Kalyan and Arvind’s congregations face possible death if they gather for church. |
Original Story
If Kalyan Rai or Arvind Gudeep go to their churches, they may be murdered.
Kalyan and Arvind are two Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in Uttar Pradesh, India. Within a short time, both pastors received death threats from extremists in their areas.
Arvind was holding special services for his congregation on November 2 when a gang of 41 anti-Christian extremists stormed into the church.
If you don’t leave Jesus, we will come back on Sunday and burn you alive.“You will face dire consequences if you do not come back to our faith,” the extremists threatened as they roughed up the believers. “If you don’t leave Jesus, we will come back on Sunday and burn you alive.”
The radicals’ goal was to scare Arvind into leaving the area. GFA’s correspondent reports that the believers there are ready to face anything for Christ. GFA leaders, who said similar incidents are occurring in neighboring districts as well, are approaching local authorities to request protection.
Kalyan, working in another Uttar Pradesh district, is a recent Bible college graduate working hard to start a brand-new ministry in an unreached village. As a result of his efforts, 25 people who didn’t know Christ worship the Lord with Kalyan as their pastor. But violent anti-Christian extremists have become angry at his success there and are threatening Kalyan and his young congregation.
Recently, the extremists approached one of the new Christians and told him to pass a message on to his pastor. They said that the next time Kalyan comes to church to conduct a meeting, they will kill him—and all the believers.
Both Kalyan and Arvind ask for urgent prayer in these situations. They deeply desire to stay in their places and continue to save hearts for eternity. Christians there request prayer that the extremists’ eyes will be opened to see Jesus’ love for them and that the incidents will be resolved peacefully.
11/11/09 UPDATE: God protected the lives of Pastor Arvind and his believers, GFA’s correspondent reports. Most chose to meet in homes the following Sunday, with some at the church, to pray for the situation. The Lord prevented lives from being lost in spite of the deadly threats.
However, the extremists still vented their anger. They damaged two Jesus Wells, one in Pastor Arvind’s village and one in another village where GFA-supported missionary Jagdeep works. The extremists also vandalized Jagdeep’s church building and wrote slogans on the walls.
Police will not offer protection to the Christians, and the situation there continues to be very tense.