Asia (MNN) — The neighbors of missionary Sukhwinder Das turned on him and his family and beat them last Wednesday, June 8.
Sukhwinder, supported by Gospel for Asia, along with his wife and three young children have lived and ministered to a village in Asia for the past four years. However, just in the last few weeks, he and his family started experiencing opposition among the local villagers. In the past week, the unrest among the locals increased, and Sukhwinder started experiencing threats and even violence.
On June 4, the villagers summoned Sukhwinder to a meeting. There they tried to force him to deny Christ and abandon his ministry. Sukhwinder stood strong in the face of opposition and refused to back down.
Finally, the tension climaxed to its peak four days later. At 8 p.m. on June 8, the village elders stormed into Sukhwinder's home and attacked him, his wife, and his elderly father, and even hurled stones at his three young children. Sukhwinder's father suffered very serious injuries and was beaten until he lost consciousness.
The village police arrived while Sukhwinder and his family were being attacked, but they refused to stop the perpetrators or protect the family.
The next day, Sukhwinder went to the police station to report the offense. But since no other eyewitness would come forward to make a statement against the village elders, the police would not file a report.
Sukhwinder and his family have gone to a doctor for their injuries and are receiving treatment.
The spiritual climate in Asia continues to be dark. Persecution is common, and the Gospel is often met with opposition and even violence. Yet there is hope in the love of Christ, and Gospel for Asia's mission is to continue to send believers out in fulfilling the Great Commission among the unreached people in Asia.
Sukhwinder would ask for prayer for God's protection over them and that God would change the hearts of the policemen and villagers. Please also pray that an eyewitness would come forward to incriminate those who have incited violence against missionary Sukhwinder. Keep Sukhwinder's father in your prayers as he is still recovering from his injuries.
