Please Pray - Violent Persecution in Orissa, India

Dear Friends,
 
We have recently received a message from Ranjit Rodrigues, leader of Good News Church in Goa, India. The message is paraphrased below. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Orissa who are undergoing terrible persecution.
 
 

'For almost two years now, we've had links with churches in the Indian state of Orissa. Orissa has been infamous for persecuting Christians, and you may remember that some years ago, an Australian missionary and his young sons were burnt alive there. On Christmas eve last year, there was a wave of persecution with churches burnt, Christian homes destroyed and believers forced to flee in the jungles for safety.
 
 Recently, another even more violent wave of persecution has been unleashed upon Christians. Five people have been killed already, one of whom was burnt alive with kerosene poured on him. Church leaders are being especially targetted and many are hiding in the forests. Our friends are isolated in their village, all exits have been blocked and the police refuse to help as this persecution has tacit support of local government.
 
 Our friends in Orissa are tribals and very strong believers. Last year, the leader of the organisation and his wife spent three months here with us in Good News Church, during which I helped him study the book of Romans. He took biblical doctrine and the Baptism of the Spirit back to his people and has been seeing God's favour and growth. We have a strong ongoing relationship with them and continue to support them.
 
 
 Please pray for these brothers and sisters, and all Christians in Orissa.'

 

 With much love in Christ,
 
 David Stroud

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