India

In Tamilnadu, the number of persecution events rose dramatically in 2022. Pastors and evangelists have been chased away from villages, beaten, and robbed. Many churches conducted in rented buildings are being forced to close by Hindu radicals pressuring property owners.

Pastor Maan, who ministers to tribal people in Andhra Pradesh state, requests prayer for members of his church who are being forced to leave the Christian faith by Hindu radicals and local leaders.

Pastor Nithin has led a church in Karnataka state, India, for 15 years. For years, small attacks like broken windows and official warnings about loud singing or the display of a cross occurred.

In Andhra Pradesh state, officials are conducting a survey to identify all Christians who have come from Hindu families, married a Hindu or are conducting Christian activities.

Pastor Sawan leads a church in western India. During a service, police entered the church building with members of the radical Hindu group Bajrang Dal, removing Pastor Sawan and an elder of the church “for questioning.”

A group of believers met for a service of thanksgiving after a significant healing, some of them traveling more than 200 kilometers [124 miles] to attend the service in Madhya Pradesh. Local members of a Hindu radical group noticed the assembly.

On Dec. 26, Pastor Jawahar was sitting in his home in western India, talking with members of his church, when Hindu fanatics-including police officers-burst in, accusing the Christians of trying to convert Hindus by fraud.

Pastor Nahtiya, his son and other church members had worshiped together and were walking home through the jungle when they were ambushed by Hindu radicals throwing stones at them. Some were able to break away only to be attacked again by villagers wielding axes, sticks and other tools.

A large family in Lalu village, Madhya Pradesh, India all became Christians about 15 years ago. One Sunday in February, while the whole family was at an early church service, a neighbor ran in to report that their house was burning.

In Gujarat, India, an unfamiliar man stopped a group of Christians walking home from a prayer fellowship meeting at a fellow Christian woman’s house.