INDIA

Eleven Christian families in Maharashtra state, India have lodged an official complaint of sexual assault carried out by Hindu villagers. On May 15th, the families were summoned to a community court and asked to give up their faith. When they refused, the men were severely beaten and the women were sexually assaulted. When the Christians lodged an official complaint on May 18th, Hindu villagers lodged a counter complaint, accusing them of desecrating Hindu idols. Seven Hindu and 13 Christian villagers were arrested and later released on bail; both groups are now seeking legal advice. Meanwhile, Hindu villagers met on June 12th, with nine neighboring villages and asked them to socially ostracize the Christian families. The families have been banned from using public wells and shopping at local food stores.

Pray God will bring peace of mind to those who were attacked as He leads them to forgive their enemies. Pray they will bring Christ's light to the spiritual darkness around them. Pray God will use this situation to carry out His plans to bring more souls into His Kingdom.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

On June 4th, a government official in Orissa, India ordered the demolition of a Christian settlement "within 48 hours" to make way for a boating park to attract tourists to the area. However due to a public outcry, an interim order was passed on June 6th, delaying the demolition until the monsoon season had passed. Christians say the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a radical Hindu group, held a paramilitary training camp in the town from June 2nd to 4th, attended by some of the state ministers; this may be connected with the demolition order. "The administration is trying to harass the minority Christian community," the Rt. Rev. Aman Khosola alleged.

Pray the Holy Spirit will move in loving power to overcome the spirit of hatred that has dominated Orissa state. Pray the Christians will show love and mercy toward those who oppose them, heaping coals of fire on their heads. Pray God will soften the hearts of the Hindus to allow their Christian neighbors access to wells and food stores.
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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Hindu villagers have accused a Christian couple in Pradesh state of attempted forced conversion. Jagdish and Grace Nayak were arrested July 19th, in Indore district. Dharmendra Chaterjee invited them to his house for prayer. After they finished praying, Chaterjee called his neighbors into the house and accused the Nayaks of enticing his family to convert to Christianity in return for education, health care and other benefits, including money for a family wedding. The Nayaks were detained by villagers, including members of the Dharma Raksha Samiti (DRS, or Religious Protection Committee) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu extremist group. Police soon took them into custody. A police inspector told Compass he believed the complaint was a planned attempt by the DRS and the RSS to keep the Nayaks away from the village.

Pray God in His mighty power will protect Jagdish and Grace from further arrests and harassment. Pray Chaterjee will remember the prayers for him and his family that were offered in good faith before the one true God of love and mercy. Pray all Christians in the region will remain faithful and Christlike.

Hindu extremists have begun a campaign to "reconvert" Christians from Dalit backgrounds in the north central Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The World Hindu Council plans to convert to Hinduism at least 80,000 Dalits (India's "untouchables" who occupy the lowest place in the caste system) in the region by year's end. Hindu organizations conducted a survey claiming more than 200,000 Dalits in one part of the state had converted to Christianity.

Pray God will dispel any spirit of fear among the Dalits who have come to know the One who loves them. Pray He will protect those who share their faith with the Dalits. Pray for the Hindu extremists who do not know how much God loves them.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Gospel Echoing Missionary Society's mission compound in Bihar state, India was surrounded by a mob of Hindu extremists August 31st . They were kept under siege for three days as the mob attempted to kill the Rev. Augustine Jebakumar, Director of the mission. The attackers demanded Jebakumar's arrest for allegedly desecrating a Hindu idol. The trouble began when a group of young people taking part in a religious procession passed the compound in Sikaria village. Jebakumar objected to their noise and a man in the procession hit him on the nose as others joined in the attack. The mob then hit the Christians with sticks and stones, injuring at least 12. Four were seriously injured; two were later hospitalized. One hundred families and 900 children were trapped inside the compound with no electricity for three days. Jebakkumar said he cooperated with the arrest as the police admitted they were unable to control the violent crowd. The Hindus are planning to build a temple on land near the compound.

Pray God will quickly heal the injuries of those who were attacked, assuring them of His loving comfort and power. Pray for opportunities for these Christians to express God's love to the Hindus. Pray God will sovereignly move to put a stop to the temple construction.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Radical Hindus have expelled evangelist Zacariah (24) from his village for spreading the good news. Zacariah has been working among a poor Hindu community for four years. He started his ministry with a JESUS film team and later began a small, challenging ministry among the poor Hindus. Zacariah has a small congregation of 15-20 people in a village in the Chickmaglur district of Karnataka state in southern India, where he continued his prayer meeting despite an expulsion order issued by radical Hindus. They have now threatened a death penalty for his continued refusal to accept the expulsion order. Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) is intervening to protect the life of this bold soldier of Jesus Christ. A political leader has been asked to interact with the police to extend protection.

Praise God for the bold witness of this faithful believer who continues to reach out with the love of his Savior to the poor. Pray God will surround Zacariah with His strong arm of protection. Pray our merciful and omnipotent Father will reveal Himself to the radical Hindus and bring His peace to India.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Hindu fundamentalists returned to the Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS) compound in Rohtas district, Bihar state, India, Sunday, September 25th. Several Christians were severely injured as in a previous attack August 31st. "About 16 people came from two nearby villages and broke open the gate of the compound," a representative of GEMS told Compass. "They pulled out some of the GEMS staff (from the compound) and brutally beat them. They also robbed them of their belongings before throwing them into the fields.... The most serious injuries, however, were sustained by newlywed Kirupakaran Shankar. The attackers injured his spinal cord, resulting in the loss of movement in one leg. GEMS is the largest indigenous Christian missionary agency in Bihar and has around 100 families, including a total of 900 children, living in the compound. The mission contains a school, student hostel, orphanage, hospital and other social service facilities. As part of a new campaign to stem the increasing number of conversions around the country, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) has called for a comprehensive law to ban religious conversions in India. Addressing media on August 25th, Mohan Joshi, national secretary of the VHP, said anti-conversion laws in some states were not stringent enough to curb religious conversions. India has 25 million Christians, who represent 2.4 percent of the population. India is 83 percent Hindu and 11 percent Muslim.

(Compass Direct)
Radical Hindu villagers of Jamanya village in Maharashtra state's Jalgaon district, remain hostile to Christian families they attacked on May 16th. They threatened to beat them if they refuse to renounce their faith, detained and beat a Christian visitor, and attacked the house of another believer. On September 25th, the Jamanya village court pressured the 11 Christian families, who were attacked, to renounce their faith. September 23rd the villagers detained and beat Neta Gyansingh, one of the victims of the earlier attack. Three men allegedly sent by one of the Hindu extremists, earlier broke into the house of local Christian, Saimal Mohan Singh Barela. "Barela has not yet returned to his house and is living in his relative's house with his wife and children for fear of his life," a local pastor said.

Pray the One who makes wars to cease will calm the violence of Hindus in India. Pray the believers in the GEMS compound will continue bold, loving and wise in their faith. Pray the Lord will quickly and completely heal Kirupakaran Shankar.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Religious tensions in Punjab state increased last week, as police beat several Christians in jail. They had taken them to jail to presumably protect them from Hindu extremists. At least 40 Christians were praying at a home in Maloud the night of September 25th when a mob, including members of the Hindu extremist group Bajrang Dal, stormed the house. The mob threatened the Christians and beat some of them. Believers called the police, and four of them-Gurdev Singh, Balkaran Singh, Jaswant Singh and Amar Singh, a pastor-were taken into custody, as the mob grew increasingly violent. At Maloud's police station, Assistant Sub-Inspector Hukum Chand Sharma, repeatedly struck the Christians, gravely injuring Gurdev Singh and Amar Singh. Later he also beat a 60-year-old pastor, Sukhdev Singh, who was later hospitalized with serious injuries.

Nine Christians in Chattisgarh's Durg district are on trial for disrupting the peace between two communities, by "attempting to convert" Hindu villagers with offers of money. On Monday, September 26th, the pastor and eight members of a church appeared before a judge, who offered to dismiss the case if the Christians would agree to stop their activities.,They declined to do, asserting that the allegations against them were false. Police had arrested the group on June 6th and charged them with disturbing the peace, after a mob of around 200 people attacked the Christians and accused them of offering money to convert Hindu villagers. Police did not file any charges against the attackers. Meanwhile, two other Christians in another district of Chattisgarh are awaiting charges against them for their alleged role in fraudulent "conversion."

Pray our compassionate Savior will physically and emotionally heal the injured believers. Pray they will display God's heart toward their enemies. Pray the police will recognize that their attempts to wipe out Christianity were in vain.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

In another delay, the Indian Supreme Court has withheld its decision on the Dalit civil rights case until November. This delay is a positive development, allowing the Court to take seriously this case of discrimination against Dalit Christians and not rush in judgment. It also allows Christians to have more time to intercede with prayer, asking God to guide the thoughts and decisions of the judges. Under the current law, Dalits lose some of their basic constitutional rights when they become Christians; they are no longer eligible for affirmative action placements in education, employment, government and many other areas-rights granted to Dalits who are Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist. According to a government census, some 20 million Dalits have become Christians. Equally important, there are many Dalits whose only hesitation to becoming Christians is fear of this legalized discrimination.

Pray our merciful Father will lead the Supreme Court of India to correct these injustices. Pray fervently on behalf of these millions of Dalit men, women and children who suffer unjust discrimination. Pray the Holy Spirit will open the eyes of Hindus to see every person is of value and precious in the sight of God.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Christianity is a major threat to Indian nationalism, indicated organizers of a "reconversion" rally held last weekend in Gujarat yesterday during the closing ceremony. Organizers of the Shabri Kumbh led the 60,000-strong crowd to repeat, "I will save my religion," and the throng often shouted, "Jai Shri Ram (Praise be to the god Rama)." The assembly resolved to save the Hindu religion and Bharat Mata (Mother India goddess) by reconverting Christians. Sadhvi Ritambhara, a popular Hindu preacher whose programs are aired on several TV channels, said, "They (Christians) call us harvest. They intend to pluck us out. And foreigners want to do this to us." Ritambhara said it was imperative for Hindus to take up arms to save their religion.

Pray the God of love and peace will protect His children. Pray the Lord will give Indian Christians an extra measure of discernment and courageous hearts to proclaim the gospel. Pray their witness will draw many to Christ.

(Gospel for Asia)
In a recent incident, two Gospel for India (GFA) missionaries in Haryana were attacked as they were showing the Man of Mercy film about Jesus. More than 200 villagers had gathered to watch the film in the courtyard of a believer’s home when a group of young Hindu militants attacked and started beating the missionaries. William, one of the missionaries, is the pastor of a Believers Church; and Eno, the other, works in the Gospel for Asia film ministry. Some of those watching the film tried to rescue the believers, but they, too, were cruelly beaten. The police came and took control of the situation, but as soon as they left, about 1,000 radicals surrounded the house, shouting anti-Christian slogans and threatening the believers. Miraculously, God intervened and the owner prevented them from entering his property. If this were an isolated incident, it would still be extremely serious. But it is worse. All across India, Hindu radicals are openly attacking Christians, and the situation is getting more and more difficult for believers.

Give thanks to God that He prevented the radical Hindus from entering the home of the believer who allowed this film to be shown on his property. Pray William and Eno will not become discouraged and will be strengthened to carry forward His ministry. Pray God’s love will touch those who are spreading the darkness of hate over the nation of India and He will renew their hearts.

Pray God will comfort the injured believers and heal them quickly. Pray they will remain grounded and steadfast in their faith. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in great power throughout India to break the spiritual bondage of Hinduism.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

(Gospel for India/Compass Direct/agapepress)
According to Gospel for Asia (GFA), the level of persecution against Christians in India has reached new levels in early 2006, as Hindu extremists work to incite violence against believers. The fight centers on Hindutva, literally "Hinduness," a growing ideology that has a purely Hindu nation as its goal. At a recent large rally, Hindu nationalists called on the states to make their own anti-conversion laws. Please pray for the following situations:


On February 17th, a band of radicals destroyed a church building and Christian school in Kota, District of Rajasthan State. (Gospel for India)
A GFA native missionary and several other believers are in jail because of a radical plot to frame them for the murder of a child. The 16-month-old child of a Muslim family had suffered from a prolonged illness. When the parents quarreled with a Christian pastor over some land, members of the local Hindu nationalist party advised them to dash their child against some rocks, breaking its bones. They then filed murder charges against Pastor Kasota and 10 others. (Gospel for India)
On February 8th, an Indian woman from Canada and three youths beat the pastor of an independent church in Punjab so severely that he required hospital treatment. The woman had been involved in a land dispute with the church and hired the youths to beat up the pastor who would not give up land that legally belonged to the church. (Compass Direct)
More than 10,000 students are graduating from Hopegivers International Seminary this month. Most of the students are Dalits, people considered below the fourfold Hindu caste system. (Agapepress)

Pray God will put a hedge of protection around all His faithful ones in India. Pray the Dalits, who know God's great love for them, will share their faith in Jesus throughout all India. Pray the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of many Hindus to the reality of the gospel.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

Recent events in India have caused hardships for Hopegivers International in their ongoing efforts to provide care, food and shelter for some of the orphans in their charge. In a letter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), New Delhi, Hopegivers Founder Bishop M. A. Thomas says: "The Rajasthan state police and the administration have unleashed a reign of terror on our institutions and attempts have been made on the lives of our senior administrators. The government-sponsored radicals, in the very presence of local police, have indulged in large scale vandalism of our properties and continue to file cases without merit against us on a daily basis. Our lives are in danger, and police officials are helpless under the political disposition in Rajasthan. The supplies to our hospitals, orphanages and schools are running out, and the children will suffer if something is not done now." Reports are circulating that building inspectors are being recruited to find fault with the orphanages, schools and church buildings in order to have them condemned and torn down. They would be replaced with yoga centers and Hindu temples. Registrations for all institutions and programs are being revoked without cause on an arbitrary basis.

Pray our loving Father will protect His children in the besieged compound, giving them food for their bodies and spirits. Pray the staff members will be witnesses of faith and hope and especially love. Pray God will answer the prayers of Christians worldwide to stop the harassment and threats of violence to this facility.

(Compass Direct)
Hindu villagers in the Eastern state of West Bengal assaulted Christian women from two different families on Thursday (March 2nd) and on February 16th. In last week's assault, six young men forced their way into the home of Kanai Kamelia in East Medinipur district, Manhandling and tried to sexually assault his wife, Renuka Kamelia. The young men reviled the Kamelia family for attending a Christian prayer meeting. Renuka Kamelia, who bled profusely after the assault, later went to the Bhupathinagar police station, where police were said to have reluctantly registered her complaint. However, the officer in charge told Compass he had no knowledge of the attack. In the February attack, 13 local residents attacked the wife of influential Christian leader Biman Bandhu Patra. Leading the attack was Patra's brother, who had long been upset about his decision to become a Christian.

Pray God will strengthen the hearts of these families as they trust in Him. Pray the Lord will move with power to change the hearts of the six young men, leading them to repentance and the joy of their salvation. Pray for a miracle of God's grace to bring Patra's brother into His Kingdom.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

On March 16th, Rajasthan state police officers arrested the Rev. Dr. Samuel Thomas, president of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) and son of Archbishop M.A.Thomas, EMI's founder. The arrest took place in Noida, Uttar Pradesh state. Both Thomas and his father had gone underground after Hindu extremists falsely accused them of distributing a controversial book that alleged defamed their religion and deities. Archbishop Thomas is still in hiding. In the past few months, projects run by the ministry he founded--including orphanages, schools and a hospital--have been targeted for closure by a wide array of Hindu extremists, including some who have offered a reward of $26,000 for the heads of the archbishop and his son. Dr. Thomas, who was accompanied by two lawyers, was arrested in Noida, Uttar Pradesh state, in the driveway of the home of a lawyer who is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India. Five or six men, one of whom claimed to be the station house officer of the police station in Kota, Rajasthan state, tried to push Thomas into a car. One of them then put a firearm to the face of one of the lawyers and warned them not to resist the arrest. The officers neglected to follow proper procedure--showing neither their identity cards nor an arrest warrant.

Pray God will protect Dr. Thomas, giving him calm faith and the opportunity to be a witness of the keeping power of his Savior. Pray God will protect the Christian school and orphanage in Kota, Rajasthan. Pray the prayers and written protests of Christians worldwide will force the Indian government to release Dr. Thomas and allow the E.M.I. facility to remain open.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

A Hindu extremist group planning centenary celebrations in April hopes to "reconvert" as many as 10,000 tribal Christians to Hinduism during the event. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will hold the Dharma Jogna in Orissa, India April 8th – 10th. Given the recent trend of mass "reconversion" ceremonies organized by the RSS and its sister organization, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council), Christian leaders fear many tribal people may be persuaded to reconvert against their will. "We are extremely worried," said the Rev. Dandia Basi Hrudaya, secretary of the Orissa chapter of the All India Christian Council (AICC). "The AICC and other Christian leaders are meeting this week to finalize plans to protect the tribals during this event."

Pray our powerful, omnipotent God will protect all those who have chosen to believe in His Son. Pray the Holy Spirit will send a spirit of confusion among the Hindus attending the "reconversion" ceremonies. Pray Christians worldwide will join in fervent prayer that our one true God be glorified in this event.

(Compass Direct)
The Rev. Tongkhojang Lunkim was released at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday (March 18th), after being held captive for two months by the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in Manipur state, northeast India. Before handing him over, the KLA forced Lunkim to apologize for and stop his alleged "anti-KLA activities." The Rev. M. Haokhothong, Lunkim's son-in-law, told Compass he was grateful for those who have prayed for the release. "I met Lunkim this evening in his home, but unfortunately he is too weak and unable to speak," Haokhothong said. "He is on a glucose drip, and a nurse is attending him." Lunkim--a missionary and human rights activist--was a key spokesman for the people of Manipur.

Give thanks to God for the release of Rev. Lunkim. Pray he will know the presence and healing power of Jesus as he recovers from the trauma of imprisonment. Pray God will give him supernatural peace of mind as he forgives his captors.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

In remanding the president of the Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) to judicial custody until April 10th, a Rajasthan court ordered the administration to keep the Rev. Dr. Samuel Thomas in a cell separate from Hindu extremist inmates allegedly plotting to assault him. Thomas' attorney, Mohammad Akram, told Compass he had pleaded in court his client be given a cell separate from jailed militants accused of violence against Christians. EMI officials said other Hindu extremists were hatching a conspiracy to falsely implicate Thomas for illegal trade in drugs. A delegation from the All India Christian Council has submitted a report to the prime minister, concluding that Rajasthan state is harassing Christians due to pressure from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). During a three-day tour of the Kota area, the delegation also met Samuel Thomas in police custody. Thomas told the delegation he had not been mistreated, but he was worried about EMI's orphanage and the hospital. At the hospital the delegation found patients had not received adequate care because of police presence and threats that if anyone were treated, staff members would be arrested and the facility closed down.

Pray God will continue to protect Dr. Thomas from physical harm. Pray those who never sought the Lord will see Jesus in Dr. Thomas and turn to Him. Pray God will move in power to protect and maintain the orphanage and hospital founded by Dr. Thomas' father.

(Compass Direct)
A Hindu extremist group planning centenary celebrations in April hopes to "reconvert" as many as 10,000 tribal Christians to Hinduism during the event. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will hold the Dharma Jogna in Orissa, India, on April 8th – 10th. Given the recent trend of mass "reconversion" ceremonies organized by the RSS and its sister organization, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council), Christian leaders fear many tribal people may be persuaded to reconvert against their will. "We are extremely worried," said the Rev. Dandia Basi Hrudaya, secretary of the Orissa chapter of the All India Christian Council (AICC). "The AICC and other Christian leaders are meeting this week to finalize plans to protect the tribals during this event."

Pray the Lord of all creation will strengthen the faith of the tribal people with supernatural courage to stand up for Jesus. Pray the Holy Spirit will send a spirit of confusion into the minds of the Hindu extremists. Pray the plans of the organizers of this event will backfire and more Hindus will seek to know Christ.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.

On May 2nd, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Thomas, president of the Emmanuel Mission International (EMI), was released from Kota Central Jail after the Rajasthan High Court granted him interim bail for three months. In custody for 48 days, Thomas had been held on charges of creating "communal disharmony." The Supreme Court had previously granted anticipatory bail to his father, EMI founder Archbishop M.A. Thomas. The elder Thomas has been in hiding since authorities issued an arrest warrant for him in a Hindu extremist-backed attack on his ministry.

Hearings on charges against Samuel Thomas will be held on May 12th, in two courts, the court of Additional Judicial Magistrate and the court of Additional Civil Judge.

Pray when Dr. Thomas goes to trial, all charges will be dropped. Pray our omnipotent Father will protect the orphans in Kota who are so dear to Dr. Thomas. Pray God will overcome the spirit of violence among the Hindus in India and He will be glorified. (VOM sources)
VOM received news from Orissa state on May 4th, that a group of 150 to 200 Hindu fanatics surrounded the houses of a few Christian villagers and threatened to kill them. One Hindu had come and scolded these Christians with obscene and vulgar language. These believers were quite concerned and went to another village to phone for help. A police guard was arranged, but at present we don't know the outcome of this situation.

Pray God will preserve the lives and property of those who are faithful to Him. Pray the believers will forgive those who are harassing and frightening them. Pray the willingness of these Christians, as they suffer humiliation and threats, will draw many to seek to know the Christ they serve.

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"The conversion of the entire population to Islam and the extinction of every form of dissent is the ideal of the Muslim State - This is Islamic Peace"

A moderate Moslem is one who sends others blow themselves up.