01/13/2021 India (International Christian Concern) – On January 4, a church in India’s Telangana state was desecrated by unknown assailants. As a result, the church was partially damaged and its members were left fearing the potential of future attack.
Pastor Samuel, the head of the District Pastor Association in Nalgonda District, told International Christian Concern (ICC) that the members of Horebu Pentecostal Church discovered the church had been desecrated on the morning of January 5. According to witnesses, broken glass and other debris littered the church premises.
Pastor Sunil Kumar, the pastor of Horebu Pentecostal Church, was informed of the desecration and immediately reported the incident to local police.
Horebu Pentecostal Church has been operating in Peddamunigala village, approximately 80 miles south of Hyderabad, for the last 11 years. Presently, 200 people regularly attend worship services at Horebu Pentecostal Church.
The January 4 attack is the first of its kind in Peddamunigala village. Local Christians are worried it could be a sign of tougher days ahead.
“I suspect this is the work of outsiders,” Pastor Samuel told ICC. “They want to disturb the peaceful situation in the village for their own selfish agenda.”
Churches in the region are planning to lead a peace rally in response to the desecration and leaders are seeking permission from police officers in the district. Police have also filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown people involved in desecrating the church and are investigating the matter.
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