As villagers watched Ritesh exchange the emptiness of worshiping idols for a relationship with the one true God, they accused him of converting his family to Christianity. For 35 years, Ritesh regularly performed puja at a temple in southern India. Like millions of other Hindus who practice the ritualistic prayer, he lit sticks of incense, displayed colorful flowers, listened to meditative music and worshiped various Hindu idols. He often spent more than an hour in the temple meditating on Hindu texts. But as much as he longed for spiritual growth through these rituals, he and his family never felt a connection with their gods or found the peace for which they were yearning. Then, one day in 2016, a local shopkeeper named Pascal gave him a Bible after a lengthy discussion about how to know God. Ritesh read the book daily … and soon learned that finding peace with the true God would mean losing peace with his neighborhood. finally meeting god On an invitation from Pascal, Ritesh attended his first church service a few months after receiving the Bible. He was deeply moved by the Scripture readings, the sermon and the way the Christians worshiped. “It was like something
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Over the last several months, hundreds of Christian brothers and sisters in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh State, India, have been forced to leave their villages because of their faith.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MorePastor 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.
Read MorePastor 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MorePastor 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.”
Read MoreA 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MorePastor 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.
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