09/15/2008: Pastor, Believers and Children Beaten
Pastor, Believers and Children Beaten
Vinay was closing the worship service when anti-Christian extremists attacked him and his congregation in Tamil Nadu, India. |
On August 3, a violent anti-Christian mob stormed into a church where Gospel for Asia missionary Vinay Ganpati was leading a worship service in Tamil Nadu, India. The fanatics viciously beat the pastor and all of the believers—including the small children present.
The church service was coming to a close when the angry mob surrounded the church and pelted stones at the congregation. Using wood planks and iron rods, the radicals rushed into the building and began mercilessly beating those who had come for worship.
The violence started after two women were found drowned in a pond near the church. Another woman, whom the villagers believe to be a local deity, claimed that her goddess spirit had killed the women because the church was meeting in the area.
The woman who claims to be the goddess incited local anti-Christian extremists to drive Vinay and the believers out of the village. She threatened more deaths if they did not comply with her request.
After the attack, one of the believers who was most severely beaten filed a report with the police department. Although things calmed down after the incident, none of the radicals had to face legal consequences for their actions.
Gospel for Asia leaders in the area went to the village and encouraged Vinay and the Christians. They also talked with police about the situation and asked for more protection for the church.
Now, because one of the radicals involved in the attack later died in an accident, the fanatics are again preparing to come against the church. The radicals believe that this is further work of the local goddess.
Vinay and the believers are continuing to worship in the church building, but the extremists have set an ultimatum that they must flee the village within two months. If the believers do not leave, the radicals say they will "face dire consequences."
Gospel for Asia leaders and Vinay ask for prayer that the situation will remain peaceful and that they will be able to continue ministry in the area. They also request prayer that the believers will remain strong in their faith and that the anti-Christians will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
