Tuesday 21 April 2009

All men will hate you because of me

This took place on Sunday April 19th ,2009

A mob of about 100 militants of the Hindu fundamentalist party Bajrang Dal attacked a church in Saavner area of Nagpur and vandalized it, according to reports reaching the state police headquarters in Mumbai yesterday. The attack took place at 11.00 a.m. when 70 members of the Christian community were praying in the church. The incident led to tension and panic in the city. Police beefed up security in the area and appealed to the people to not to believe in rumors and help in maintaining peace and harmony in the city. According to police sources, the Bajrang Dal militants attacked the church on the suspicion that it was being used for converting Hindus to Christianity.
The police have registered a case against four accused persons, who are reported to be absconding. The Hindu militants damaged chairs, tables, fans in the church and a minibus that was parked in the church compound.
(Source Arabnews)
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An armed group of Hindu radicals attacked a 100-year-old church in Saoner near Nagpur on Sunday, April 19. Saoner police said that just about 10 minutes before the attack, some persons claiming to be from VHP’s Ramtek unit came to the police station and handed over an application asking for action against religious conversions taking place in Saoner.
They warned of a vigorous movement against the church’s action of allegedly targeting economically weaker section and converting them into Christianity offering them enticements. The allegations, said priest Reverend Mark Sakharpekar of the church, were baseless. He said this was the first attack of its kind on the church.
CH Wakade, superintendent of police, Nagpur rural, said that these men then headed straight to the church. “The police station personnel had accepted the complaint and assured them that they would look into the issue of conversion through unfair means. Ten minutes later, the police station received information about attack at the church. It seems that the moves were planned,” he said. SP said that special squads have been formed to round up the culprits at the earliest.
Sakharpekar had just begun his sermon when the attack began. It triggered panic among the devotees. The church is hardly a kilometre from the police station. The priest’s wife Pushpa Sakharpekar, who is in a shock after the attack, tried to reason with the assailants but to no avail. The other women too protested. A sharp trident like weapon was hurled at the priest. However, he escaped unhurt. One of the attackers told him that ‘next time will be worse’. Two worshippers, Aruna Telkhande and Preeti Dongre, received minor injuries.
The late 19th century church comes under the Church of Scotland Missions and is affiliated to United Church of Northern India. “It was a merciless attack. I was shocked to see them barge into the church with sticks and weapons during the worship. They hurled a sharp trident at me. Some of them were known faces. One Pandit Bharadwaj even brandished a pistol to intimidate me,” said Sakharpekar. “Sonu Bariya was one of the attackers. We know him since his mother often came for the morning service. He too visited the church on several occasions. Both Sonu and his mother had recently discontinued their visits to the church,” he said.
An unidentified man had barged into the Saoner church in the night and tried to vandalise the St. John’s Mission High School’s computer room some days back. Sakharpekar had not taken the matter to police station then. “We had no idea who had then tried to break open the computer room. He had claimed to be sent by someone but that name was unfamiliar,” he said. Sakharpekar had raised the boundary wall of the church and school premises.
An offence of rioting, trespassing and defiling place of worship and insulting religious feelings has been registered against the culprits.
(Source cbcsite)

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Jesus said; All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.Matthew 10;22
His words have proved to be true all through the centuries..
What I just don 't understand is that the right-wing Hindu fundamentalists accuse the church of "false" or "forced" conversions.
I want to tell them that there are no false or forced conversions in Christianity. True conversion has to be of the heart otherwise it is of no value. And if anyone pretends to be converted he is doing so at the peril of his own soul because God cannot be fooled.
The pretend converts slide back into where they came from. The ones whose names are written in the Lamb 's Book of Life will receive the crown of life .
Please pray for our safety too.
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The second day of voting passed off peacefully today. There was a low voters turn out because of the blistering 110 ' heat.

18 Fertilize my soul:

Gigi said...

YOu are in my prayers.....this verse hit me today too and yet for not nearly the same reasons and I am praying for YOU

Jan said...

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is always good to be informed about what our brothers and sisters are facing around the world. We have been in prayer for India for the last year at our Bible School. I will let them know about this for a specific request!

Herrad said...

Hi,

Came here via Mary looking for news from other places.

Think I will find alot here.

Love,

Herrad

Donetta said...

Hello, So many things to have happening at one time. How asleep we are. It is good to know that a wake up call is being sounded.
I hope that all is well with you.
Is your garden thriving?
Are you caring for your heart dear one?
Be Blessed

madison said...

It's such a shame that the church was attacked like that, but glad everyone was safe.
I think that people who do this kind of stuff are full of fear. Chritianity will never cease to exist, no matter how hard these people try.
Hubby has been saying that in his part the temps are really getting warm to, but I think your part is warmer than his.

Sita said...

Whenever, I see that irrational and disproportionate anger and hatred being spewed out, I recognize the source, the one who hates God's most beloved creatures made in His image.

As a global body of believers, we must pray for each other. This is not so far a cry in the western world...more and more Christians are being targeted in vitriolic ways...just look at how Hollywood and shows like Law and Order portray Christians...

May God surround you and the church there, Amrita. May He hide you in the cleft of the rock until the terror has passed by.

Love, Sita

Sherri Murphy said...

Unbelievable!

I will pray for all of you there.

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
This is important and devastating information to the rest of the world about the reality behind the news.
I'm praying for the Christians in India, and for mother India, the nation.
From Felisol

Bluebirdy said...

Oh Amrita! God must have known what a strong soul you have to live in India when there is persecution against Christians! This is also part of the signs of the last days that we were told to watch for, so I am hoping He will return soon to make earth a heavenly place.
Blessings, Sheila

Kimmie said...

My children are studying about India in our homeschool...we will add you and your country to our prayers.

May His Kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.

Kimmie
mama to 7
one homemade and 6 adopted

Rebecca said...

Amrita....we have so much to be thankful for (I think) bu I am sure that the Lord wants us - in the West - to learn from yu, so keep sharing of what it takes to be a Christian right now in your part of the world...for our turn comes I am sure!

Crown of Beauty said...

First I am praying for your safety, and the protection of your own church and fellow believers. I pray that your life will be used to bring many to Christ.

I pray for God's hedge of protection around the Christians in India.I know several committed Christian doctors and pastors.

This is a sad story, the same hatred that sent Jesus to the cross. Yes, you are so right, if the world hated Jesus, it will also hate us who follow Him.

May God give you peace and confidence and a sense of freedom as you obey Jesus wholeheartedly

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

Well, this is awful news. Those extremists are just outrageous. What a weak and bizarre accusation they make about so-called "forced" conversions. They are mental! Please be careful!

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

There are so much religious intolerance among Hindus and Muslims against Christians. Many followers of these religions are so fanatically loyal to their own beliefs that they could not stomach other beliefs. No wonder that they can do inhuman acts in the name of their beliefs. Christians were guilty of the same fanaticism during the time of the crusades and the inquisition. Let us all pray for those who are persecuted because of their faith. Thanks for the eye opening post. God bless you always.

Brit. (lille meg) said...

Thank you for this post, Amrita!
It is so true!
Jesus said these words you wrote:
"All men will hate you because of me".
He told us, and it has became true.
It is so much terrible things happening.
I hope you will have a blessed weekend!

Denise said...

I love the precious souls of India.... I need to email you and ask you a serious question.......

hugs to you and love in Christ and praying for India......

David Edward said...

and the closer we get to the return of our savior and King, the more these things will happen. Prepare yourselves with utter devotion to His word and prayer, witnessing to those who will hear, that you may save even one from the fires to come.

Roo said...

sweet sister...thank you for sharing. i think of you so often and i am praying for you. xo