"Hindu mobs led by fundamentalists are roaming in the whole of Kandhamal district & threatening the Christians to reconvert or else face death. Yesterday 5 families were forcefully reconverted, against their will, to Hinduism in Adaskupa in Kandhamal." (EFI, September 4, 2008).
Ongoing attack against Christians by Hindu extremist groups in the Indian state of Orissa is continuing to escalate. The number of Christians confirmed dead has risen to 42 on the second week of ongoing violence in Kandhamal district and other parts of Orissa. More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen.
EFI (Evangelical Fellowship of India), has compiled a comprehensive list of database with assistance from Archbishop's House Bhubaneswar, John Dayal, Christian Legal Association, Light Foundation and EFI News reporters and other sources, which can be found at Orissa Christian Persecution Fact Finding Report.
Please continue to remember the persecuted Christians, Churches and Ministries in your prayers.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
An Update on the ongoing attacks against Christians in Orissa
(08-25-08) Kandhamal Dist., Orissa: Yesterday at 0430 to 0500 PM, around 1000 perpetrators of Sangh Parivar chased and killed 4 Christians by dagger and sword on the road whose names are ; Bikram Naik (38), Dasaratha Pradhan (38), Surendra Naik (40) and another Christian brother whose name is still not reported. The deceased were trying to protect their Church when the radicals tried to burn it.
Persecution of Christians by extremist groups in the Indian state of Orissa has been escalating and over the past one week, Christians throughout the state have had to flee or be burned alive.
The number of people confirmed dead has risen to 21 on the seventh day of ongoing violence in Kandhamal district and other parts of Orissa. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that more than 114 anti-Christian attacks have taken place in various parts of the state.
Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by anti-Christian militants in 1999, has a long history of opposition to the Gospel. Christians make up 2.4 percent of Orissa’s population, or 897,861 of the 36.7 million people. “The worst hit are the people in Kandhamal district, where more than 400 churches, more than 500 houses and many Christian institutions have been demolished,” GCIC President Dr. Sajan K. George said in a memorandum to the state governor. “The people have fled to jungles for safety.”
The violence began after the Saturday night murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a top leader of the VHP (World Hindu Council) and an outspoken opponent of Christianity. He was killed in an attack by 20 men armed with guns and hand grenades. While the murderers are suspected of being Maoist rebels, the Hindu radicals seized on the killing as an excuse to incite violence against the area's Christian community.
While the attack is predominantly in the state of Orissa, many Churches, Ministries and Pastors have been attacked all over the country. There are numerous threats to the Church planters in the state of Madhya Pradesh. So far, God protected Partners India’s Church planters from attacks. If requested, I have the most updated list of the attacks that was reported by the All India Christian Council (AICC) and a state map of Orissa. Please print these attachments, place it where you spend most of your time during the day and pray for this state. There is a revival in the making.
I couldn’t, but imagine the auspicious welcome that those 21 martyred saints received in heaven. They might have been relatively new Christians, but they laid their lives for the One who laid His life for them. We all know for the fact, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Ultimately, Gospel will prevail. Jesus Christ will be preached and new Churches will be planted!
Persecution of Christians by extremist groups in the Indian state of Orissa has been escalating and over the past one week, Christians throughout the state have had to flee or be burned alive.
The number of people confirmed dead has risen to 21 on the seventh day of ongoing violence in Kandhamal district and other parts of Orissa. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that more than 114 anti-Christian attacks have taken place in various parts of the state.
Orissa, the state where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by anti-Christian militants in 1999, has a long history of opposition to the Gospel. Christians make up 2.4 percent of Orissa’s population, or 897,861 of the 36.7 million people. “The worst hit are the people in Kandhamal district, where more than 400 churches, more than 500 houses and many Christian institutions have been demolished,” GCIC President Dr. Sajan K. George said in a memorandum to the state governor. “The people have fled to jungles for safety.”
The violence began after the Saturday night murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a top leader of the VHP (World Hindu Council) and an outspoken opponent of Christianity. He was killed in an attack by 20 men armed with guns and hand grenades. While the murderers are suspected of being Maoist rebels, the Hindu radicals seized on the killing as an excuse to incite violence against the area's Christian community.
While the attack is predominantly in the state of Orissa, many Churches, Ministries and Pastors have been attacked all over the country. There are numerous threats to the Church planters in the state of Madhya Pradesh. So far, God protected Partners India’s Church planters from attacks. If requested, I have the most updated list of the attacks that was reported by the All India Christian Council (AICC) and a state map of Orissa. Please print these attachments, place it where you spend most of your time during the day and pray for this state. There is a revival in the making.
I couldn’t, but imagine the auspicious welcome that those 21 martyred saints received in heaven. They might have been relatively new Christians, but they laid their lives for the One who laid His life for them. We all know for the fact, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Ultimately, Gospel will prevail. Jesus Christ will be preached and new Churches will be planted!
Related Links:
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
HOPE for the Anxious Hearts!
This decade has been one of the deadliest of all in history. We have witnessed massive earthquakes, giant tsunamis, horrifying cyclones, twisters, hurricanes, droughts and famines. Just last week, about 200,000 lives were lost in Myanmar and China and in other parts of the world including in the United States. We have been witnessing worldwide terrorism, wars and political invasion which are claiming several lives each day.
Rising fuel costs, shortage of food, job insecurity, moral decay, growing environmental concerns and nuclear threats are a global concern. These are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
Millions around the world live in fear and are anxious about the impending future.
These are interesting times, with dozen movies and TV shows about the end of the world. I am sure none of those movies describe the way the Bible talks about the last days. But as Believers in Christ, we know that there is not only going to be an end, but a new beginning. The Bible promises us a better future when Jesus reigns over the world. Best of all, we do not fear what the future holds, since we know the one who holds our future! Yes, we do have a blessed hope. Even if we lose our lives here on earth, we are assured of Eternal life. But what about the ones who never had a chance to hear the life changing Gospel?
We have been given a Great Commission. There are still millions around the world who never heard about the love of God. Last week, many of them slipped into Eternity without ever knowing that love. When we enjoy freedom in Christ, having liberty to worship the living God, many around the world pay a heavy price for their faith. I write about this quite often; I am grateful that my parents paid a price for their faith and because of that I am enjoying freedom in Christ today.
America has a great influence around the world. Coming from a third world country, America created an impact in my life, not because of the great lifestyle that it has to offer, not because of the power of a dollar, but because of the sacrificial impact of Missionaries who showed enough courage to come to us, to provide education, medical facilities and above all the Gospel that they shared and the Churches they have planted. I pray that the Lord would continue to raise great people in this country to impact the world for Jesus. Let not our love grow cold!
There is a great revival in the making. I believe each and every believer has a role to play in it. We see desperate people all around us. What better opportunity we have to introduce to the hope we have in Jesus Christ?
So my friends, let us lift up our heads. The harvest is truly plentiful. This is the time to pray, let us do the work. This is perhaps the last hour before the dawn. Let us be prepared. Help others to meet the Redeemer face to face. Let this be our prayer for the day.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Rising fuel costs, shortage of food, job insecurity, moral decay, growing environmental concerns and nuclear threats are a global concern. These are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
Millions around the world live in fear and are anxious about the impending future.
These are interesting times, with dozen movies and TV shows about the end of the world. I am sure none of those movies describe the way the Bible talks about the last days. But as Believers in Christ, we know that there is not only going to be an end, but a new beginning. The Bible promises us a better future when Jesus reigns over the world. Best of all, we do not fear what the future holds, since we know the one who holds our future! Yes, we do have a blessed hope. Even if we lose our lives here on earth, we are assured of Eternal life. But what about the ones who never had a chance to hear the life changing Gospel?
We have been given a Great Commission. There are still millions around the world who never heard about the love of God. Last week, many of them slipped into Eternity without ever knowing that love. When we enjoy freedom in Christ, having liberty to worship the living God, many around the world pay a heavy price for their faith. I write about this quite often; I am grateful that my parents paid a price for their faith and because of that I am enjoying freedom in Christ today.
America has a great influence around the world. Coming from a third world country, America created an impact in my life, not because of the great lifestyle that it has to offer, not because of the power of a dollar, but because of the sacrificial impact of Missionaries who showed enough courage to come to us, to provide education, medical facilities and above all the Gospel that they shared and the Churches they have planted. I pray that the Lord would continue to raise great people in this country to impact the world for Jesus. Let not our love grow cold!
There is a great revival in the making. I believe each and every believer has a role to play in it. We see desperate people all around us. What better opportunity we have to introduce to the hope we have in Jesus Christ?
So my friends, let us lift up our heads. The harvest is truly plentiful. This is the time to pray, let us do the work. This is perhaps the last hour before the dawn. Let us be prepared. Help others to meet the Redeemer face to face. Let this be our prayer for the day.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Jesus PAID it all
So that we may LIVE
About four months ago, we celebrated the “Greatest gift of all”, The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ came into this world to save the lost humanity from the grip of sin. Today, we observe “Good Friday”. When I was a child, I always wondered, “What is GOOD about this Friday? This is the day Jesus was nailed to the cross to die.” I still remember the little storybook on the life of Jesus that I read probably a thousand times, and finding myself in tears as I read about the crucifixion. As I came to the full knowledge of the One who shed the last very last drop of blood on that cross of Calvary to redeem me, I truly understood the meaning of “Good Friday”.
So that others may LIVE
Paul says in Romans 9:3, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers…” Here Paul reveals his heart, somehow to gain his owe race for Christ. No other phrase can better explain that urge or the fire that Paul carried through his life. Paul was once an enemy of the Gospel, who gave approval to torture and martyred many saints. But after an encounter with the One whom he was torturing, gained a completely different perspective; to reach the lost at any cost.
I John 4:9 say, “… He sent his only Son into this world that we might live through Him.” Through the death on the cross, Jesus paid all the penalty of our sins. He gave us a new life. We have a hope today, which is eternal. One of my favorite hymns goes like this:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Well, I could sing that hymn and find myself be joyful. However, the question today may find me in a very uncomfortable place. “Jesus paid it all”, not only my sin, but also the ones around me. I find myself in the midst of many lost opportunities of sharing the love of God, even today. I am asking God for a heart like Paul – to have a heart filled with sorrow and unceasing anguish for the lost ones.
The lost are everywhere. They are in our own families, in our neighborhood, in our work places. We can make an impact on their lives today… an Eternal impact!
Today, as we observe and celebrate “this precious gift”, let our hearts be like Paul. We were once lost, but we are found, once was blind, but now we see. We are Christ’s ambassadors in this world. Let us carry the light of the Gospel all the days of our lives, so that others may LIVE.”
About four months ago, we celebrated the “Greatest gift of all”, The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ came into this world to save the lost humanity from the grip of sin. Today, we observe “Good Friday”. When I was a child, I always wondered, “What is GOOD about this Friday? This is the day Jesus was nailed to the cross to die.” I still remember the little storybook on the life of Jesus that I read probably a thousand times, and finding myself in tears as I read about the crucifixion. As I came to the full knowledge of the One who shed the last very last drop of blood on that cross of Calvary to redeem me, I truly understood the meaning of “Good Friday”.
So that others may LIVE
Paul says in Romans 9:3, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers…” Here Paul reveals his heart, somehow to gain his owe race for Christ. No other phrase can better explain that urge or the fire that Paul carried through his life. Paul was once an enemy of the Gospel, who gave approval to torture and martyred many saints. But after an encounter with the One whom he was torturing, gained a completely different perspective; to reach the lost at any cost.
I John 4:9 say, “… He sent his only Son into this world that we might live through Him.” Through the death on the cross, Jesus paid all the penalty of our sins. He gave us a new life. We have a hope today, which is eternal. One of my favorite hymns goes like this:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Well, I could sing that hymn and find myself be joyful. However, the question today may find me in a very uncomfortable place. “Jesus paid it all”, not only my sin, but also the ones around me. I find myself in the midst of many lost opportunities of sharing the love of God, even today. I am asking God for a heart like Paul – to have a heart filled with sorrow and unceasing anguish for the lost ones.
The lost are everywhere. They are in our own families, in our neighborhood, in our work places. We can make an impact on their lives today… an Eternal impact!
Today, as we observe and celebrate “this precious gift”, let our hearts be like Paul. We were once lost, but we are found, once was blind, but now we see. We are Christ’s ambassadors in this world. Let us carry the light of the Gospel all the days of our lives, so that others may LIVE.”
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Dr. Layne Carter: A Reflection on the legacy of my Friend, Professor and Colleague
“Pushy, I got a problem!” This phone call would let me know that Dr. Layne Carter is in his office, while I was working at Temple Baptist College, heading the Technology Department.
Dr. Layne Carter, a good friend, professor and my colleague went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2008.
I knew Dr. Carter for the last seven years. I still remember the first time I met Dr. Carter and Mima, his lovely wife. It was at the Cincinnati airport, I met this wonderful couple, along with few others from the college came to pick me up. They made me feel at home right away. Dr. Carter then about 70 years old, told me that he is the Chair of Christian Ministries Department at the College.
Dr. Carter was my friend. Dr. Carter had a special anointing to make friends. I am honored to know him. During my early days of my living in the US, Dr. Carter gave me rides to the college almost everyday. He bought me my text my first quarter. Many times, when he knew that I didn’t have anything for lunch, he would come and almost commanded me (well, Dr. Carter was a Navy veteran) to go out with him for lunch. I was one of the few people who had unlimited access to his snack stack in his office!
Dr. Carter was my professor. Dr. Carter was a passionate teacher of the Word. He was one of my favorite professors and I thoroughly enjoyed the classes that I have attended. He was a caring professor. Many times, he let me borrow his resources. He wanted all his students to excel in studies and in their personal walk with God. I used to share my vision of reaching the untold multitudes in the land of India and he was very excited about it since he also had visited India in the past. I thank God for his legacy.
Dr. Carter was my colleague. Dr. Carter used his time in the most meaningful way. I was so surprised to know that Dr. Carter was seventy years old when I first met him, seven years ago. If I ever met a hardworking man, so passionate about God’s work, given the fact that he is 70 plus years old, that would be Dr. Carter! Teaching and equipping new generation of Christian leaders was his passion. Most notable accomplishment of Dr. Carter was receiving his Doctorate degree from Liberty University at the age of 75. He inspired me by showing a perfect example of time management, discipline and sheer perfection topped with enthusiasm to serve God. Dr. Carter’s life taught me one thing: Age is not at all a criterion when it comes to serving God; it is the passion that matters.
I can keep writing about Dr. Carter and his friendship with God’s people.
I will never forget the last time I saw him. It was couple of days before Christmas 2007. Sue, Chrisdas and I spent about an hour with Dr. Carter and Mima. At one point of our conversation he again said, “Pushy, I got a problem.” He got up and with the help of his walker; he slowly walked towards his home office. He said. “My printer is not working, can you look at it?” He sat next to me as I was checking his printer. He talked about his sickness, the chemo that he has to go through every other week. However, none of those hurt him more than his difficulty reading his Bible.
When we were leaving, I told him. “Doctor, just want to let you know that you have inspired me, and have a lasting impact in my life, family and the ministry. I am so blessed to have you as my friend.” All the memories from the last seven years just flashed through my mind as I was leaving their home.
Dr. Carter ran a good race, fought a good fight… He finally got a chance to meet his loving Savior face to face. When I got the news of his passing away, a hymn that Dr. Carter led at the College chapel echoed in my ear:
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer.
Farewell, Dr. Carter, my Friend, my Professor and my Colleague! I shall see you again in Eternity.
Dr. Layne Carter, a good friend, professor and my colleague went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2008.
I knew Dr. Carter for the last seven years. I still remember the first time I met Dr. Carter and Mima, his lovely wife. It was at the Cincinnati airport, I met this wonderful couple, along with few others from the college came to pick me up. They made me feel at home right away. Dr. Carter then about 70 years old, told me that he is the Chair of Christian Ministries Department at the College.
Dr. Carter was my friend. Dr. Carter had a special anointing to make friends. I am honored to know him. During my early days of my living in the US, Dr. Carter gave me rides to the college almost everyday. He bought me my text my first quarter. Many times, when he knew that I didn’t have anything for lunch, he would come and almost commanded me (well, Dr. Carter was a Navy veteran) to go out with him for lunch. I was one of the few people who had unlimited access to his snack stack in his office!
Dr. Carter was my professor. Dr. Carter was a passionate teacher of the Word. He was one of my favorite professors and I thoroughly enjoyed the classes that I have attended. He was a caring professor. Many times, he let me borrow his resources. He wanted all his students to excel in studies and in their personal walk with God. I used to share my vision of reaching the untold multitudes in the land of India and he was very excited about it since he also had visited India in the past. I thank God for his legacy.
Dr. Carter was my colleague. Dr. Carter used his time in the most meaningful way. I was so surprised to know that Dr. Carter was seventy years old when I first met him, seven years ago. If I ever met a hardworking man, so passionate about God’s work, given the fact that he is 70 plus years old, that would be Dr. Carter! Teaching and equipping new generation of Christian leaders was his passion. Most notable accomplishment of Dr. Carter was receiving his Doctorate degree from Liberty University at the age of 75. He inspired me by showing a perfect example of time management, discipline and sheer perfection topped with enthusiasm to serve God. Dr. Carter’s life taught me one thing: Age is not at all a criterion when it comes to serving God; it is the passion that matters.
I can keep writing about Dr. Carter and his friendship with God’s people.
I will never forget the last time I saw him. It was couple of days before Christmas 2007. Sue, Chrisdas and I spent about an hour with Dr. Carter and Mima. At one point of our conversation he again said, “Pushy, I got a problem.” He got up and with the help of his walker; he slowly walked towards his home office. He said. “My printer is not working, can you look at it?” He sat next to me as I was checking his printer. He talked about his sickness, the chemo that he has to go through every other week. However, none of those hurt him more than his difficulty reading his Bible.
When we were leaving, I told him. “Doctor, just want to let you know that you have inspired me, and have a lasting impact in my life, family and the ministry. I am so blessed to have you as my friend.” All the memories from the last seven years just flashed through my mind as I was leaving their home.
Dr. Carter ran a good race, fought a good fight… He finally got a chance to meet his loving Savior face to face. When I got the news of his passing away, a hymn that Dr. Carter led at the College chapel echoed in my ear:
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer.
Farewell, Dr. Carter, my Friend, my Professor and my Colleague! I shall see you again in Eternity.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Celebrating Christ through the season
…but I came to give life - life in all its fullness. (John 10:10)
Chuck Swindoll in his book The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece says, “Christmas offers its wonderful message. Immanuel. God with us. He who resided in Heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, willingly descended into our world. He breathed our air, felt our pain, knew our sorrows, and died for our sins. He did not come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety. .”
Millions around the world are celebrating Christmas today. Many of them have no idea what Christmas is all about. For many, Christmas is all about Santa Claus, Christmas tree, giving and receiving gifts, enjoying with the families, having good food and so forth. Christ is truly a forgotten man during the season!
Christmas is all about God’s love. For those of us who have accepted God’s unconditional love cannot pass a day without remembering the Christmas story. Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way…” Sin drifted our lives away from the loving relationship with God, it saddened the heart of God, and he wanted to redeem us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” Isn’t amazing that Eternal High God, the creator of the universe love you and me that He would sent His only son to redeem us?
Words are not enough to describe the love of God.
Christmas is all about hope. The Christmas story is changing lives, bringing hope to the hopeless all around the world. God’s amazing grace redeemed us from eternal damnation and gave us hope for Eternity.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, may we also remember His love for the lost humanity. May we know God more deeply, so that we might live more fully - not just during this season - but all year long!
God be with us!
Chuck Swindoll in his book The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece says, “Christmas offers its wonderful message. Immanuel. God with us. He who resided in Heaven, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, willingly descended into our world. He breathed our air, felt our pain, knew our sorrows, and died for our sins. He did not come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety. .”
Millions around the world are celebrating Christmas today. Many of them have no idea what Christmas is all about. For many, Christmas is all about Santa Claus, Christmas tree, giving and receiving gifts, enjoying with the families, having good food and so forth. Christ is truly a forgotten man during the season!
Christmas is all about God’s love. For those of us who have accepted God’s unconditional love cannot pass a day without remembering the Christmas story. Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way…” Sin drifted our lives away from the loving relationship with God, it saddened the heart of God, and he wanted to redeem us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” Isn’t amazing that Eternal High God, the creator of the universe love you and me that He would sent His only son to redeem us?
Words are not enough to describe the love of God.
Christmas is all about hope. The Christmas story is changing lives, bringing hope to the hopeless all around the world. God’s amazing grace redeemed us from eternal damnation and gave us hope for Eternity.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, may we also remember His love for the lost humanity. May we know God more deeply, so that we might live more fully - not just during this season - but all year long!
God be with us!
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