Several churches led by Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries have been attacked. This one was vandalized when anti-Christian extremists went on a rampage in Orissa in 2008. |
A church served by a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary came under attack April 12 in Orissa, India.
The incident occurred after a young Dalit (“Untouchable”) man took a young woman from a poor, tribal background to see a movie. Her people look down on Dalits and consider them to be a polluting influence on society. When the people from the woman’s village found out about the outing, they went on a rampage, injuring several Dalits and damaging five of their homes.
The angry villagers also broke out the windows and damaged the doors and walls of the church building where GFA-supported missionary, Durai Gode, serves as pastor. The villagers know that many Dalits attend the church, which is why it was attacked.
This attack does not appear to be related to the 2008 violence in Orissa, which was orchestrated by an anti-Christian extremist group.
Pastor Gode asks for prayer that God would take control of the situation and establish His peace between the tribals and the Dalits.
He also asks for prayer for the church, the pastor and the believers, that they would be kept from harm and would stand strong in this tough situation.