It was evening, and a Gospel for Asia native missionary outreach team was showing a film to a village in Andhra Pradesh, India. All was going well … until some men approached and began to beat the team members.
Having a burden to reach this particular village, the outreach team had started sharing the Gospel there a couple of days earlier, visiting people’s homes and passing out tracts. But aware that the area was dominated by radical anti-Christian groups, they knew a low-key approach was the best way to go. They knew too much publicity early in their ministry could mean being barred from the village before they could really get started.
Thus, the film they were showing that night was not directly evangelistic but was designed to help people deal with a relevant social issue. Leading up to the film showing, they had held awareness programs about the important social issues of child marriages and AIDS—issues hitting close to home for people in Andhra Pradesh state.
Needing an LCD projector to show the film, they were blessed with the partnership of another mission organization that provided one and joined to help. That night, both teams worked energetically to set everything up for the film showing. But after it started, the trouble began as men opposed to the Gospel stormed up and began beating members of both teams. They also destroyed the projector and the sound system, with more than $4,000 in property damage.
Despite their fear, the Lord has given the team members a burden to reach this area, and they would like to continue their ministry there. Please pray for both missionary teams, that their bodies will heal quickly and they will draw strength and comfort from the Lord. Pray also for the Lord’s provision of equipment to replace what was damaged, especially for the group that graciously allowed GFA to use their projector.