The people’s eyes were all focused on the unbelievable story playing out on the movie screen before them. Hours earlier, while it was still daylight, Gospel for Asia native missionary Rahul Vatsavai and Pastor Ashish Nishant had carefully stretched out a large expanse of white fabric between two poles to form this impromptu outdoor movie screen.
Typical of most Indians, the people in this village loved movies, so word traveled fast that Rahul and Ashish were planning to show a film. Soon, a crowd had gathered to watch Man of Mercy, an Indian-made film depicting the life of Christ. The crowd sat cross-legged on the ground, under the November night sky, engrossed in the story of Jesus.
Just as the movie reached its halfway point, Rahul and Ashish were startled by a commotion. The sound was a band of anti-Christian extremists who were trying to stop the movie. They shut off the projector, ripped down the movie screen, and scared off the people who had been watching the movie. They arrested both Rahul and Ashish and confiscated the film and all their equipment. The missionary and pastor were forced to go to the police station, where the extremists made up wild allegations against them. The extremists handed the two men—and all of the movie equipment—over to the police.
The men were forced into a holding cell at the police station. When the official who was to question them did not show up, they were released, but the officers on duty refused to give back the film equipment they had confiscated.
There was one thing on these Gospel workers’ minds when they left the police station-they had to let other believers know so they could pray! Rahul and Ashish contacted all the believers they knew, asking them to fast and pray for the release of the equipment—and for the souls of the men who persecuted them.
During the next two weeks, the pastor and the missionary returned to the police station again and again, politely requesting their film and equipment be returned to them. Each time, the police refused.
Balram Guha, the pastor of another church in that area, had been a lawyer before the Lord called him into ministry. He knew that if the police were not planning to press charges against Rahul and Ashish, then they had no legal grounds for holding the equipment. He personally contacted the police inspector general and brought the matter to his attention.
After speaking with Balram, the police inspector promptly returned the missionary’s film equipment. Thankfully, it was all in perfect condition.
GFA leaders in Maharashtra ask for prayer that Rahul would be able to resume his film ministry without any interference from the extremists. They also ask for prayer to see new Christians as a result of the film ministry.