CHRISTIANS BEATEN AND DEAFENED BY FANATICS, TELANGANA

November 20, 2020

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, rm and
steadfast.” — 1 Peter 5:10
Wherever there is suering, there is an opportunity for us to praise our Gracious God. As we suer in the hands of our neighbours, or let’s put it in this way – as we face
persecution (read SEVERE!) for our faith in Christ, we might feel worn out and diminished; however, we are assured that once God calls us home, He will restore every
lost thing of value and make us strong and secure forever. That’s His promise – and He is Faithful to keep all His promises.
We bring to you the ordeal that Christians have recently witnessed in the Balapur Mandal Rangareddy district of Telangana state of India. This is the narrative about
Pastor Enoch (identity protected) and his church believers.

Pastor Enoch and his elderly mother visited one of the believer’s house for a cottage prayer meeting. Including Pastor and his mother, there were around 6 people in
the prayer meeting.
Sandhini (identity protected), the believer in whose house the prayer meeting was scheduled had been staying in a rented house, and the prayer meeting was denitely
despised by the house owner. Undoubtedly, many cannot withstand the joy we Christians have in worshipping the true God.
The house owner informed the fanatics, who had been hunting down Christians like spies. A golden platter was served to the fanatics to come and torture Christians
who have assembled peacefully. And we still like to believe that India is a truly secular country – and isn’t it still so constitutionally!
Around 15-20 fanatics barged into the cottage prayer meeting, and started beating everyone. They came equipped with bamboo sticks and rocks. Mercilessly they have
beaten the elderly mother of Pastor Enoch, breaking her articial teeth. Pastor Enoch was badly injured and his car (which was a gift from willful contribution of others)
was vandalized. Another believer, John was attacked and his head was injured and both eardrums have been damaged and needs urgent surgery. Sandhini was also hit
on stomach, arms and thighs.
Pastor Enoch have lodged an ocial complaint in the nearby Police station, and is waiting for police authorities to take necessary legal action. However, our assurance is
as David wrote in Psalm 140:12, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the aicted, and will execute justice for the needy.”
Pray for the protection and comfort of Pastor Enoch, his mother, Sandhini, and John. Let all of them look to the Lord and His strength and seek His face continually.
Pray that the fanatics are convicted of their sins and ruthlessness and let them be transformed in His mercy.
Pray for the provision of God for John’s ear surgery and let his hearing be restored by His grace. Also, pray for the healing of Pastor Enoch, his mother and Sandhini.
Pray that the local authorities act with equality and serve justly.
Pray that God’s divine ways open up that may enable the spread of the Gospel, and through the resurrection power of Christ may many unsaved, perishing souls in
Telangana be reclaimed back for His kingdom.
Since January 2016 to September 2020, Persecution Relief has recorded 2224 cases of Christian Persecution in India. From 73 cases of persecution in 2016, since then
Christian Persecution shot to a staggering 115% over a span of 5 years. In July 2020, the US commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended to
the US Department of State, for India to be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” in its 2020 annual report