Orissa, India
Persecution of Christians Heightens
On February 10, Hindu extremists entered the village of Tirtole to force Christians to renounce their faith. Luke Society Director, Dr. Pushpa Rout, has been working in and around this village.
“The extremists caught hold of Christian females and forced them to deny Jesus and get reconverted to Hinduism,” said Pushpa. The women told them that they had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and that they would not change their faith. “With these statements, they became furious,” said Pushpa. The attackers beat the women with sticks and sandals. When the women resisted the beatings, their clothes were torn from their bodies, and they were forced to walk naked through the village. “All of the Christians in that village are afraid of the activists because they have threatened to kill those that would not listen to them,” Pushpa said.
Some of the Christians left Tirtole and moved into a church house in Bhubaneswar to escape the Hindu extremists. Pushpa and her husband, Pastor Prem, visited the persecuted people in Bhubaneswar. “It is amazing to see their faith in Jesus,” said Pushpa. “They are praising and singing for being persecuted for the Lord. The wounds over their bodies are paining, but they are happy.” Pushpa gave the people medicine and dressed their wounds, and continue to visit them frequently.
Although the people were safe in the church house, they were worried for one of their relatives who was eight months pregnant, left behind in Tirtole. “Due to the violence, no one is daring to enter into that village,” said Pushpa. “We are hoping to send one stranger, a believer, to take care of her.”
On March 9, Pushpa had good news. The woman was taken into Bhubaneswar, where she delivered a healthy baby girl at the city hospital.
“The rest of the believers are still at the church house at Bhubaneswar and are praying for an amicable situation to return back to their village,” said Pushpa on April 22. “We are visiting them frequently. Their psychological and emotional wounds are healing with repeated counseling and prayer.”
Pushpa and Prem are increasingly concerned for the new believers in their project villages. “Activists are now entering into the houses of new Christians and forcing them to change their religion,” said Pushpa. “Villagers are living in fear and anxiety.” Despite the frightening situations, Pushpa encourages new believers with their hope in Jesus Christ. “We know that the last days are coming and persecutions will increase,” she says. “We have to prepare ourselves to face all of this in the strength of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
In April, Pushpa and Prem visited the village of Similiguda. This village is surrounded by terrorist groups. “Military vans were running up and down, day and night all over that area to catch the terrorist groups,” said Pushpa.
Temperatures are already soaring to 104 F in this ministry village. Thankfully, the Lord granted them clouds and rain while they were traveling by foot to the interior parts. On their journey to visit Chintalguda, Pushpa and Prem had to cross a deep ditch with water in it. After a treacherous crossing, the village was still two and a half miles away. “I was thinking I would not be able to make it, but the people said many sick patients from all around the mountain were waiting since morning,” said Pushpa. “I prayed on the Lord to give me strength to walk and suddenly the clouds came and we all had to run to protect ourselves from the rain! What a miracle! We were not able to walk, but we automatically ran four kilometers!”
The hot weather and all the walking and running was worth every step. Pushpa met with many patients, Prem talked with the new believers, and Pushpa’s son, Shobhit, distributed medicines to the large crowd. “The people were very happy,” said Pushpa. “No one has ever shown such love and concern to these tribals. They expressed their gratitude with their innocent smiles and requested that we come again soon."
Laura Eisenga