India (MNN) — In the last few months Christians have been arrested on trumped up charges. Churches have been burned. Christian organizations have had their licenses revoked. And, now Rajasthan is become just another in a handful of states to enact what amounts to anti-conversion legislation.
However, the Governor of the region — who represents the national government — refused to sign the legislation saying, certain provisions in the bill directly or indirectly affect a citizen’s fundamental right of religion.
Founder and President of Gospel for Asia KP Yohannan is in India. Yohannan says, “There was tremendous pressure from the church and other religious groups like Islam and other groups, so I would be surprised if they’re stalling it. But, this is one state where we have had a large amounts or problems of persecution in the last one year.”
Yohannan says state-organized harassment has been the main problem. “This (is) totally against the constitution of the country. Those who have come to Christ they want to know how much money was paid to them, and then stirring up local anti-Christian groups to beat up our missionaries. So, this has been a very difficult year in Rajasthan.”
However, despite the trials, God is working, says Yohannan. “In spite of this increased persecution more people have turned to the Lord in that state and this is something only God can do.”
The issue isn’t over, though. According to reports, the Rajasthan’s state government plans to re-send the legislation with some changes.
Yohannan says the national government could take extreme action. “They have the authority to say you cannot do this. The Central government simply can dismiss the whole government — the state government — and say, ‘you are dissolved, you guys are doing dumb things, you are longer functioning.'”
That’s why, according to Yohannan, prayer is essential. “I am absolutely convinced we need to pray much more around the world — for situations like this. Not just two seconds of prayer, but intercession significantly needed to see God intervene in this kind of situation because this is nothing other than absolute satanic forces fight against the Kingdom’s work in the last days.”
Pray that God will use this situation to encourage the evangelical church and allow many to hear the message of salvation through Christ alone.
