Extremists Threaten Missionary, Bring Student Home
August 11, 2009
Bible college students study hard for a vocation that may cost them their lives. |
A first-year Bible college student was forced to return to his home after anti-Christian fanatics threatened his family and pastor. The radicals made their threats because they fear their entire region will become Christian if the pastor's ministry continues.
Lalit Shukla's family attends one of the three churches served by Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Kalyan Rana. Each with a congregation of at least 40 people, the churches have grown up in an area where the predominant population follows traditional Asian religions.
"If we allow you to continue here, within a two-year span, you will convert all the people to Christianity," the extremist leader said.A local extremist group has worked to combat Kalyan's ministry by showing films in support of their beliefs and by trying to re-convert new followers of Jesus Christ. As the Christian congregations continue to grow, however, the radicals have resorted to threatening those who refuse to join their cause.
On July 31, the group's local leader and the police chief arrived at Kalyan's home to accuse him of sending young people to Bible college and trying to convert the entire region to Christianity.
"If we allow you to continue here, within a two-year span, you will convert all the people to Christianity," the extremist leader said, telling Kalyan that continuing his ministry would have fatal consequences.
The same day, 11 members of the radical group went to Lalit's home and told his family they would be excommunicated from the village if their son did not return from Bible college.
When the family gave in to the demands and brought Lalit home, the fanatics asked him if Kalyan had forced him to enroll in Bible college, but Lalit said that he had gone to Bible college of his own free will. The radicals responded by threatening him and telling him to never return to the school. For now, Lalit is staying home with his family.
Please pray that the Lord will calm the fears of Lalit, Kalyan and their families, and that He will protect them from harm. Also pray that the police chief and the radicals will come to know Jesus, and that Kalyan and Lalit will be able to continue in ministry.
