Missionaries in Asia know that persecution is a very real risk as they serve the Lord. |
Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Bharat was thanked with beatings after he tried to help a bereaved family in his village. His injuries weren’t serious, but the incident has caused problems for Bharat’s ministry.
The situation started when a man named Menshenkeran heard of Jesus’ love through Pastor Bharat and then chose to follow Him. Menshenkeran embraced his new faith and testified of it publicly. But just three months later, tuberculosis claimed his life and he went to be with the Lord.
In an effort to help Menshenkeran’s family during the difficult time following his death, Pastor Bharat spent three days comforting them and helping them plan necessary arrangements. But instead of seeing the pastor’s heart and care for them, two of Menshenkeran’s non-Christian brothers accused Bharat, saying their brother died because he became a Christian. The two brothers grew violently angry, tearing the pastor’s shirt off and beating him with a stick.
The brothers left Pastor Bharat bruised and in pain, but he was spared serious injury. However, the brothers continued causing problems for the pastor, so much that he can’t easily work in that village anymore.
Bharat requests prayer that God will go before him and give him grace to continue serving in that village with the message of Jesus’ love.