Late last year after my molecular biology and genetics lecture, I was told that there was an emergency. My friend showed me her phone with the sms from a Pastor in India, he requested for urgent prayers. I was devastated to read that Hindu extremists burnt down churches and were threatening to kill Pastors and Christians in India. While my classmates packed their bags to leave the room, I was in deep thought and couldn't hold my emotions anymore... in tears, I wept.
Our brothers and sisters are on the run, please read their news below and pray for them.
In the past 18 months, Orissa has been the scene of some of the worst anti-Christian violence and persecution since India gained independence, notably in December 2007 and August 2008. Hindu extremists have killed at least 120 Christians and injured thousands. Homes, churches and orphanages have been destroyed and whole villages cleansed of all Christians. Relief camps, where the Christian families fled in search of safety and shelter, were subsequently attacked.
Tens of thousands of Christians are now homeless in Orissa with their possessions burned; Christian children are unable to go to school and local businesses have stopped employing Christians as day labourers. The attackers also purposely ripped up educational certificates and diplomas of the Christians, burning the pieces. Families are living in cramped conditions in makeshift camps in the middle of fields. There has been limited help from the government; the homeless Christians barely have enough food and are constantly fearful of further attacks, taking it in turns to guard the camp at night.
Orissa Christians whose identity papers have been burned are not allowed to vote. The authorities in Kandhamal district have said they will issue new identity papers, but these must be collected in person. Many homeless Christians are too frightened to return to their original villages as they have been told by former neighbours that only if they renounce their faith and convert to Hinduism and drop charges against anyone involved in the violence will they be allowed to return home.
Please Pray
Pray for Christians in Orissa, that the Lord will sustain them and keep them safe in the midst of violence and persecution.
Pray that the freedom of India`s Christian minorities will be safeguarded and that the Christians from Orissa will be allowed to return to their homes without the fear of further violence or being forced to convert to Hinduism.
Pray for the upcoming general elections in India, that the polling will be fair and that Christians will have a voice. Pray for a peaceful conclusion to the elections and a ceasing of violence against the Christian communities.
Pray for the continuing successful distribution of food supplies and also for the provision of medical, educational and micro-enterprise needs for our Christian brothers and sisters.
Pray for the Hindu extremists who have carried out this violence, that the Lord Jesus Christ will touch their hearts. Some of the Hindu extremists have claimed that Hindus are the real victims in this situation, not because they have suffered any physical harm but because they "want to protect their sense of dignity".
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