GFA-supported missionary Samuel stands beside his wife. A jail term on false accusations has kept them apart for seven years. |
UPDATE: 05/24/2011
Even though the charges against him were dropped last summer, his case continues to drag on in court.
Since our last report in March, there have been several more short hearings. The most significant court date was April 27. At this hearing, one of the state prosecutors asked for additional time to prepare a response. The presiding judge addressed the attorney saying, “Was the last seven years not enough for you to study the case and collect needed information and witnesses related to Pastor Samuel?” The judge then denied the attorney’s request, and the hearing continued with both parties presenting their arguments.
Please continue to pray for Pastor Samuel, that he would be released from prison and be reunited with his wife and child.
Update: from 03/09/2011
A final hearing on Pastor Samuel’s case was set for Friday, March 4. The presiding judge asked for a full summary of the case, which required that the entire case be explained again. This caused the hearing to run over into Monday, March 7.
When the court reconvened on Monday, it was learned that the judge hearing the case was transferred and a new judge was assigned to the case, so the hearing was stopped. The hearing is now scheduled for March 28.
Update: from 02/21/2011
The February 18 hearing to determine a release date for GFA-supported missionary, Samuel, was postponed until March 1. The delay occurred after a local legal official working on the case unexpectedly died.
Pray that the next hearing would result in his release from the prison.
Update: from 02/07/2011
The hearing scheduled for February 4 was delayed until February 5. More arguments were presented on behalf of Pastor Samuel. And, as in the last hearing, no one brought any counter arguments against the pastor.
“All proceedings have gone in favor of Pastor Samuel,” commented GFA’s correspondent.
The judge set yet another hearing for February 18. Let us not give up hope but continue to intercede for our brother in Christ, that he will soon be reunited with his wife and child.
Update: from 02/01/2011
Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Samuel. His hearing did take place on January 28. The judge re-examined evidence and listened to Pastor Samuel’s attorney. The government prosecutor had nothing to add. Unfortunately, no decision was reached. The judge gave Pastor Samuel another hearing scheduled for February 4.
Please pray for Pastor Samuel as he waits once again, and that after this next hearing he will be released. Pray also for the 25 men who join the pastor for prayer in jail, that God will strengthen their faith.
Update: from 01/25/2011
Pastor Samuel’s hearing has been moved to January 28. Please keep him in your prayers as we hope for his release.
First update: from 01/21/2011
After nearly seven years in prison, Pastor Samuel may be close to freedom—if a final hearing scheduled for January 24 results in a favorable verdict.
After years of waiting, his wife and child—sustained by the prayers of believers around the world—still have faith the Lord will bring him home soon.
Last Thursday, Pastor Samuel’s attorney convincingly presented the innocence of the Gospel for Asia-supported national missionary.
It is, hopefully, the last chapter in a frustrating story of hearings being repeatedly postponed—first for one reason, then for another.
Encouraging News
Last summer, after years of discouragement, progress seemed to be made when a court ruled the case against Pastor Samuel lacked sufficient evidence or witnesses to stand. The missionary was charged with being a Marxist rebel, part of a group known as Naxalites who killed 19 policemen in a raid in 2004; but the court said it was dropping the case against him because there was no evidence that linked him to the insurgents.
All that was needed, his attorney was told, was a hearing where he and two others prisoners would receive their final pronouncement. That hearing, set for September, was delayed by a Marxist strike. Then, when it was held later in the month, the judge said Pastor Samuel’s final hearing—where he could be freed—would be in October.
Justice Delayed, Justice Denied
The October hearing led to a delay until November, then to December … and later to this month.
All the while, Pastor Samuel continued to share the love of Christ behind the prison walls, holding prayer meetings and services, leading lost and desperate men to the Lord and gaining favor and admiration of his jailers.
As the attorneys and judges wrangled, his wife and child continued to wait and pray for his release.
“It is difficult to imagine what it is like to be imprisoned for something you didn’t do,” commented GFA President K.P. Yohannan, “and perhaps even more difficult to wait year after year while an innocent loved one is behind bars.”
Now, at last, this excruciating ordeal may be over.
“We know that our God is in control of all of these events,” Dr. Yohannan added. “At this critical time, I ask all of our faithful friends around the world to pray that on January 24, God will move in the hearts of the judges to release this innocent brother swiftly.