Pastor Jai is unable to walk after extremists took turns to beat him in a vicious assault earlier this month. His attackers are still at large – yet he has been charged with ‘forced conversion’.
A huge mob surrounded his house church in Bichpari, Haryana state, before about 30 people dragged Pastor Jai outside, along with the house owner, Naresh, and attacked them. Pastor Jai was then driven to a Hindu temple, where the beatings continued.
Hours later, the extremists handed Pastor Jai over to police, broken and bloodstained. He was formally charged with offering people money to convert, along with Naresh and several other Christians. Pastor Jai was held until a judge granted him bail, two days after the attack.
Please ask God to comfort Pastor Jai, Naresh and their church family.
Though church members have pressed charges against the extremists, none has yet been detained. Naresh has been evicted from his business premises and socially ostracised.
- Pray for healing and justice for Pastor Jai, Naresh and their congregation.
- Extremist attacks in this part of Haryana are happening in response to church growth, according to local Christians. Thank God for this growth and pray that believers will not be cowed by fear.
- Ask God to provide for Pastor Jai and his fellow Christians. Like many believers in India, they work as day labourers and struggle to make ends meet.
(Source: Morning Star News)
UPDATES
Please pray for our Christian family in northern Nigeria where brutal attacks continue. Two Christian teenage girls were shot dead by Fulani herdsmen in Gora-Gan, southern Kaduna, while student Ropvil Daciya Dalep, abducted in Borno state on January 9, has reportedly been killed. We’re sad to report the death of Rev Lawan Andimi, who was kidnapped in Adamawa state on January 3 and killed last week – but we continue to thank God for his indomitable spirit and powerful testimony of trusting God in all circumstances. Please ask God to comfort those who mourn – and pray for the safe return of the 120 Christians believed to be held captive in Nigeria. (Source: Morning Star News)
Please pray for our Iranian brother Ismaeil Maghrebinejad who has been sentenced to three years in jail for forwarding a mobile phone message he had been sent that was deemed insulting to Iranian clerics. He plans to appeal but still faces two other charges related to his church activities. And please pray for the safe return of Christian student and activist Fatemeh (Mary) Mohammadi, 21, who has not been seen since her arrest in Tehran during protests over the loss of the Ukrainian passenger jet. She has previously been jailed for her church activities; last month, her university ‘suspended’ her education. Ask God to keep Fatemeh safe and thank Him for Ismaeil and Fatemeh’s courage and bold witness. (Source: Middle East Concern)