India
(MNN) — This summer, the National Religious Broadcasters plan to raise money
through television and radio stations for persecuted believers in India.
Thousands of Christians lost loved ones and everything they
had during violence last fall in the state of Orissa. Maoist rebels had murdered anti-Christian
extremist Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati on August 23, but the World Hindu
Council (VHP) blamed Christians for his death, sparking intense persecution.
There were "Christians who were being killed, churches
being burned, homes being burned–many times with the Christians inside the
homes," NRB's Ron Harris explained.
"Some of the people are still homeless from what took place
back in the summer and early fall," Harris said. "They need their homes, and they need their
churches. Some are still living in tents
and out in the woods, and we need Christians to come alongside."
Now that the violence has subsided, Gospel for Asia can begin to rebuild the devastated communities. $2,500 will construct a simple Indian-style
home from local materials with local labor, and $11,000 will build a
church.
"It helps build their economy; it's just helping on so many
levels," Harris said, plus, "It's very affordable." However, the project will have a greater
impact than simply constructing buildings.
"I see this as a way not only to rebuild homes and churches,
but to unify and solidify Christians in areas where they are often persecuted. It is also a strong witness for Christ in those areas," Harris explained.
GFA and NRB invite radio and television stations to raise
money for this project in June and July. If a station raises $40,000, it will be able to reconstruct an entire
community as well as its church building.
"That's pretty astounding," Harris said. "That would be a worthy goal for a station to
throw out there to their listeners. We
can rebuild a whole community and their church in a place where Christians are
persecuted; we can come alongside them and encourage and strengthen them."
100 percent of the donations received will go straight to
the mission field. NRB will provide
stations with Web site banners, Web pages, and their own toll-free number, as
well as spots and interviews with GFA's president and founder, Dr. K.P.
Yohannan.
To learn more, see NRB's information on the partnership and
GFA's information on the project.
