Disruption Turns into Lesson on Forgiveness

Even something as simple as showing a movie can turn into a violent confrontation in Arunachal Pradesh, India. But a Gospel for Asia film team recently used such a conflict as a lesson in forgiveness.

The incident occurred March 9 as the team was showing the movie Dayasagar (Man of Mercy), an Indian-made film about the life of Jesus, in a village in Arunachal Pradesh. As was their custom, before they rolled the film, the team sang a few songs, then spent time praying for the sick and for the students in the audience who were preparing for their final exams. Once the movie began, Gospel for Asia missionary Bhuta Reja was translating the actor's dialogue into Mising, the language spoken by the people in this village. About 300 people were watching the movie that day.

The team used this opportunity to teach about forgiveness, telling the people to forgive Manoranjan and forget the incident.

But during the film, Manoranjan Tisso jumped up out of the crowd and began shouting at Bhuta, ordering him to stop translating. Manoranjan was well-known in this village as a follower of an ancient, traditional god that represented the sun and the moon. When Bhuta fell silent, the rest of the people urged him to ignore Manoranjan and continue interpreting the movie for them.

The film resumed and it appeared that Manoranjan was gone. But a few moments later, he sneaked up behind the film operator. Manoranjan was carrying a wooden chair raised over his head so he could knock the missionary down. The film team technician was able to avoid the blow, but the chair came crashing down on the film equipment, knocking it off the table. The amplifier and DVD were both damaged.

Some teens who witnessed the attack were enraged and tried to beat Manoranjan, but the GFA film team members rescued him from the mob.

The noise from the commotion spread throughout the village to the ears of some military guards, who were stationed nearby. When the guards found out what happened, they went after Manoranjan. The people watching the movie were angry and told the film team they should file a police complaint against Manoranjan.

The team used this opportunity to teach about forgiveness, telling the people to forgive Manoranjan and forget the incident.

A few days later, the guards found Manoranjan. They beat him up, then released him.

Since that incident, the guards who came to the film team's aid are now protecting them as they travel from village to village in this area showing the film.

Bhuta and the other film team members are praising God for His continued protection. They are also asking for prayer that Manoranjan will come to know Christ.

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