After calls for violence against ‘cow slaughterers,’ Christians feared the worst. But the incident has been resolved … for now.
Last week, a call for violence against “cow slaughterers” took place in India at a massive Hindu gathering.
Speakers, including a man named Aadesh Soni, suggested that people who butchered cows or ate beef were fair game for attack. Soni also targeted four specific villages he identified as majority-Christian, sparking huge concern among many followers of Jesus. He called for a rally on March 1, and believers around the world prayed against any potential mob violence.
Now: Praise God, the large-scale rally which was scheduled to take place on March 1 was called off!
Soni’s speech attracted world-wide attention and increased pressure from around the world. Various Christian and human rights organizations spoke out and Soni uploaded a Facebook video to say he was postponing the event indefinitely—later, he stated that it may be considered canceled.
Soni expressed hope that the central and state governments, administration, and law enforcement will ensure protection to cows and that such a situation will not occur again where they must resort to such extreme steps to protect cows.
On February 25, a state-level meeting, attended by various government officials and Christian leaders, was held in Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh State (the state where the rally had been scheduled to take place), to address the incitement of large-scale violence. After the meeting, police provided assurances that there would be protection and security for the Christian-majority villages. In the following days, a few religious organizations and Christian leaders met and agreed to maintain peace and order and protect each other’s religious values and oppose anti-social activities. Various Christians from different denominations gathered and protested the planned rally and public threats.
There were no reports of violence or persecution throughout the day. The situation in the three villages remained peaceful and calm, with vigilant police officials patrolling constantly.
This is the result of our prayers: we saw a mighty move of God as people all over the world prayed for the Christians of Chhattisgarh, especially for the believers of the villages targeted by Soni: Vishrampur, Ganeshpur and Jhanakpur.
Local Christians are grateful for the fervent prayers and request for continued prayers for peace and harmony in Chhattisgarh state.
Pray
Prayers are still needed: In his video announcing the cancellation of the March 1 rally, Aadesh Soni stressed that this is not the end of their mission. He said the fight for “Gau Nyay” (justice to cows) will continue and his supporters must remain vigilant to ensure that no illegal activities of cow slaughtering take place. Please continue to pray with Christians in India, and praise God that violence was averted on March 1!
Over a dozen Christians were arrested on charges of conversion activities in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, in the last two months as the High Court rules that religious conversion is unconstitutional.
Throughout the month of June, at least twelve Christians were arrested across the state. The arrests included two pastors.
Most of them seem to have been arrested while in house prayer meetings, having been reported to police by local villagers, reports UCAN.
In July, the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that conversions at religious gatherings could lead to the majority population of India becoming a minority. “Such religious congregations should be immediately stopped where the conversion is taking place and changing religion of citizens of India”, the Court said.
Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s 11 states with an anti-conversion law, prohibiting any attempt to force someone to convert to another religion (other than Hinduism) through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by fraudulent means.
However, research has shown that the majority of police reports are based on complaints by Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) groups to target Christians.
According to local Christians and Open Doors’ partners, the reason for the increase in arrests is because the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost significantly in recent elections, something both the party and radical Hindu groups did not expect. “A revengeful drive has led to increased atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities”, one partner said. “The anti-conversion laws are misused and Christians are arrested on false charges.”
In recent years anti-conversion laws have been used by BJP supporters to settle personal scores and promote a Hindu nationalist agenda.
Rajasthan could become the 12th state to implement such laws, as the government has said such plans are in place. Local sources tell Open Doors that with BJP leader Bhajan Lal Sharma as the state’s Chief Minister, the bill could be implemented soon.
Protests against attacks
Meanwhile, tribal Christians in Chhattisgarh state took to the street in June to protest against violent attacks by militant Hindu groups. They walked in silence while holding placards reading “We will not tolerate insults in the name of religion” and “Stop violence against Christians”.
India’s Christian community is bracing for what they fear may be an even bleaker future, as Prime Minister Narendra Modimight return to power for a third successive term. Following their win, concerns are mounting over increased persecution and discrimination.
For several weeks, Open Doors has been encouraging prayer for the church in India during a major election that could have significant consequences.
After six weeks of voting, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious with 240 out of 543 seats. Although they fell short of the 272-majority mark, the BJP will rely on their National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies to form the government. This result reinforces the party’s mandate to continue its agenda, heavily influenced by Hindu nationalist ideology, or “Hindutva”.
A Decade of Increasing Hostility
Since the BJP first came to power in 2014, religious intolerance towards Christians and Muslims has escalated significantly. Priya Sharma*, an Open Doors local partner says she feels that the pattern of persecution is far from random: “The attacks against Christians have been very systematic and have only increased. Pastors are imprisoned on false charges, churches are closed, and there is forced re-conversion to Hinduism,” she says.
She says that the BJP’s ideology has emboldened Hindu extremist groups to act with impunity, leading to physical assaults, false accusations of forced conversions, and mob violence. Even during the election period, violence continued unabated, particularly in regions like Manipur where extremists attacked polling booths and murdered Christians.
Christians, who constitute around 2.3% of India’s population, face significant challenges in gaining political representation. Sharma notes that Christians are not concentrated in any single region, which dilutes their political influence. Despite this, churches encouraged their members to vote, hoping for change. “They have taken this election seriously and most of them have voted, praying for some kind of change, because they had been aware what kind of situation has been created for them in the past 10 years,” she says. “They believe whatever would be the result, that it’s from God and they would get the strength and grace to handle the situation.”
However, the prospects for Christian representatives in the Indian Parliament, or Lok Sabha, remain bleak. “Even if there is a Christian representative, their voice would not be heard,” Sharma observes.
"Make India a secular country. It’s supposed to be a place for all religions to coexist...We need a place where people can practice their rights and create a safe haven for people of all faiths.”
“They might want to advocate for the Christian community, but they often have to align with party agendas, which overlook minority religious voices.”
Systematic Persecution and Discrimination
The past decade has seen the introduction and enforcement of anti-conversion laws in 12 states, with four states adopting such laws in the last ten years. These laws prohibit religious conversion by force or allurement, but in practice, they are used to harass and arrest Christians on dubious charges. Christian worship services, even those held in private homes, are often labelled as “conversion gatherings,” leading to arrests and church closures.
Sharma highlights the broader societal discrimination Christians face, particularly in tribal areas where they are pressured to revert to their original religions to retain social benefits. Christian-run schools and institutions also face allegations of promoting Christianity, which leads to increased scrutiny and harassment.
India for all
With that said, the close contest between two political parties – Modi’s BJP and the opposition group Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) indicates that the people of India are shunning ‘politics of hatred’ and are moving towards a slightly more balanced leadership.
Open Doors partner Rahul Reddy*, who has a bird’s eye view of Indian politics, explains that the uptick in the profile of the opposing party can be good news for minority religions. “Although the election seems to favour the communal party, the emergence of I.N.D.I.A bloc should be applauded. They have become a formidable opponent to the ruling party and have fought neck and neck. Now, there is an opposition that can counter the nationalist government in cases of tyranny and oppression.”
Reddy continues that given the lack of absolute power of BJP, their nationalist moves can now be kept in check. “They cannot misuse things such as the Enforcement Directorate or Income Tax or their allies to threaten opposing ministers and send political opponents to jail… Leaders cannot amend the laws based on serpentine ways. This election gave a gift of democracy compared to the past two term elections that have been biased. This election is clear evidence of the beginning of the fall of hatred politics.”
Finally, OD local partner Priya Sharma’s plea to the new government is to restore India’s secular character. “Make India a secular country. It’s supposed to be a place for all religions to coexist,” she urges. “We need a place where people can practice their rights and create a safe haven for people of all faiths.”
“India’s Christians have been praying and fasting extensively,” says Priya. “They could take encouragement that their prayers have been answered in part by the BJP not reaching an absolute majority. Hopefully, they will continue to pray that the need for collaboration might offer some opportunities for change.”
“Even if they kill me, I want to serve the Lord”: Hari’s courageous faith in India.
In Hari Rana’s* village, there is no space for anything outside of the community’s tribal faith.
The traditional religion is deeply tied to the culture and identity of Hari’s tribe. So leaving the faith is viewed as a rejection of the tribe as well.
And following Jesus can be met with violence.
Hari saw this for the first time when a pastor visited the village and told people about Jesus. Three families accepted Christ, But were then kicked out of their village by extremists. They were forced to flee.
When Hari saw this, combined with the message of Jesus he had heard, he was deeply moved .He decided to give his life to Christ. “I was so amazed at the love these Christians showed to each other,” he says. “I knew this was the God that I wanted to believe and follow. From then on, there was no turning back for me.”
Hari’s family was furious at his decision—and he knew there would be consequences. “My parents hated me,” he remembers. “My brothers and sisters forced me to leave the house because of my newfound faith.”
But even his family’s rejection didn’t stop Hari from growing in his faith and continuing to walk with the Lord.
Arrests and accusations
Hari decided to study theology and after finishing school, he dedicated himself to full-time ministry in his village. As he preached the gospel, his ministry grew rapidly. But village religious extremists were not happy to see the church growing, and they began to look for a way to stop Hari and the other Christians.
“The extremists influenced local police and had me arrested on false charges of forceful conversion, but the police could not find any evidence and had to let me go,” Hari says intensely. “I continued my ministry and then one day, I baptized some people. These were people who wanted to be baptized out of their free will—but the police arrested me. Again, they found no evidence and had to release me.”
But that was nothing compared to the Easter service, when everything changed.
During that service, “Religious extremists along with the police barged into our service,” Hari shares. “They threatened the believers, [told them] they would be arrested and drove them all away from the church.”
Hari was called to the police station and questioned, along with two other Christians from his church.
“While we were being questioned, the extremists were also present, and they kept [pressing] the police officers [to oppose] us,” Hari recalls slowly. “The police asked us, ‘Who gave you the right to do this?’ I replied: ‘The Indian Constitution gives me right to preach and my Bible and the God whom I worship also give me the right to preach. I do not force people—they hear my preaching and if they like it, they come to the church.”
But the police didn’t care to listen. “The police kept alleging that I was destroying the harmony of the village by teaching about a foreign God,” Hari says. “They told me strictly not to conduct church services anymore. The extremists [who were] standing there threatened to kill me—[right] in front of the police.”
The the police closed down and sealed the church.
Hari stands in front of his closed down church building.
A secret church
Since then, Hari has tried everything—and asked everyone he can think of—to get permission to conduct church services, but hasn’t had any success. His church is still unable to gather.
“We now gather in secret—only in small numbers in houses,” Hari says. “We do take precautions, but I am confident that even if they kill me for my faith, I want to continue to serve the Lord. Christ has given me His life and all these years, He has protected me amongst all these threats. I know there is so much work yet to complete for God’s Kingdom.”
Even with the pain of losing his church, the multiple arrests and facing so much hatred from his community and relatives, Hari has not lost hope and has continued to passionately serve the Lord.
“In every disappointing moment, I was reminded of 1 Chronicles 28:20: ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished,’” Hari quotes. “This promise keeps me and my family motivated to do more of God’s work, as we know that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Nothing can stop us from loving Christ and serving Him.”
‘Our God has not forsaken or failed us’
Open Doors partners have been able to come alongside Hari with grocery relief and help for his business, along with ongoing spiritual and prayer support. Thanks to your gifts and prayers, Hari knows he does not suffer alone. “It is so joyful to see God’s children standing with me in the midst of persecution,” he says. “As a pastor of a small church, offerings from believers had been our only source of income. Since the church was shut down, I have been unable to manage the expenses of my family. I prayed to the Lord for help, and He sent you.
“The help you have provided us is a great encouragement and helps us attain sufficient income to sustain our family. Our God has indeed not forsaken or failed us.
“Thank you so much for your help and support.”
Hari and his church believers miss gathering in their church building. Yet they continue meeting in secret and live out their faith, in whatever ways they can. “Continue praying for us,” Hari asks. “I am very convinced that Christ is able to protect what we have entrusted unto Him.”
The persecution in India that Narendran* and Kavita* have endured includes threats, attacks and violence, yet they cling to their faith and trust God to support their ministry.
When Narendran and Kavita first moved into their village in India, they were excited to be stepping out into their own ministry. They were a young couple with a one-month-old baby. As far as they knew, they were the only Christians in their new village, and they trusted that God would work through their ministry and bless them. But what happened to them in their new home would leave scars—and would show them how much God cares for them.
The Beginning…
More than a decade after they first set foot in their village, Narendran and Kavita are now in their early 40s and their sense of joy shows through their cheerful smiles. Even as they share the painful parts of their stories, it’s clear that a deep faith abides in each of them.
Narendran explains how he initially felt a calling to ministry. “I belonged to a traditional Hindu family,” he says. “Our family came to know about the Lord after experiencing miraculous deliverance from our problems and sicknesses. I committed my life for the Lord’s ministry.” He and Kavita were married and began working in a small village.
“God did many miracles,” Narendran remembers. “A cancer patient, who doctors had given up hope for, received healing through our prayers. People began to believe in Jesus, and the church grew.”
Kavita remembers the struggles in these early days of ministry. “We had no financial support from anyone,” she says. “Since we needed a place for worship, I sold the jewelry given to me by my parents; [we] used it to buy a piece of land.” On that land, the couple built a bamboo shed for church services. Gradually, the church grew to 40 believers. The church continued for more than a decade—growing and testifying to God’s goodness and the hope of the gospel.
But not everyone in the village welcomed the bold faith of Narendran and Kavita.
Narendran and Kavita were attacked by a group of young people who were antagonistic to their faith.
‘Lord, please keep us safe’
As their ministry continued, Narendran begin to feel led to pray for protection for their family and ministry. “Even before things started happening, I was being guided in spirit to pray this prayer: ‘Lord, please keep us safe from all troubles,’” he says. “I had questions in my mind, but I continued praying this prayer. I know now that this prayer was for a purpose.”
The church’s persecution began during a New Year’s service. As the believers were gathered together, Narendran and Kavita noticed some young people entering the church grounds. “We thought they were some new people joining the meeting,” Narendran explains. “However, after some time, they left the church hall.”
The couple thought nothing of it until the New Year’s meetings were over. “When the service ended, we were shocked to see that the footwear of the believers that were left outside the church hall were all cut to pieces with knives,” Narendran says. “We could not understand what had happened. However, later we found out this had been done by the young people. We did nothing but left the matter to God. We did not want to argue with our fellow villagers.”
After this strange event, the worst was yet to come.
Narendran and Kavita recall gathering with a few other Christians for a night of prayer.
"Why are you making so much noise? You cannot conduct such prayers here."
“As the prayer service was going on, I noticed a few young boys standing at the church gate, looking around,” Kavita remembers. “I went outside to check. Immediately, two of those boys abused me verbally and shouted: ‘Why are you making so much noise? You cannot conduct such prayers here.’
“I replied that we would be ending the prayer,” she continues. “We concluded the prayer meeting and left the hall; but the boys continued to threaten us, using abusive language. They shouted at all the believers and started to beat my husband. All the gathered Christians fled to their homes.”
Narendran is grim as he remembers what happened next. “They punched my eyes, tore my shirt and beat me severely,” he says. “Then they started hitting my wife; she fell unconscious.” When the attackers saw that they had successfully disrupted the service and injured the couple, they fled the scene.
Narendran sustained internal nerve damage—even as he tells his story, he still suffers from the resulting pain. He suffered injuries all over. Kavita had previously been hospitalized for an unrelated health concern, so when she went to protect Narendran, she was injured quickly.
Narendran and Kavita were hospitalized for a week, and during that time the extremists took advantage of the vacant church building. “The church door was left open, and the attackers destroyed chairs, drums and other items in the church,” Narendran says.
Lasting consequences
While Narendran and Kavita were in the hospital, local Open Doors partners heard what had happened. Our partners came to pray with them and encourage them. Thanks to Open Doors supporters around the world, our partners were able to provide groceries to the couple as they struggled to afford their family’s basic needs.
It took several days to return to their normal life—Narendran and Kavita were deeply troubled by the attacks, left with lasting scars. The incident has had practical consequences as well—Narendran can’t go out for outreach or to visit members of the congregation because he fears extremists. And the church has shrunk after the violence.
“Half of the believers stopped attending church after this incident, as the extremists went to each of their houses and threatened them with dire consequences if they continued to meet for worship,” Kavita says. “The remaining believers who come to church are also very afraid. They don’t want to talk to the pastor and leave the church immediately after the service. We cannot gather for prayers at night or worship the Lord freely. We have stopped using musical instruments, clapping our hands or even singing loudly.”
Thanks to your support, Narendran and Kavita were able to start a tailoring business to supplement their ministry.
‘We realized we are not alone’
Before the persecution began, Narendran and Kavita depended upon offerings from the church for their income. But now, because many members of the church can no longer attend, Narendran’s and Kavita’s family continues to struggle financially. Fortunately, your gifts and prayers were once again able to help with this long-term need. When Open Doors partners learned about the couple’s situation, they bought them a sewing machine which led to them opening a tailoring shop.
Narendran and Kavita sees this help as a clear example of God’s provision. “When we were worried and struggling, Open doors partners supported us with prayer and practical aid, through which we are able to continue our ministry. We would have been living in fear and anxiety if you had not come to our aid. We realized we are not alone. God’s people stand with us in our troubles and support us through prayer.”
Despite the ongoing challenges, Narendran and Kavita are determined to stay close to the Lord and not let anything pull them away from their calling. They continue the ministry in the same village, trusting in the Lord that He will be with them and lead them.
The wounds from the attack, either physical or emotional, didn’t disappear overnight, and the couple continues to heal. But the God who has been with the couple since the beginning is the same God who is with them now—and who they will continue to trust.
“We were sad thinking about why these things had happened to us,” Kavita says, her eyes brimming with emotion. “We could not forget the incident and were not able to come out of mental trauma for days. We thought that we could not continue the ministry, but the Lord strengthened us through His Word, which said: ‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you.’
“We were encouraged, and we know now that persecution helped us to become stronger in faith—and that God will use it to bless our ministry.
“Scripture says, ‘In this world you will have troubles. But take heart, I have overcome the world,’” Narendran says. “I believe God will not leave us alone and that nothing can separate us from the love of God. The more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread. Similarly, the more we face persecution, the more the Lord will bless our ministry. We have hope in God for our future.”
Pray with us
Please pray for Narendran and Kavita as they stay in the same village and continue their ministry. Pray for their protection and financial needs.
Kavita shares: “Please pray for our children; we all are so fearful after the incident. Pray that the Lord would protect us and our children always. Pray also for our good health. I fall sick frequently—please pray that I am able to remain healthy.
Kavita also asks: “We are still living in a rented accommodation; please also pray that the Lord would provide us with our own house.”
Pray for the Christians from the church; many of them are too afraid to attend services. Pray that the Lord would bring peace so that the church could meet freely.
Pray for Christian leaders like Narendran who are vulnerable to attacks by extremists; ask God to protect them and strengthen their faith
Pray that Christians in India could have true equality and feel safe and free in their choice of worship and their decision to follow Jesus.
Ask God to change the hearts of Hindu extremists who oppose Christians in India. Pray they would see the hope and love of Jesus.
Ajay* grew up knowing what persecution looked like.
His brother was the first in their Hindu family to follow Jesus. When his father—a Hindu priest—discovered his son’s new faith, he persecuted him relentlessly. Eventually, the oppression grew so severe that Ajay’s brother was forced out of the family home.
But as his brother left the house, he gave his father what would prove to be four crucial parting words: “Jesus still loves you.”
The words pierced the heart of Ajay’s father. Over the next few years, his father’s heart was transformed, and in the end he and his entire family came to know Jesus as their Saviour.
Now the persecution wasn’t just against Ajay’s brother; it was against the entire family. The family experienced a social boycott—a common practice for converts in India, where new believers are not permitted to share in community resources or participate in celebrations. Eventually, they were kicked out of their village and forced to settle in a nearby town. That’s when they started a church.
But the family hadn’t left persecution behind. Their new village is in India’s Manipur State, and in May 2023, Ajay saw just how violent persecution can be.
‘We watched helplessly’
On the night of May 3, violent clashes broke out in Manipur State. The conflict grew out of disagreements over special treatment given to traditionally disadvantaged tribal groups in the State—the majority group in the region sought to gain the same types of advantages. During protests, the violence began.
Though the international media has portrayed the clashes as primarily ethnic, there is also a religious element. Many of the tribes are Christians, and the majority group in Manipur State are mostly Hindu. But even among the majority group, which Ajay and his family belong to, Christians like them were targeted in the violence and told to reconvert to Hinduism.
Extremist groups attacked their home and the homes of other Christians in the area. Ajay remembers them shouting: “You, tribal people and followers of the tribal God, come out!”
“The extremist groups then vandalized church buildings, breaking the glass windows and the doors,” Ajay says. “They gathered all the furniture, electronic instruments, and sound equipment and set everything ablaze.”
But the violence wasn’t over yet, and soon the mobs turned their attention to Christian homes.
Ajay’s Church in Manipur was burned to the ground.
“After setting the church on fire, they began to attack the houses, throwing bricks and stones and smashing the doors with axes,” Ajay says. “All the vehicles belonging to Christian families were burned.”
Ajay’s parents also were attacked. They hid under their beds in fear while extremists destroyed their house and burned their vehicles. The Christian families hid themselves inside their houses, hoping they’d be safe; the attackers left only after the fire engines arrived at their location.
“My family and I were very scared during the attack,” Ajay says, sighing. “It was terrifying to hear the loud noises. We watched helplessly, as things that took years to be built were burned down to ashes within a few hours. It was heartbreaking.”
Naturally, the family feared for their lives but clung to the promises of God. “During the attack we felt this would be our last day [on earth],” Ajay says. “However, we knew that even if we died, we would be in heaven.”
The next day at sunrise, the extremists came to the community again. This time, the families knew they had to run for their lives. “[That morning], I received information that many more church properties had been burned down and looted,” Ajay says, solemnly. “Thousands of Christians had been attacked and had to flee. Pastors’ lives were at extreme risk.
“I also found out that some pastors were being forced to sign an agreement stating they would return to their previous faith; they would not rebuild their churches or hold new worship services; and they would not convert people to Christianity. If they refused sign this agreement, they were threatened with dire consequences.”
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted’
As the situation worsened, Ajay began to tell all the pastors in the area about the threats and helped church leaders get to safety. Even though he had his own family to care for, he also felt an additional responsibility to the pastors and other believers.
During the violence, Ajay clung to his faith. “The Word of God gave me strength,” he says. “Matthew 5:10-11 inspires me: ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.’”
Though the worst of the conflict has passed, regular violence in Manipur State is ongoing. Ajay still lives in in the same area, continuing his ministry and helping pastors conduct their ministries safely. He’s committed to helping believers in Manipur State be salt and light, no matter the situation.
"We are assured that we are not alone in the battle of faith and that the Body of Christ is present with us in every step, whether pain or joy.”
“God has been protecting us,” he says. “These people might destroy our buildings, but they can never destroy God’s people.”
‘The Body of Christ is with us in every step’
Other Open Doors partners in the region were able to help Ajay and other believers immediately, thanks to your gifts and prayers. In the aftermath of the violence, our partners helped Ajay with safe housing and also provided groceries to his family.
“When the violence broke out, we found ourselves in a helpless situation; we were deeply concerned for our safety,” Ajay says. “Houses were destroyed and there was chaos all over; everything had come to a standstill. We were uncertain about our survival and had no food to eat and no secure place to take shelter. The government had provided help, but it was limited, and the facilities were very poor. We were unsafe even in the relief camps, as mixed communities took shelter.
“When Open Doors partners approached us and provided grocery items and safe housing for us, our hearts were filled with joy,” he continues. “The quality and quantity of the material in the relief packets were very good. It was also an assurance to see the partners come, meet us and pray with us. We are assured that we are not alone in the battle of faith and that the Body of Christ is present with us in every step, whether pain or joy.”
The aid Ajay and his family received has helped him continue his work with Open Doors, conducting persecution preparedness trainings and providing practical aid to other persecuted believers. Ajay is grateful for believers like you, who helped in this time of crisis—and who continue to walk with Christians in Manipur State.
“I am so thankful not only for the help that you provided to me and my family, but also for the prayer support and teachings through the persecution preparedness trainings,” Ajay says. “I have the strength now to encourage my fellow believers, because I have been encouraged through you.”
Ajay continues to minister to the Christian community in Manipur following the violent ethnoreligious conflict.
Please pray for Christians in Manipur who are still persecuted. Though the world’s eyes have turned away, the violence continues.
There are many believers who were displaced when their houses were vandalized and burned. Pray for God’s provision for the reconstruction of their houses and places of worship.
Pray for affected children in Mainpur State who have been heavily traumatized by the violence. Their education also has been severely affected.
Pray that Christian young people would not be influenced by the surrounding hatred and the violence and that they would be able to stand firm in their faith.
Pray that God will keep Ajay and his family safe and supply all their needs.
Pray for the safety and protection of Open Doors local partners as they minister and serve victims of the violence.
Pray that the violence in Manipur State will end and peace would prevail.
A story of amazing miracles and fiery faith is unfolding in India. But the church is under pressure – and Christians need your help.
Laxman’s wife was sick.
Cures were not working, and things were getting progressively worse. At the time, Laxman* and his wife were devout Hindus, the majority religion in their homeland of India. But her illness had increased to the point of desperation, and finally he took her to a church.
It changed his life.
“My wife received healing with just one prayer,” said Laxman, “I understood the power of this God, and I became determined to spread his message.”
Over time, Laxman studied theology, started a church, and watched in awe as incredible miracles began to happen. The church grew from just three people to hundreds.
But in India, while churches thrive and grow, persecution is also rising, and Pastor Laxman soon became a target.
Laxman was baptized after the miraculous healing of his wife.
Violence and accusations
A member in Laxman’s church was coerced into signing a blank sheet of paper, which was used to create a false statement saying he’d been lured into converting to Christianity. The extremists embraced this ‘evidence’.
“I was conducting a service and the police came,” remembers Laxman, with tears in his eyes. “They beat me, took me by the collar and hit me with their batons. I thought the villagers would save me, but nobody came.”
Be part of something extraordinary.
Every $49 can provide emergency food to two Indian believers affected by persecution.
Laxman was jailed, tortured and mocked. After six days he was released – only to find his church in ruins, the believers scattered, his livelihood gone.
Now, Laxman is under constant police surveillance.
It’s a disheartening situation – but where the church is the most persecuted, extraordinary faith often shines through. And today, Laxman refuses to give up.
Currently he meets secretly with a handful of Christians, saying, “God has promised He will be with me.”
Be part of India’s Victorious Story
India’s church is victorious and growing – but it’s also vulnerable. You have a vital part to play in this extraordinary story of faith.
Your support can provide food aid, persecution training, counselling and small business support to believers like Laxman. Your gifts and prayers strengthen Indian Christians to be resilient, and you fuel a thriving church.
“The church is closed but my ministry continues,” said Pastor Laxman. “This is God’s work. No one can close it or shut it down. It is for the Kingdom of the Lord.”
Where the church is the most persecuted, extraordinary faith often shines through.
Please Pray
For Pastor Laxman, for God’s strength over him and his church.
For Indian Christians who’ve been attacked, falsely accused and imprisoned.
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Your gift today will strengthen Indian Christians like Pastor Laxman in the midst of persecution.
In this episode, Jared and Andrew discuss the election in the world’s largest democracy: India, as well as what it means for Christians and how we can pray with our persecuted Indian brothers and sisters for this election.
On April 19, 2024, elections will begin in India. For Christians, a minority group in India, the results will have a significant impact.
For the last decade, Christians have come under increased pressure thanks to a rise in Hindu nationalism that has, in turn, meant a rise in attacks on converts from Hinduism, suspicion against religious minorities for not being “truly Indian” and a jump in false accusations of forced conversion.
As the huge vote for India’s lower house of parliament begins, here are 10 things you need to know about the Indian election, how it will impact Christians and how you can pray:
India’s government has similarities to Canada’s, in that the elections decide who will sit in one house of parliament, called the Lok Sabha or House of the People in India. There are 543 seats, and a Prime Minister is elected from among the people who win those seats.
3. The election takes a long time.
Because of the number of people and the size of the country, the election itself will take nearly six weeks, lasting from April 19-June 1. Additionally, India’s election laws are designed to make voting as feasible as possible no matter where a person lives—the Election Commission of India is required to ensure that a voting station is available within 2 km (1.2 miles) of every voter. That means even if someone lives in a remote village in the Himalayas, election workers will carry a voting machine to a nearby location.
4. The primary opponents in this year’s race are the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the India National Congress (INC) parties.
These two political parties (and their coalition partners) are the primary two that people will decide between. The BJP has had two straight elections of significant success, which means that the Prime Minister has been Narendra Modi since 2014. Broadly speaking, the INC is a centrist/center-left political party, and the BJP is a right-wing party with roots in Hindu nationalism.
5. The elections have significant consequences for Christians.
Because the ruling party in India has significant ties to Hindutva, the ideology that says Indian identity is tied to Hinduism, another victory in this year’s election could mean continued difficulties for India’s religious minorities, including Christians.
“These [elections] are very crucial, as this will decide the next five years,” says Priya Sharma (pseudonym), an Open Doors partner in India. “If the current government stays in power, there are chances that India will undergo a complete transformation into a Hindu nationalist state. India will be absolutely intolerant to Christians and other religious minorities.”
6. The elections could continue a dangerous trend.
Since 2014, India has gone from No. 28 on the World Watch List to No. 11 this year. That shows the extent to which India has squeezed its Christian minority. “In the past 10 years, Hindu extremists have openly threatened to eliminate Christianity and other minority religions in India,” Sharma says. “There have been open statements of hatred and threats against Christians. Pastors, leaders and lay Christians have been killed and attacked brutally in broad daylight and the accused are allowed to go free, without any punishment.”
7. One of the most significant issues for Christians is the rise of anti-conversion laws.
Anti-conversion laws are in place in 11 of 28 Indian states, theoretically for the purposes of banning forced conversion from one religion to another. But in reality, they have created an environment where conversion to a minority religion is dangerous, if not impossible. “Anti-conversion laws were introduced with the intention to stop forced conversion,” Sharma says. “Under Indian law, citizens are free to choose their religion. The intention of the law was to ban conversion by force and or by offering incentives to change faiths. But Hindu extremist groups misuse the laws. They falsely accuse pastors of offering incentives to people to convert to Christianity or say that church leaders force innocent people to become followers of Jesus. These extremists lodge false complaints at the police station, getting pastors arrested, enmeshed in legal battles and even sent to prison.”
8. There are fears that a win by the ruling party could lead to a national anti-conversion law.
“Anti-conversion laws already existed in six states before the BJP came into power in the national government, but since they formed their government, anti-conversion laws or bills have been imposed in five more states,” Sharma says. “There have even been several attempts to pass a national anti-conversion law. If the BJP wins the 2024 elections, there is a high chance of an anti-conversion law being introduced at the national level.”
9. A national anti-conversion law could have devastating consequences for Christians in India.
On a state level, these laws are often used to attack converts from Hinduism, or anyone seen as evangelizing to Hindus. In 2023, Open Doors partners reported that more than 2,300 pastors, leaders and believers were falsely accused, arrested and/or detained for forceful conversion. If a national law passes, this could make things even more dangerous. “If the anti-conversion law is introduced at the national level, this will create huge turbulence for the Christian community,” Sharma says. “More Christians could be tortured, attacked, killed and forcefully reconverted back to Hinduism.”
10. Christians are not in despair—but are asking God for help.
Sharma says that the church in India is growing, despite the persecution. And he’s encouraged by growing unity among believers. “Most Christians only want to vote for a good government,” Sharma says. “Believers are arranging prayer chains, fasting and hosting prayer meetings for a moral, ethical and righteous government to come to power.”
How you can pray
Pray for a safe and just government.
Pray for honest and wise leaders to come to power.
Pray for a fair and just election process to take place.
Pray that the elected government would create a safe harbour for Christians and other religious minorities and that there would be the freedom to choose one’s own religion as well as the freedom and place to worship.
When the world watched with horror as violence swept through Manipur State in northeastern India in May 2023, many were shocked at how many Christians were killed and how many churches were burned. More than 10,000 followers of Jesus were displaced.
One person who probably wasn’t surprised that religion played an important role in the brutality is Istuti*, an Open Doors partner from Manipur. She knows about the violence against believers among the Meitei. “They suffer secretly,” she says.
She should know—she’s one of them.
Growing up a Hindu Meitei
Growing up, Istuti was a Hindu, just like most people in the Meitei people group. “I used to worship idols,” she says. “We have a temple in our house, and my father used to serve [in] the temple as a Hindu. So, I also used to serve at the temple. I didn’t know the Lord.”
But Istuti’s life changed when a chance visit to a church led her to hear a sermon on John 3:16. “That word took to my heart, and I felt that God loves me so much, He gave the only Son for my sin,” she says. “I came to know my Saviour—my personal Saviour! And I was so happy when I went home. I was so excited. I had so much peace in my heart, so much joy that I shared to my family.”
Istuti’s family did not share in her excitement. It wasn’t long before her father began regularly beating her violently, destroying her Bible and persecuting her. “[My new faith] provoked the anger of my family because before, I used to serve all the idols, and suddenly I stopped,” she explains.
“When I read the Bible, they’d throw the Bible or they’d burn it,” Istuti remembers. “They’ve burned [more than five of my Bibles]—but I used to have a small Bible that I hid under the hay [on our land]. We have cows and buffaloes, and whenever my father told me to go and cut the hay, I was so happy that I get to read the Bible! When I would finish, I would hide the Bible again.”
Her family also stopped her from attending church, even tying her up on Sundays so she couldn’t go. Over the course of her teenage years, Istuti endured regular abuse for her faith in Jesus. She was beaten so severely one Christmas she couldn’t leave her bed. Her father kicked her out of the house one time, and she had to stay in the jungle. One of her uncles even offered to kill her.
That was now 20 years ago. Istuti was able to escape her situation and attend Bible school. She’s now married and has been able to leave her family home, though she still wants to have a relationship with her family. But this upbringing is why the violence in May wasn’t surprising—and why Istuti continues to pray for peace and the hope of Jesus among the Meitei people.
‘They want to erase Meitei Christians’
When churches and Christian villages were set on fire by Hindu extremists on May 3, 2023, Istuti was in a neighboring city in a different state, conducting a training with other believers. She was also expecting a baby. “There was lots of tension that night [in May],” Istuti remembers. “The people were struggling … Our volunteers and believers kept calling me all night. They couldn’t sleep! I was on the phone all of May 3 and the next day—they told me that they [Hindu-extremist groups from her own Meitei community] were forcing them to [re]convert [to Hinduism]. ‘They are going with guns!’ they would tell me. They were even beating women and children.”
What’s most heartbreaking for Istuti is that members of her own family participated in these attacks.
“That hurt the most. They burned my church.”
“That hurt me the most,” she shared, her voice breaking. “They burned my church. After they burned the church, they forced [the Meitei believers] to reconvert … All my relatives, they are the ones who destroyed my church. “My neighbors, my relatives, all of them are included in destroying the church … They feel that Meitei Christians support the tribal Kukis, so they want to erase all the Meitei Christians and they want to destroy Meitei churches.”
The Hindu extremists went to Meitei believers, demanding they reconvert and sign a statement saying they had left behind their faith in Jesus. “The [extremists] told [the Meitei believers] they should stop being Christians, that they should come back to being Hindu,” Istuti says. “And they cannot build churches anymore. That’s what they stipulated on a paper and told them to sign. They were beaten if they didn’t sign the paper.”
Istuti was torn and deeply troubled. Her faith and ethnicity seemed at war. She couldn’t help her fellow believers in the Kuki tribes because she is Meitei—and she was being targeted by Meitei extremists because she follows Jesus.
“I was lost, I just prayed – ‘Lord, please heal our people, heal our people,’” she says. Istuti couldn’t go back to Manipur because of the violence, and the grief took a toll on her body. Devastatingly, the emotional trauma was so dramatic that she miscarried her baby.
‘I believe the Lord will save them’
Months after the May attacks, Istuti continues to grieve the loss of her baby, and the continued hostilities among her people. Yet, she continues to hold on to who God is.
“I remember the word of God says that from Isaiah 40: ‘Do not be afraid, I’m with you,’” she says. “That word encouraged me a lot and I know He strengthens me until now. He’s always with me.”
She also hasn’t stopped praying for her family. “I love them so much,” she explains. “I’m praying for them. I believe the Lord will save them. My prayer is that one day, they will testify that Jesus is their Lord.”
One of the things Istuti rejoices about is the fact her father, who persecuted her before, came to know Jesus before he passed in 2020. She shared: “My father told me ‘what you are doing is right. Because of my fear, because of the pressure of the community, I have behaved like that. I am so sorry. I know that what you are doing is right.’” Istuti remembers this answer to prayer as she continues to pray for her family and her country.
“I want everybody who’s praying for Manipur to know that [Meitei Christians] are facing lots of suffering. I want to give them a voice, to pray and stand with them,” she says. “Everybody hates them because they are Meitei, and people don’t see how they are struggling. They are struggling [with oppression] from their family, from their relatives, and those who are pastors, they are facing being beaten, and are threatened [with death].
“Even in my community, when I became a Christian, they told me to reconvert! My family, my relatives, all of them! But I strongly stand because I know that the Lord will be with me. Jesus died for me; why do I need to reject [Him]? I cannot deny Him. I cannot leave my faith, even if they kill me.”
As one of Open Doors’ local partners, Istuti continues to reach out to Kuki and Meitei believers affected by the ongoing violence in Manipur with grocery relief, presence ministry, and other practical aid. Thanks to your gifts and prayers, she’s been able to help Christians recover from the horrific violence.
*Name changed for security reasons.
Pray with us
Continue to pray for peace in Manipur—pray that the Kuki-Christian tribes and Meitei-Hindu tribes will find reconciliation.
Pray for the ministry of Istuti with affected believers during this conflict. Pray that the Lord will continue to use her mightily and that He would protect her.
Pray for Meitei Christians who are a small minority in their community. Pray that they would stand strong in the promises of God in Christ, and that they would hold on to their faith despite being forced by their own friends and loved ones to recant their faith.
Praise God for Istuti’s enduring faith and testimony. Praise God for changing the heart of Istuti’s father—please continue to pray for the rest of her family to know Christ.
Pray for Open Doors’ partners like Istuti who take the risk to reach the persecuted church amid challenges and dangers.
Our local partners in India have brought us an urgent prayer need from Manipur, a state in northeastern India. At least 17 Christians have been killed, and more than 100 churches have been burned down, according to our partners. Additionally, more than 300 houses, Christian organizations and pastoral homes were also burned down. In total, at least 62 people have been killed, and more than 35,000 people have been displaced.
The violence has stemmed from the conflict between several ethnic groups who live in Manipur. The ethnic group with the biggest population, the Meitei, are mostly Hindu. One of the other groups, the Kuki tribe, are majority Christian. Their primary disagreements are about who qualifies for preferential treatment from the government, which is usually reserved for less prosperous groups like the Kuki. The Kuki held a rally on May 3 to protest changes to these policies—and they were attacked violently.
These protests and disagreements turned violent at the beginning of May. Some Kuki protestors burned vehicles and buildings, and extremists from the Hindu Meitei responded by burning down entire Kuki villages, including churches. One Open Doors local partner says: “No social media or news channel is reporting the persecution that the Christians are facing. The situation is gruesome … [Christians] have lost their churches, houses and belongings.”
India ranks No. 11 on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List. In recent years there has been a big increase in Hindutva, an ideology that believes only Hindus are true Indians, and that Christians, Muslims and other religious minorities have “foreign” roots and must be expelled. Hindu extremists seem able to attack others with impunity, even using extreme violence in some parts of the country.
Our Open Doors local partners have asked Christians around the world to speak out about what’s happening—and to pray. “People are living in fear and are skeptical of what the next hour holds,” Neha says. “We need your help in raising a voice against the injustice and atrocities faced by the Christians.”
Pray
Here is how you can pray.
Please pray for the situation to calm down; there are several Open Doors partners and persecuted believers from Myanmar and India living in and around the affected areas.
Pray for the tribal Christian refugees who are taking shelter in the refugee camps as their houses are burned and destroyed.
Pray for the Christian families whose members have been killed in the violence.
Pray for the peace in the affected areas as the clashes turn into religious persecution.
Ask God that His people would be instruments of His peace.
As we approach Christmas, Open Doors asks the church around the world to pray with believers in India against the introduction of a national anti-conversion law in their country. According to our field sources, this new law may be introduced and tabled during this winter season, and aside from a restrictive national law being made official, our field partners are wary that religious extremists on the ground would be empowered by these pro-nationalist developments, leading to more attacks towards Christians and other minorities during the holiday season.
What’s happening?
When the Indian Supreme Court accepted and heard the petition of high-profile advocate Ashwini Upadhyay last November, they issued an opinion that named religious conversion by force and allurement as a very serious threat to national security. The Supreme Court then commented that the Central Government must step in on this concern. As scheduled, the hearing concerning the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) affidavit on ‘forced conversion’ took place, where the Central Government said that the right to the freedom of religion does not include the right to convert.
Now, many local groups believe that the Central Government is seriously considering passing a central anti-conversion law. This is alarming, according to Open Doors’ local partner and expert on Indian policy Dr. Yohan Murry: “The Indian constitution says religion is a matter of the state’s jurisdiction, not the national government. If a central anti-conversion law is passed, all states will be forced to formulate subsidiary laws. Secondly, any anti-conversion law then at the state level could never be revoked unless the central law is abrogated.”
“Aside from this, the government also hints that it will pay no heed to the misuse of the law by Hindutva fanatics,” Murry quips. “Even though the Central Government says this law will protect the rights of women and those who are economically and socially backward, it is prone to abuse. The new law would be very strict – based on the Gujarat model – criminalizing conversion with severe punishments ranging up to 10 years with heavy fines.”
Currently, the government’s plan to enact national legislation on criminalizing religious conversions has hit a roadblock with the Ministry of Law and Justice, which advised against the move, but believers are anxious that moves towards the introduction of this central law will be made swiftly.
If introduced, what could a national anti-conversion law’s impact be on the church?
First, it intensifies attacks on Christians.Murry shares: “Hindu nationalists are emboldened and sometimes use violence in place of dialogue. Freedom of Religion Acts are instrumental to brutally suppress and exploit Christian minorities and punish pastors, priests, nuns, and church workers. It is a crime for those who do not give to local authorities’ advance notice of conversion, and those who break such laws invite persecution. Anti-conversion laws also embolden Hindu nationalist groups to harass and attack Christian activities.”
As anti-conversion laws are passed in individual states, there has been a rapid increase in incidents. In recent years, Open Doors has recorded church property destruction, burning, snatching away of Christian literature and bibles, and prohibitions on the establishment of churches & banning of Christian gatherings. Believers face public humiliation, beating, and head shaving. Mobs hurl insults at Christians with derogatory, abusive words. There is also sexual abuse and attempts to murder believers. Burial services and marriage ceremonies are also interrupted.
“As rampant is the misuse of the law in the fundamentalist ruled states, for example, Uttar Pradesh, persecution will rapidly increase,” says Murry. “Since the government provides protection to the fanatics, they would persecute the Christians unchecked.”
Second, it propels current persecution trend dynamics, leading to a decline in evangelism and a shutdown of churches. Churches will be spied on and be recipients of false allegations that they’re forcefully converting.
“The state machinery would be instructed to keep the church under surveillance,” says Murry. “It is also possible that in the early months, there would be secret orders to finally define the growth rate of Christianity and it will be followed by the attempts to control it through various means including persecution. Any church activities toward socio-economic upliftment of the poor and marginalized people will also be perceived as luring for conversion.”
Open Doors local partners foresee that there will be an increasing number ofarrests by the police, and more first-incident reports (FIRs) against pastors and mission workers on allegations of forced conversion will be filed. There will be a wide-ranging mobilization on ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or reconversion programs, and believers will be denied rights to public burial sites and even access to jobs.
Thirdly, it makes Christians live under constant threat: “Since the misuse of enacted anti-conversion laws is rampant in other fundamentalist ruled states, a national law would cause evangelists and ministers to decrease their activities due to the fear of legal and police action,” shares Murry. “We also foresee that under tremendous pressure from Hindu extremists and Hindutva-prone police and officials, worship would be stopped in several places. And in many cases, believers would have to shift the venue of worship.”
Already, there is a lack of police and government protection – “We’ve seen it happening that believers are mercilessly attacked with impunity as negligent police fail to provide protection to victims. More often than not, officials side with the extremists who accuse believers of forceful conversion,” he continues. “These laws create a hostile and violent environment for religious minority communities because they do not require any evidence to support accusations of wrongdoing, and Christians are forced to spend lakhs of rupees on litigation.”
How can we pray with the church in India in this situation?
Pray for the states with anti-conversion laws as the incidents against Christians here are on a constant high: “Every month, more than a hundred incidents of persecution are reported,” Murry shares. “Churches are vandalized, destroyed, and closed. Pastors, leaders, and believers are harassed, physically attacked, excommunicated, and forcibly reconverted. Believers and church workers reaching out to the needy are being branded as doing forceful conversions. Churches are then falsely alleged as a hub for illegal conversion activity.” Ask our Father God to protect His children and His church from violence and false allegations and pray that the Indian church will be able to stand firmly in faith.
Pray for wisdom and steadfastness for the Indian church, as the fear of the central government introducing a national anti-conversion law in the country seems more realistic. “This will result in disharmony, rise in persecution, and a decline in evangelism,” says Murry. Pray against the introduction and passage of this law. Pray for the anti-Christian elements who are surveilling the church activities and movements of the church leaders and pastors – pray that God would confuse their plans and that He would make seeing eyes blind.
“Currently, multiple cases also have been lodged towards Christians in the Supreme Court for forced religious conversions. Prosecutors are presenting false and misleading data against these minority communities to strengthen their case,” shares Murry. Pray for the truth to prevail and for the Lord’s justice to be done.
Finally, Christmas celebrations this December are under threat with the latest developments against the minorities emboldening local extremist groups to mob and attack Christians. “We have reason to believe that anti-Christian elements could run rampant this season, disturbing peaceful gatherings and Christmas celebrations.” Pray for peaceful Christmas gatherings in India, free from violence and fear.
YOUR YEAR-END GIFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss.
The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?
Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more.
Persecution is growing, and so are the needs of persecuted believers. More Christians need Bibles, discipleship, trauma counselling, and relief aid as they face violence, displacement, and loss.
The Canada Post strikes slowed the arrival of gifts during this critical time of year. Will you help?
Your support will empower persecuted believers through Bibles, training, relief aid, trauma counselling, and more.
