10/05/2021 India (International Christian Concern) – Mangal and Baja Raba had lived in Odisha’s Badliguda village for several years, when suddenly they fell ill. The couple tried everything in search of a cure- from different types of medicine, to black magic and animal sacrifices. This continued for five years, until finally they heard about Jesus Christ, and travelled to a nearby village church seeking prayers for their condition.
Upon hearing their story, the pastor of the church, Pastor Ruben Madkami, went to their village and conducted a prayer meeting in their home. Miraculously, they both were healed. They willingly converted to Christianity and accepted Jesus as their personal savior.
For three months following that miraculous day, Pastor Madkami continued to conduct prayer meetings as well as Sunday worship in the couple’s home. However, as attendance increased, other villagers became weary of the commotion and Christian activities occurring in the community.
One day, a mob of 50-60 Hindu fundamentalists went to the couple’s home and began to reprimand the churchgoers for their decision to accept Christ. They told the families that they would no longer be able to work and live in the community unless they reconverted to Hinduism.
Despite this threat, two Christian families stood firm in their faith and refused to return to Hinduism. Hearing this, the Hindu fundamentalists became angry and attacked them, beating them to the point of unconsciousness. They then left their lifeless bodies out by the road.
A written complaint was written against the mob at the local Police Station; however, no action was taken. Both of the families were forced to flee the village.
Sadly, stories such as this are all too common in India, a country where Christians face ongoing persecution by those who feel that all Indians should practice Hinduism.
The 2021 Open Doors World Watch List ranked India as the 10th worst persecutor of Christians in the world: “Christians are accused of following a ‘foreign faith’ and even blamed for bad luck in their communities. These believers are often physically attacked and sometimes killed, as well as being under constant pressure from their family and community to return to Hinduism. If they do not ‘reconvert’, they may be boycotted by their community, with a devastating effect on their ability to earn income.”
Please join us in praying for our suffering brothers and sisters in India, and for the Lord to strengthen the church during these difficult times. Please also pray for those who persecute the church, that they will be transformed by the love of Jesus and be granted true repentance.
For interviews, please contact Addison Parker: press@persecution.org.
