Persecution Surges  in Our Area Of India, Again
     
     The area where we are working in Orissa is under persecution again. Perhaps this is the most wide spread and damaging that has happened since we began working in this remote region. Persecution has flared up in the past, largely because the church is growing there like never before. It is not just happening to Word of Grace churches, but every group that is in this area. I called Pastor Gabriel in India last night and was told they have been told that the radical Hindus are planning to attack our village on January 12th, which is this weekend. I told him we would stand with him in prayer.  
     
   
     
 

We have one of the largest churches in the area in our base village called Manga Panga. It is part of a rather large compound that we have built over time. The greatest risk is not our buildings all though we would hate to have to rebuild them. The fact is, we have many families living in a small community there and our house is home to about 50 orphans at this time. They are requesting your prayers.

  
     
   
     
 

Here is a report sent to us by one of our board members. It gives some background to what has happened there in the past week or two. I have cleaned up his grammar to make it more readable:

 

“I would like to share few words about the unexpected incidents happen in our district of Orissa for about a week all the news papers and TV channels are talking about it. It began on the evening of 24th December the fanatic groups started persecuting the Churches and believers in our district. Our people in were busy to do shopping to celebrate Christmas. All of a sudden all the markets were closed. They stopped the transport system by cutting trees and laying them across the roads and disconnected the communication lines. It was not possible for the people to travel back to home from the market. Then the attacks started. They burned and demolished homes and churches. They went from village to village Believers were brutally beaten and were forced into jungle to hide themselves. More than sixty churches were burnt and demolished. About 200 Christian homes were burned in one area and about 300 in another area. In the night on the 27th they were trying to attack our orphanage but by the grace of the Lord they were not able to do it.

Now the situation is under control, and curfews are enforced. Kindly pray for us. As I write, Pastor Gabriel and all his family members are fine. Some of the Word of Grace fellowship pastors and churches are also affected.

 

With much love and prayer,

Yours brother in Christ, Tarun”

 

  
   
     
 

     Pastor Ron Mandile and his son Scott were supposed to leave for a two week trip to Orissa on Monday, but they have been asked by the brethren in India to postpone it until things settle down. Ron does not want to attract undo interest to our brothers and sisters there. (I also have trip in the works, but will watch for the right time to go.) The believers who have been pushed into the jungle had to flee with nothing in their hands. When their houses were burned down they lost what little they had. We have sent some money to provide some food and clothing for these dear ones. If you would like to contribute some support, we will collect it and dispense it as the need arises over the next couple months. You can send it to Ron Mandile 265 Stanhope St. Brooklyn NY 11327.  Please make checks payable to Word of Grace and put India Relief in the memo line. Everything you give will go to this need. Also I assured Pastor Gabriel that I would ask for prayer support for this coming weekend as an attack seems eminent.

Thanks for all you support. Penn