Members of a radical Hindu paramilitary group attacked two Gospel for Asia native missionaries in their rented quarters, leaving one with head injuries and warning both to leave the area or face death.
The missionaries, Prakas and Samuel, have been working in India’s Chhattisgarh state since they graduated from a GFA Bible college last year and have led 20 residents to the Lord in their first few months of ministry.
The area where they minister,is home to one of the most religiously celebrated, architecturally superb and culturally rich Hindu temples in Southeast India. A few of the peoplein the area are anti-Christian extremeists who were upset about the missionaries sharing the Gospel.
The paramilitary arm of the Hindu nationalist movement had been harassing the pair for several months, and on February 23 a gang burst into the room where the missionaries were staying and threatened them with knives and sticks.
“You should not do ministry here,” the radicals declared. “It is a home for Hindus, so do not spoil the atmosphere by preaching Jesus.”
The two missionaries tried to convince the group of their peaceful intentions, but one of the extremists knocked Prakas to ground, leaving him bleeding from his ear and neck. Samuel rushed for assistance, and the neighbors, including a believer named Lakan, challenged the gang.
The Hindus left the missionaries, warning them to “get away from this place or we will kill you.”
The GFA leader for Chhattisgarh calls on Christians to “fight against the opposition through prayer” and to pray specifically for the two native missionaries.