In July 2016 we posted the report “INDIA: Believers beaten with sticks by Fundamentalist Hindus”—reprinted below. At that time there were only three families in that village. The fellowship of followers of Jesus Christ in that village has grown to include 27 families as of March 2019!
Original post below:
“By the grace of Almighty God our Elijah Challenge Pastors are doing very fruitful ministry in different places of India. Our work in the state of Chhattisgarh is growing day-by-day. Along with the harvest, however, comes persecution.
A few days ago I received news from our Elijah Challenge Pastor Satrughana Viswakarma in Chhattisgarh. During a time of fellowship he was having with our believers in a certain village, around ten young men from the anti-Christian Fundamentalist Hindu RSS group descended upon them suddenly, and without a word beat the believers with sticks.
Later we heard that this attack on our believers had been planned. The beating resulted in eye injuries and in other parts of their bodies. At first they could not understand why they had been attacked, but within a few minutes it dawned on them that the young men were from the anti-Christian Fundamentalist Hindu RSS group. After the beating the believers were strictly warned not to worship Jesus Christ in the villages—or else they would face severe punishment in the days ahead. Also our Elijah Challenge Pastor was threatened and warned not to come to the village.
Though our believers were beaten, but they were not upset. They were glad for the sake of our Lord Jesus.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Acts 5:40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Please pray for our Pastor and believers in the state of Chattishgarh. In this state the government is at present under the rule of the BJP Party—which supports the Fundamentalist Hindu RSS group in India.”
-Elijah Challenge Coordinator in Orissa, India