Persecution Continues in India but there is Hope for Change.

They hate you because of me - Elizabeth Kendal via Assist News has a call to prayer for elections taking place in India and information recent attacks upon Christians.

INDIA: PERSECUTION PERSISTS BUT GOVERNMENT WORKS TO TURN TIDE
- requesting prayer for India and for the Assembly elections in Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand

By Elizabeth Kendal
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC)
Special to ASSIST News Service

AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- In May 2004, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was voted out of office. The BJP is the political wing of the sangh parivar, a group of aggressive Hindu nationalist organisations. The BJP led India into a period marked by serious persecution of Christians. We praise and thank God for answering the prayers of many and removing the BJP from power.

Even though India now has a secular government committed to religious freedom, the legacy of the BJP and the influence of the sangh parivar remain. Tribal Indians (regarded by the sangh parivar all as Hindus) converting to Christianity became a hot political issue during the BJP's rule. Before its defeat the BJP was preparing anti-conversion laws to be enforced nation-wide. The party still agitates against conversions, saying they threaten national (Hindu) identity. The RSS, the paramilitary wing of the sangh parivar, remains committed to preventing conversions. India's government will shortly present to parliament a law criminalising religious persecution and compensating victims. Maybe then the tide will turn.

Preacher Benny Hinn visited Bangalore (southwest India) on 21 January. Bangalore-based Hindu organisations, numerous Hindu priests, and 15 BJP Karnataka state legislators along with BJP national general secretary Ananthkumar led angry protests against the preacher's visit and the conversions that might take place. More than 10,000 police were needed to protect the venue where an estimated half-million gathered to hear the preacher. One eyewitness to the protests reported, '...both Hindus and Moslems are demonstrating, closing their businesses, and rioting.' He said the vehicle of a local Pastor Paul was surrounded and attacked by angry mobs throwing rocks and wielding sticks and metal bars. The family managed to escape with minor injuries before the vehicle was torched. Swami Raghunath Guruji, representing Hindu priests in Karnataka, alleged that Hinn's 'Festival of Blessings' programme was an international conspiracy sponsored by US agencies to convert Asians.

On 19 January Hindu militants set fire to the newly-opened St Jude's Catholic School in Assam (northeast India). Christian schools are popular in India because of their reputation for high academic standards, and local parents had helped build St Jude's. The arsonists accused the school staff of converting Hindus to Christianity. In December 2004 a Hindu fundamentalist group ordered a Christian school in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh (northeast), to stop preaching Christianity and singing Christian songs. They also demanded that the school erect an object of Hindu worship, either a statue or a picture of the Hindu goddess Bharat Mata, on its property. The militants have asked district officials to close down the school if it fails to comply. The school is negotiating with the district magistrate.

ALSO: Thirty-two million voters are taking part in Assembly elections in Haryana (northwest) on Thursday 3 February, and in Bihar and Jharkhand (northeast) on 3, 15 and 23 February. These massively populated states (totaling around 100 million) have some of the world's least evangelised peoples, and some of the most sorely pressured Christians. Bihar is a state crippled with the poverty and suffering that comes from sin. Violence, corruption and child kidnapping are endemic.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* God to comfort Christians who suffer violent and distressing persecution, and strengthen the faith of Christians who suffer pressure to convert to Hinduism. May God raise up more workers to build up the church and spread the message of salvation amongst the peoples.

* wisdom and courage for PM Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Sonia Ghandi, and that God will be pleased to use this government as an instrument for harmony. May God turn people's hearts to a deep desire for peace and harmony, for the sake of the gospel and the kingdom of Christ.

* God to intervene in the state Assembly elections in Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand, turning the hearts of the people towards leaders who will deal decisively with lawlessness, corruption and evil, and promote righteousness, religious freedom and peace.

Pray in faith and '...expect great things from God'. (William Carey, missionary to India, 1793)

'A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In [Jesus] name the nations will put their hope.' (Promised in Matt 12:20-21)

Elizabeth Kendal is the Principal Researcher and Writer for the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (WEA RLC) www.worldevangelical.org/rlc.html. This article was initially written for the WEA RLP(Religious Liberty Prayer) mailing list

Elizabeth can be contacted by e-mail at rl-research {at} crossnet.org.au.

The Great Separation continues.