11/15/2005: Indian Believers Under Vicious Death Threat
More than 60 new believers in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh are being threatened with death if they refuse to renounce their faith and convert back to Hinduism. Radical Hindu extremists in their area of North India have threatened to murder those who do not return to their former religion.
On November 4, a visiting Believers Church pastor was attacked and severely beaten by a group of militants who threatened his life. Now the same group says they will conduct a puja (ritual) on November 20 to forcefully convert the Christians in the church, pastored by GFA native missionary Ramesh Masih Battih, back to Hinduism. In a threat reminiscent of the brutal murder of missionary Graham Staines and his two children by the same kind of fundamentalists in Orissa, they said they would burn alive any who do not renounce their new faith.
Pastor Battih has filed a complaint with local police, but the area is dominated by a large temple to the Hindu god Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims come to the temple, so it is not clear if the police will take any action to protect the Christians.
"What is most important now is that we pray for this situation," said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. "These brothers and sisters have chosen by their own free will to follow Christ. I urge you to pray for their protection, and that God will surround them with His angels and turn back any violence. Please also pray for their attackers, that their hearts will be softened and that God will work a miracle in their lives.
"Please share this request with your church and your friends. This is a spiritual struggle, and only through prayer and fasting will the darkness be dispelled and the people set free in Christ."
More than 60 new believers in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh are being threatened with death if they refuse to renounce their faith and convert back to Hinduism. Radical Hindu extremists in their area of North India have threatened to murder those who do not return to their former religion. On November 4, a visiting Believers Church pastor was attacked and severely beaten by a group of militants who threatened his life. Now the same group says they will conduct a puja (ritual) on November 20 to forcefully convert the Christians in the church, pastored by GFA native missionary Ramesh Masih Battih, back to Hinduism. In a threat reminiscent of the brutal murder of missionary Graham Staines and his two children by the same kind of fundamentalists in Orissa, they said they would burn alive any who do not renounce their new faith.
Pastor Battih has filed a complaint with local police, but the area is dominated by a large temple to the Hindu god Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims come to the temple, so it is not clear if the police will take any action to protect the Christians.
"What is most important now is that we pray for this situation," said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. "These brothers and sisters have chosen by their own free will to follow Christ. I urge you to pray for their protection, and that God will surround them with His angels and turn back any violence. Please also pray for their attackers, that their hearts will be softened and that God will work a miracle in their lives.
"Please share this request with your church and your friends. This is a spiritual struggle, and only through prayer and fasting will the darkness be dispelled and the people set free in Christ."