

Sunita is determined to continue the ministry work of her husband, "I have resolved to carry on the work my husband was doing, and I want to live his dream out," she adds. "Vinod became a martyr for his faith, and I too will die for my faith." Further information on the persecution of Christians in India is available at our country report.

Please lift up Sunita and her daughter before our Almighty God, praying that they will receive greatly needed comfort, encouragement and strength. Praise Him for Pastor Vinod's dedicated life and ministry which have clearly provided a wonderful testimony to the villagers. May his ministry work, which Sunita plans to faithfully continue, yield much good fruit for the furtherance of God's Kingdom. Also intercede for the salvation of the perpetrator, Sonu, and his accomplices, that they too will heed the words of the Gospel, repent of their sins, and fully surrender their lives to Christ.

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

  • Supreme Court to Review Anti-Conversion Laws
    The India Supreme Court building is surrounded by trees.
    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.

  • New Policies Further Restrict Religious Freedom
    A brightly lit church building is filled with people.
    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.

  • Pastors Arrested and Assaulted
    A crowd is gathered around a church building.
    A screenshot of people disrupting the service in Bhilai.
    Photo: Morning Star News

    On July 20th, six pastors were arrested after a mob disrupted a church service in Bhilai, a city located within the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The assailants chanted Hindu slogans and accused the pastors of engaging in forcible conversions. As the mob grew increasingly vocal, shouting obscenities and threatening violence, Pastor Baksh locked the church doors to protect his congregation members.

  • Severe Restrictions Accompany Anti-Conversion Legislation
    A church congregation is gathered during a service.
    A church in India.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    In early July, the Maharashtra state government announced plans to introduce stringent anti-conversion legislation. The new laws, which are expected to be the most severe of their kind in the country, are particularly aimed at preventing religious conversions within tribal communities. While the stated intent is to prevent incidents of coercion, legislators have used language demonstrating a broader aim to restrict religious conversions of any sort. During the announcement, the state's revenue minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, declared that the law would be so strict "no one will dare to undertake religious conversion."