The Lord is softening many hearts in Orissa, where hundreds of Christians faced intense persecution. |
Bodies were beaten, burned and torn apart in the Indian state of Orissa over the last two years. Hundreds of Christians died at the hands of anti-Christian extremists, and thousands of their homes and churches were burned to the ground. But today, rather than cowering in fear, believers and Gospel for Asia–supported missionaries courageously continue reaching out with the love of Jesus.
The wrath of persecutors is proving unable to keep hearts from opening to the Good News. The past two years, Orissa has been ground zero for some of the most horrendous violence against Christians. Yet people in Orissa are still choosing Him. In one district alone, 40 people recently decided to follow Jesus.
These men and women came to Christ because of three brave Bible college students, who agreed to share the love of Jesus in the most dangerous area during their practical ministry internship. God not only protected them, but He has also blessed their ministry with fruit they couldn’t have imagined.
In spite of knowing Christians were recently killed for their faith, the 40 new believers believed in the message they heard and trusted Jesus for forgiveness and new life.
Brightly shining Christ’s love during some of the darkest hours for believers in Orissa, GFA workers also reached out with Christmas gifts to 300 underprivileged families, providing them with a new way to make a living. The gifts from the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog showed their communities that there was no hatred in return for all the horror heaped upon Christians.
The three Bible college students request prayer that the 40 new believers will have a strong faith, no matter what happens to them in the future. Our correspondent also requests prayer that the 300 families with new gifts will find forgiveness and hope in the Lord, and for God’s continued blessing of the ministry in this region of South Asia.