Manipur was once known for its beauty. Today, the scenic Indian state is known for political unrest and brutal acts of violence.

The most recent trouble occurred in September when students in a Bridge of Hope center were held captive in their building while state security forces and multiple insurgent groups carried out a full-fledged gun battle just outside the door.

It was too late to get away when GFA missionary Uday Rao and Bridge of Hope Veer Gupta saw the armed commandos charging the school building. They rushed to protect the children, telling them to lie down on the floor and pray. Meanwhile, the fighters surrounded the building and, to the pastor’s horror, began to lob grenades at one another. One of the grenades fell in the midst of the terrified children! By the grace of God, it did not explode.

The factions battled around the school building for about 30 minutes, until the children’s mothers arrived. Against the advice of the state security forces, the determined women stormed through the fighting to retrieve their youngsters. The actions of these bold and courageous women silenced the commandos and put a stop to the fighting that day.

Sadly, such events are commonplace in Manipur. At least 19 known rebel factions are based there. These anti New Delhi groups claim to be fighting for everything from secession to autonomy to self-rule. Very often, they fight among themselves and with rival groups when they are not carrying out their brutal acts among the more than 2 million people in Manipur.

In August, one of the groups abducted, tortured and killed the president of a local student organization. Spurred by the student’s murder and fed up with the overall escalation in lawlessness, residents of the affected cities responded with a massive strike, effectively shutting down commerce, communication and transportation in the area. Citizen groups banded together, demanding-and receiving-the government’s attention. The resulting meetings between government officials and representatives of citizen groups proved to be unproductive.

Just days after the meetings, armed men opened fire at a Christian church, killing one and injuring six others. Another rebel group detonated a grenade at a meeting of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, killing five people.

During the last two years, insurgents repeatedly attacked a local church building that was under construction until they finally succeeded in dismantling and burning it to the ground. The fire also destroyed nearby temporary shelters where the GFA missionaries lived. During another attack, anti-Christian groups fired 40 rounds of ammunition into the church construction area. Thankfully no one was killed.

GFA workers in Manipur have adjusted to the hostile environment in a variety of ways. Missionary Jaladhar and a missionary intern, Rensing, were preaching the Gospel in a particularly violent area and were forced to leave. They are patiently praying, waiting for the tensions to subside so they can return.

The GFA missionaries whose building was burned swept up the ashes and rebuilt the destroyed church from the ground up. At another local chruch, worshipers continue to meet just a few miles from the traditional home base of the insurgents.

In spite of the dedication of the GFA workers in Manipur, the violence is seriously hampering efforts to share the Gospel.

Please pray that God would use the GFA radio broadcast to safely reach the people. Also pray for the safety of the Christians, the missionaries and the children at the Bridge of Hope school in this tension-filled country.