Christian Persecution

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The Worst of the Worst
The brutality against Orissa Christians spawned by Hindu fundamentalists was unflinchingly complete. Homes were burned. Churches were destroyed. People were killed. The entire Digal family fled their small village in the Kandhalmal district to the slums of the state's capital. All eight members were forced to live in a one-room, wooden shack.
On Sept. 20, 2008, Pastor Digal left his family in the makeshift shelter they had carved out for themselves. Over their objections he went to their home village to check on their house and livestock.
Pastor Digal was traveling on a local bus to his destroyed home when it was stopped by 18 Hindu radicals. What happened next was a horror unimaginable.
The radicals dragged Pastor Digal off the crowded, dusty bus. They ignored the sickening crunch of bone as both his legs broke. They proceeded to torture him, demanding that he return to Hinduism.
"I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ," Pastor Digal said. "You may kill me but I will never become Hindu."
The 18 men began to beat Pastor Digal. They tied his hands and legs. Witnesses watched as they stripped him of his clothes leaving nothing but a shirt. They burned his face and tortured him in unspeakable ways. Then they dumped this limp body in a creek where it floated for days.
"We Never Got Angry"
Fourteen days later, after frantically calling around Orissa trying to find his father, Rajendra saw his mother on a local television broadcast. She held a black and white photo of his father. He was dead, killed by radical Hindus because he was a Christian. Even though she lost her husband Karpul says "we never got angry after hearing about the news about my husband's killing."
Her son agrees. "I do not carry anger towards them because my Jesus was once also killed on the cross for all mankind, for the entire sinful world," Rajendra said. "My father dedicated his life for my village for people who still did not know Christ. I think for my village, my father also was killed. And by the sacrifice of his own life, they may know Jesus Christ and accept him as their only Lord and personal savior. "
The Digals were one of the hundreds of people helped by VOM ministry partners, thanks to our readers. They received help with relocation, food and other basic necessities. But the aftermath of the horrific violence in Orissa has left tens of thousands of Indian Christians without homes, jobs or stability. In January the government closed the relief camps in Orissa leaving thousands homeless and without protection. Even with the uncertainty, Orissa Christians say they are strengthened by the prayers and love of Christians all over the world. Your love allows them to remain bold for Christ.
"We strongly believe that Christians all over the world are praying for us," says Rajendra. "We are also praying for all of them. (Praying) that everyone should stand firm for witnessing for Jesus throughout their life."


These days every where in India we find such people in villages even carrying weapons. They say that they are fighting for Hindu (India) nation. They say be proud to be Hindu. Few years ago such people collapsed a historical Maszid in Ayodhya. Killed hundreds and destroyed thousands of churches, houses, shops and maszids (Mosques) in Gujarath. In a place called Godra they pierced the wombs of Christian & Muslim pregnant women. Killed thousands of people in India in the recent past in all the states. Now we donthave religious freedom in India. People say its democratic country but people who line here know because we are experiencing. Last year hundreads were killed in Orissa. thousands of houses were destroyed in Orissa.

There are so many more stories that could be shared, not only just in India, but in China, Iran, and many more places.
If you want to read more about what is going on, check out: www.persecution.com

Brothers and sisters, we must pray for those who are dying for the gospel. We have it so easy here, where everyday we wake up and decide what we are going to do, what we are going to wear, what we are going to eat, when there are people who when they wake up are thinking will I die today, where will I hide, will I be tortured, burned or killed??
Remember, we are one body in Christ and there are parts of our bodies that are dying. God ultimately has His will and those who suffer persecution for His name's sake inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, but we should not forget to pray for those who need strength, comfort, courage and so much more.

Please always keep those who are suffering for the gospel in your prayers DAILY!

http://www.persecution.in/christians_orissa_news


Please keep your brothers and sisters who are suffering and dying in your prayers!


In Christ's Love,

CL