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By David F. Dawes
AS rampant violence by Hindu extremists was escalating against Christians in India, the head of a major Indian ministry gave CC.com his assessment of the situation.
While visiting British Columbia late last week to promote his organization's church planting activities, Saji Lukos of Reaching Indians Ministries International (RIMI) noted that his group is very active in Orissa, the state where most of the recent violence has occurred.
"We have 70 missionaries, an orphanage and a Bible school," he said. "Many of our people are in the forest, hiding. We got one email saying the Hindus were looking for them, to kill them."
Another email from one of his colleagues, named Surjit, also bore direct eyewitness to the catastrophe: "The Christians in Orissa are in deep trouble; 99 percent of Christians' houses are being burnt in Kandhamal district of Orissa. My house [was] also completely destroyed and looted by the Hindu militants. My parents are running for [their lives] here and there.
"My brother in law was killed and chopped into four pieces, and then set on fire. His dead body was lying for two days outside the place where he was pastoring . . . My parents are hiding in the forest for [the] last four days without food and water. We earnestly need your prayer for our families and the Christians in Orissa. The government, the administration, are just silent spectators."
"God's anger will be upon the land," said Lukos. "There will be justice, wait and see." The extremists, he stressed, "are messing with the living God. He is not an idol."
Still reeling from violence in Orissa, India's Christians suffered major blows in two other states over the past weekend.
As the Global Council of Indian Christians revised its estimate of deaths from the last two weeks of violence in Orissa from "more than 100" to 53, suspected Hindu extremists in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh burned down the 86 year old St. Bartholomew Church of North India on September 7, according to Compass Direct News (CDN).
Christian leaders said suspected members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council, or VHP) torched the building after parishioners had decorated it for its 86th anniversary, reported CDN. VHP members are also responsible for ongoing violence in Orissa state, following the killing of a VHP leader, Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his associates in Kandhamal district on August 23.
Thousands of houses, churches and institutions have been damaged or destroyed in the violence that began after VHP members led a funeral procession of Saraswati's body to stir up anti-Christian sentiment, according to CDN. Maoists have since claimed responsibility for the murders, but Hindu extremist groups continue to blame Christians.
Hindu militants have a history of violence in the Ratlam area, said CDN. Most recently, on August 15, VHP and Bajrang Dal members attacked a youth meeting in Ratlam after a neighbor complained, said pastor Jose Mathew.
"They beat up many participants," including a pastor, his wife and the district manager of World Vision," Mathew said. "Later the police, without any enquiry, charged [the victims] with attempted forcible conversion."
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In Chhattisgarh state about 20 Bajrang Dal extremists forced their way into a train at the Durgh railway station on September 5, reported CDN. Shouting anti-Christian slogans, they took four babies from two nuns of the Missionaries of Charity and their assistants. Subsequently the Hindu extremists beat a nun and a driver sent to help.
Christian leaders in Karnataka state reported that about 30 attackers on motorcycles and in an SUV stormed into a church service September 7 and abducted pastor R. Babu, according to CDN. After disrupting the service in the Mulbagal, Kolar district by tearing up Bibles, hymnals and curtains and beating church members, the attackers carried Pastor Babu to a temple about three miles away, and forced him to observe Hindu rituals.
They released him only after he gave a written declaration in front of the police at Mulbagal police station, stating that he would not go back to the village or continue any church activities, said CDN.
Lukos told CC.com his ministry's church planting efforts would continue, even in the face of such violent opposition. He estimated that, since its founding in 1993, RIMI has planted more than 4,000 churches in India; currently, he said, the ministry has some 1,300 missionaries operating.
Often, he said, there has been no serious opposition to evangelism. "Generally, there are good people in most communities. They have no problem accepting another god. If the father of a family accepts, it's easy for the rest of the family. In most cases, this is the first time they've heard about Christ. Then they are told they must forsake all other gods. The ones who can do that get baptized. In 2007, we had 7,200 baptisms in various churches."
In most communities, Lukos said, "we can set up a church within six months. In some places, however, there is violence. The opposition comes mainly from Hindu radicals in the community."
Despite the continuing strife, Lukos expressed optimism.
"Indeed, we are hopeful. The church will continue to grow. We are dreaming big things, for our God is a great God."
-- Additional reporting by Jeremy Reynalds, Assist News Service
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The sad plight of India's flock
Last Friday, Sept. 5, was the anniversary of Mother Teresa's death. Eleven years ago, Indians lined the streets to honour her state funeral procession. This year, her sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, encountered a rather different crowd on the anniversary. Four sisters were attacked by about 20 Bajrang Dal (a Hindu nationalist youth movement) activists and forced off a train in Chhattisgarh, a province in central India. The small mob marched the sisters to the police station, chanting anti-Christian slogans, threatening to beat them up and accusing the sisters of kidnapping the children in their care. A Hindu nationalist mob threatening violence against religious sisters who run orphanages? Sadly, that there were only threats must today be considered a blessing. In the neighbouring state of Orissa, the past fortnight has seen an outbreak of deadly anti-Christian violence -- the latest episodes in an ominous trend spanning several years.
Father Raymond J. De Souza, National Post, September 8
September 11/2008
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I and my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism
By Madhu Chandra
Hindutva fundamentalists have chosen Conversion as a yardstick to kill missionaries, rape nuns, and vandalize churches.
Who actually does fraudulent conversion? Charges are given to Christians and made it as real to whole nation through saffron sponsored media. I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary. Ever since then, every Manipuri (Meitei) has Singh at the end of every name, although many youngsters are abandoning it by returning to indigenous Meitei religion.
The casteism and untoubality emerged after migration of Hinduism to the Manipur society where caste or creed never existed earlier.
The saffronisation of Hindutva, which is purely the proselytizing movement, does not end with my people there. The ongoing conversion of tribal communities to Hinduism is still in full swing in different parts tribal dominated areas.
We have witnessed the saffronising of Dang district of Gujarat during Sabri Kumbha Mela in 2006. The tribal of Jhabua in MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhan, Assam, Arunachal etc are the example of saffronising propaganda of Hindutva forces.
In the land where anti conversion law is forcefully implemented, the tribal Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa are in night mire at the hands of Hindutva forces. To be alive in the village, become Hindu otherwise get out or get kill is the threatening almost every now and then to the tribal Christians in Kandhamal. The law making machinery calls it freedom of religion.
Christians in MP, Orissa and other states where anti conversion laws exist are accused for their involvement in force conversion when they themselves are the victim of force conversion at the hands of Hindutva forces.
The Christian population in last twenty years has decline in India. Then how and where comes the question of more people being converted to Christianity in India?
The allegations of conversion is lie and hate campaign of Hindutva forces to license themselves to rape, kill, burn and vandalize the Christian churches. While all religions as per as the constitutions of India, welcomes everyone to their religions. The force, fraud and fraudulent conversion carried out is none other than Hindutva forces, that too totally against the will and wishes of the individuals so as it was done to my forefathers in Manipur and its consequences still suffer by the presently community.
I am Rev.D.Samuel, founder/Managing trustee of India Rural Gospel Mission, which in involving in out-reach, Evangelism, church planting/growth, and children’s home and community social service run by faith.
I found out you through Internet, so I like to express about our mission.
Indian Rural Gospel Mission (IRGM) is committed to bring a holistic community transformation and to effect church multification movement in India.
Indian Rural Gospel Mission is primarily dedicated to reach the un-reached people it was started in 1993 and registered as a society and also trust in 2006.
1993-2003, First Decade- EVANGELISM, for first ten years it was extensive and exclusive Evangelism
2003-2013 second Decade- ESTABLISHMENT, church planting and beginning of holistic activities.
Evangelism
Gospel of Christ has been preaching since Saint Thomas came to India, but Christianity is not growing as we expect. Because of population, huge land and financial problem.
There are thousand and thousands of people yet to be evangelized in huge land of India, how can we Christian take rest? When the Million and Millions of people are going towards the burning hell how can be silent? , Unless we are reached them by the gospel, they are going to be perished.
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
John 9:4
We hope That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
Church planting and growth
We establish the churches in our mission field where there is no church.
We are doing following activities such a Sunday class. Prayer cell, Pastors fellowship, Youth ministry, Women’s ministry, Video ministry for the church growth.etc.
Bible Bank
We distribute free bible for poor new believers who unable to buy the Bible.and also for students.
Pastor’s fellowship
We unite indepentedent churches in one umbrella of our Mission IRGM in order to product independent churches from various depravities.
Children’s home
We come across many needy and destitute children who lack of food, clothe, education and nutrition in our mission field
So we take care of children whose are orphans semi-orphans, parent who died in natural calamity.
Children whose life is affected by parental involvement in drugs and immorality.
We provide childcare, food; clothe education, health, employment and shelter in order to protect them from various depravities.
Community social service
We not only look after the spiritual life of people but also the welfare life.
Wherever people lives in worries, crying and sorrow, we find out them to wipe their tear share the love of God and Help them to come in to good status in the society.
Emphasize the social status, involve them in social activities, and widen the environment, economic social, culture and political rights to them, improving the quality of the present and income generation.
Holistic shelter and human settlement development income generation in poverty and removal of illiteracy.
Qualities of education for eradicate the chronic-unemployment so that they may achieve independent living for themselves and their generation.
HIV/AIDS PROJECT
HIV/AIDS Major issue of India. Public people and positives people wandering to get awareness on HIV/AIDS. So, we start counseling center that offer awareness for public and positives people along with share the Gospel of Christ.
Self Help Group (SHP)
we are forming women self help group in our mission field. Christian and non-Christian also member in the group. We plan to form some more group both men and women within the churches and mission area in order to removal of poverty.
I seek prayer, guidance, fellowship, resource, and partnership and financial support for our out- reach and church planting project from your mission.
Looking to hear from you.
In His Vineyard.
Rev.D.SAMUEL.M.Th
INDIAN RURAL GOSPEL MISSION TRUST.
PO.BOX.13, GUDIYATHAM,
TN.INDIA.632602.
E-MAIL: revdsamuel@yahoo.com
revdsamuel@gmail.com
irgm@rediffmail.com
Visit us; http://www.webspawner.com/users/irgm/index.html