India (MNN) – Violent persecution toward Christians in India is on the rise.
Persecution in India
“India’s become a place very hostile especially on certain fronts to the Gospel and to any work done in the name of Christ,” Bibles For The World’s John Pudaite says.
In recent years, India has been creeping its way up Open Doors’ World Watch List, which ranks the countries where Christian persecution is highest.
In 2015, India ranked #25. This year, the nation ranked #11.
Furthermore, Open Doors reports that while there were 151 persecution incidents in India in 2013, there were 248 incidents in the first quarter of 2017.
This year has already seen a number of incidents, including the severe attacks on three Christian pastors in Uttar Pradesh on September 11, and another attack on a pastor and his son on August 15.
Churches, pastors, and other believers have further reported threats from radical Hindus who have said they would beat or kill people if they continued sharing the Word or attending church services.
Christian Post reports at a Church in Madhya Pradesh, fifteen families stopped attending church services. The pastor, Pastor Singh, said around 200 people used to attend his church. Now, only 50 to 60 people are attending services due to threats from radical Hindus.
While the persecution is disheartening, many Christians are refusing to stop sharing the Gospel and continue attending churches despite the threats.
Bibles For The World’s Work
Bibles For The World is coming alongside their indigenous ministry workers and seminary students by preparing them for the persecution they may face.
“We give them training in how to handle those types of opposition, oppression, persecution, and this is done in the seminary as well as through the missionary training seminaries and workshops that we hold,” Pudaite says.
Over the years, Pudaite says, Bibles For The World’s ministry has matured. It’s spread to different fields where the Gospel can continue making an even greater impact.
“We now have more than 40 Christian schools, some as large 2,800 plus children attending those schools. We have healthcare hospital work that’s being done in the name of Jesus Christ to show the love and compassion through work in Christian healthcare and of course, to provide theological training for these people coming to know the Lord.”
(Photo courtesy of Arrant Daga on Unsplash)
Bibles For The World’s seminary is internationally accredited up to a masters level. Pudaite shares there are up to thirty different people groups represented at the seminary who share the Gospel with their tribes and people groups all around the world.
As believers join in sharing the Gospel both in India and around the world, the need to support ministry workers financially and in prayer grows.
“These Christian workers are out there on the front lines as evangelists, as missionaries, reaching the unreached with the Good News of Jesus Christ and they need constant prayer support because… they’re facing the opposition, oppression like never before in India.”
Also, pray for believers in India as persecution continues to mount. Pray the Lord will strengthen them and give them hope.
Header photo courtesy of Bibles For The World via Facebook
