Written by: Open Doors SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Persecution may not be new to Christians in India, but it’s certainly intensifying. The COVID-19 restrictions during the past months have left some of the most isolated and vulnerable Christians starving, cut off from their families, and turned away from their community care systems.
The rise in Hindu nationalism
At the same time, Hindu nationalism is rising in India. Community elders discriminate against Christians, putting them last in the line for aid or preventing access to jobs, schools, and other essential services.
“Persecution against Christians in India is intensifying rapidly,” says Rajesh*, an Open Doors partner. Open Doors partners like Rajesh provide practical and spiritual support to our persecuted brothers and sisters in India – from essential supplies and medical care to personal visits to pray with them, Bibles, safe houses, advocacy support, and help to start small businesses.
Physical and mental persecution
Rajesh says: “The forms of persecution that Indian Christians often encounter are both physical and mental. Sometimes they are even abused. In some cases, the assault goes so far as to kill someone.” In recent years, Rajesh has also seen a new form of persecution emerge: Young girls and women are attacked to teach their father or a pastor a lesson. Even children aren’t safe.
Hearing God’s call
Rajesh has dedicated his life to serving his Indian brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith. He first heard God’s call as a teenager, when he asked Him: “How do you want my life to be a blessing to others?” Over the next ten years, Rajesh felt God call him to serve the persecuted Church.
Persecution against Christians in India is intensifying rapidly.
Growing the church through persecution
It wasn’t long before he experienced the danger of persecution himself. He was visiting a pastor who had been severely beaten for his faith. But as he left the pastor’s house, he saw a large crowd of people outside and discovered that his car had been daubed with paan, a red-coloured chewing tobacco.
He recalls: “The pastor urged me to leave quickly. Motorcycles formed a blockade, trying to stop my car. They wanted me to get out so they could beat me up. They chased me for miles. By God’s grace, I escaped. Yet I knew I’d been called to a life of risk. Through persecution, God grows His Church.”
Pastors beaten and churches burnt
In the course of his ministry, Rajesh has met families who have lost loved ones and pastors who had been beaten up or whose churches have been burnt down. He met people who have been expelled from their village, people who have been falsely charged or who have been in prison – all because of their faith in Jesus.
Gatherings are forbidden
House churches are the most persecuted in India, as they are isolated and can be easily targeted. They often have no trained pastor and don’t know how to deal with persecution, but God’s grace is enough for them.
Yet Rajesh knows that God is at work, even in the darkest circumstances, and he’s encouraged by the persecuted Christians he meets. Their steadfastness, faith, love, passion for Jesus Christ and loyalty to the Lord inspire him.
Pray with us
Please pray for strength and protection for the Church in India, and especially isolated house churches. Pray for wisdom and protection for Rajesh and other Open Doors local partners as they carry out their vital work. Join Open Doors today in prayer for our persecuted family. Visit www.opendoors.org.za to download your FREE prayer calendar and become one of our prayer partners.
*Name changed for security reasons. | Photos: © 2020 Open Doors International
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
Date published: 04/09/2020
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
