Indian Christians Beaten, Share Christ in Jail
India
Walter was a new Christian, and he was scared. Most people in his village thought anyone who left Hinduism was rejecting Indian culture, so Christians were highly criticized by their neighbors.
Although Walter was reluctant to talk about his faith, he admired his pastor’s boldness. Eventually, he decided to visit a neighboring village with Pastor Joseph.
When a Hindu family asked them to pray for a sick family member, they gladly entered their home. But when they walked back out, about 50 men were waiting for them. The mob began to beat them and smash their vehicle with sticks. They looted their vehicle and dragged the Christians to the police station, where they were thrown in jail.
Pastor Joseph lost four teeth in the beating, and Walter was covered with bruises. But the pastor was undeterred. As he crouched on the dirt floor of the jail cell, still aching from the beating, he couldn’t stop talking about Jesus with other prisoners in the cell. Walter watched as three of his cellmates gave their lives to Christ. Suddenly, something inside him overflowed. He turned to the prisoner slumped beside him. “Do you know that Jesus loves you?” he began. The man responded with interest, and after several hours of conversation, he, too, became a Christian.
Walter and Pastor Joseph were released after three days. Today, fully aware of the potential for more beatings and jail time, Walter continues to share Jesus with everyone he meets. God used an arrest and a beating to embolden Walter’s faith.
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