A 19-year-old Christian man was attacked June 8 in Orissa, India. Bhakta is a member of a church where a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary serves as pastor.
Bhakta was home alone when six people stormed into his house and dragged him out. They took him to a local temple and force-fed him food that had been sacrificed to the temple gods. They continued to humiliate him by dressing him in red clothing, which is a traditional symbol of adherence to the god of the temple. They also told him to dance and worship the gods in the temple.
His continued refusal to cooperate angered his kidnappers, so they beat him up. They also threatened him with further harm unless he returned to the traditional religion of his village. They left the badly injured young Christian in the temple.
Bhakta’s parents were at a prayer meeting when their son was kidnapped and tortured. When they found out about the incident, they immediately filed a police case. Police arrested five people whom they believe took part in the kidnapping and assault.
Simmering Hostility
As police began investigating the crime, they learned Bhakta’s neighbors are still angry over his family’s choice to follow Christ, and this may have led to the assault.
The family had once worshiped various gods and goddesses themselves. Then Bhakta’s mother became ill. She did what most people in her situation would do—she sought what medical attention she could afford and went to the local witchdoctors. Word of her sickness made its way to a local pastor, who sympathetically offered to pray for her. When this pastor prayed, Bhakta’s mother was healed and subsequently, her entire family chose to follow Christ.
Many of their neighbors were disgusted by the change in the family’s life. They viewed Christianity as a foreign religion and do not understand that Christ died for all. The people in the village did all they could to get Bhakta, his mother and his father to resume their previous worship practices. However, the family refused to turn its back on their newfound love for Jesus.
They Can’t Go Home
The situation in the village remains tense. The people are denying that they know the alleged culprits and say they had no involvement at all in the incident. Some have even suggested that Bhakta brought on the attack himself. Others are accusing Bhakta and his family of various crimes.
The family is not able to return to their home because of the situation. They have several prayer requests.
- Complete healing for Bhakta.
- The Lord’s intervention in the situation.
- Encouragement for Bhakta’s family to stay strong in their commitment to the Lord.
- That the church in this area would grow stronger.
- Pray for the other believers. Opposition and persecution are increasing in this area.
- Pray for the six perpetrators of this crime to come to know about the love of Jesus.
Orissa Related: Orissa Rebuild Progress Report