Replies

http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s04100008.htm

ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com, Web Site: www.assistnews.net

Sunday, October 3, 2004

GFA MISSIONARY THREATENED WITH DEATH; URGENT PRAYER REQUESTED

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

KARNATKA STATE, SOUTHERN INDIA (ANS) -- Prayers are urgently requested for Pastor Kumar, a Gospel for Asia native missionary in the south Indian state of Karnataka, who is right now facing a life-and-death situation, says GFA’s President K.P.Yohannan.

“After his graduation from a GFA Bible college, he and his wife Sonia moved to an unreached village and began their ministry together, sharing the love of Jesus with those who had never heard His name. Over the past two years the Lord has given them growth: Not only has their baby boy become a happy little toddler, but today more than 40 new believers gather to worship the living God in the church he has established,” Yohannan said in a message to ministry supporters.

But Pastor Kumar's faithful labors and victories have not come without attack from Satan. He has received threats from anti-Christian fundamentalist groups over the past several weeks. Yesterday those threats escalated into a full-scale demonstration, said Yohhanan.

“One of our senior leaders notified me just a few hours ago that a mob went to each house in Kumar's village, threatening anyone who went to church this Sunday-they would break their arms and legs, and kill them. Finally they came to Pastor Kumar's home and beat him. Before leaving, they delivered their ultimatum: If he conducted Sunday services this weekend, they would kill him in front of his wife and son.”

Pastor Kumar reported these threats to his GFA leader, who brought the incident to the police. However, the police responded that they couldn't help; this mob was too large and the pastor should do whatever he wanted to do.

“Please intercede for Pastor Kumar today, and earnestly ask the Lord to protect his life and those of the new believers in this village of Karnataka state. Pray God will give our GFA leaders wisdom to know how to handle this situation. In addition, several other native missionaries serving in Karnataka are also facing persecution for preaching the Gospel. These religious fundamentalist groups regularly use such intimidation and violence tactics. Pray that all our brothers and sisters would have abundant grace to stand firm for the sake of Christ."

For further information, Contact:

Gospel for Asia
1800 Golden Trail Ct.
Carrollton, TX 75010
800-WIN-ASIA

** Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.

** You may republish this story with proper attribution.
Send this story to a friend.