THERE IS STILL OPPOSITION AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS EVEN THOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE IMPROVED SINCE THE HINDU GOVERNMENT FELL AT THE LAST ELECTION.

In October a group of bible students and coworkers preached on the street and distributed the Word of God when a group of anti-Christians appeared and beat them. Three students, two shop customers, and a man was wounded in the head. The young man had to be sown with six stitches, and the two women had to be admitted to a hospital. Several other students were injured by the beatings. The attackers collected the bibles and tracts and burned them. They also stormed a bus with the intention of burning it, but the bus and students were sent back to the bible college under police escort, who rescued them from the brutal assault.

In the Indian state of Orissa (north of Tamil Nadu) there have been so-called "re-conversion campaign", where opponents of the gospel tries to force the people, who have converted to Christianity, to return to Hinduisme. Some authorities in Orissa use the disputed legislation, that forbids people by force or baits to convert others to another religion, as an excuse to "convert" Christians to Hinduisme, even though they have not previously been Hindus. These authorities allow the Hindus almost anything in the persecution of Christians. At least seven Christians, who have converted from Hinduism, were forced away from their homes. Six months later they were permitted to return hom, but they are still being denied the basic necessities like water from the well and employment.

An Indian court of law accused five Christians of the crime of "hurting religios feelings" of Hindus. Their defence lawyer felt that a group of extremist Hindus were behind the accusation, and that they were false. The Hindu counsel in Orissa continues unrestricted with their re-convertion to Hinduism even though these people, who are now Christians, never were Hindus, but animists (worshippers of animals) before they converted to Christianity.

A missionary was in November in a northern part of India violently beaten when a gang of anti-Christians stormed his house and drew him outside in front of his nine-year-old son. The missionary knew that he could face persecution at any moment, but he hadn't expected it while he was preparing his son for school that morning. While the gang mercilessly hit and kicked the missionary, others ransacked his house and burned more than 200 new testaments and other evangelical litterature, along with his son's school books. They also stole money from the family. The son of a local police officer tried to stop the gang, but the result was that he also was wounded. His father hurried to the area and stopped the assaults, but under pressure from the gang he had to ask the missionary to leave the village immediately. Along with his wife and children he fled from the area.

As well as with many other missionaries, who suffer persecution, this man won souls for Christ through his service in the area. A flourishing community was established, and fourteen believers now gather to worship God.

Remember to pray for those who suffer for the sake of Jesus.