The troubles in India, like so much other violence around the world, has been going on for years. That doesn’t mean it can be replaced in our minds with every new ‘emergency’ that comes along. There will always be some fresh attack to pray and intercede over, but let’s not forget the ongoing struggles of Christ’s followers across the globe as we live in our comfortable, safe, prosperous nations. I’m as guilty of forgetting as anyone.
Despite the deployment of law enforcement troops, India’s violence continues to inflict daily damage on Christians.
At least ten states have witnessed anti-Christian attacks in recent months. The increasingly tense situation is in contrast with the assurances from the provincial governments, which claim to be able to maintain security.
Peter Dance with Operation Mobilisation (OM) says the international community is becoming more aware of the import of the situation. “They are calling it genocide. The U.S. government has written to the Indian government and said, ‘This is unacceptable.’ The president of France has also said, ‘This is unacceptable.’ It is genocide because it’s targeted at one particular segment of society: the Christians and the Dalits.”
Dr. Joseph D’souza, president of the All India Christian Council (AICC), said, “The anti-Christian attacks and the negligence of government in doing anything about them, would be sad if it happened in a dictatorship or a totalitarian regime. The fact that it’s happening in the world’s largest democracy makes it infinitely sadder.”
The state governments have been largely ineffective in quelling the violence, and the federal government has not exercised their options of taking over in order to restore peace. 25 pastors and their families have been moved to an OM base for safety and protection.
Within Orissa, attacks are spreading again. According to the AICC, leaders have reliable reports of 315 villages damaged, 4,640 Christian houses burnt, 53,000 Christians homeless, 57 people killed, 18,000 Christians injured, 2 nuns gang-raped, 149 churches destroyed, 13 Christian schools and colleges damaged.
The OM team is acting as the hands and feet of Christ, but “we’re so restricted in what we can do going into the area. Basically, our focus right now is those that are able to come out, are coming to the church. We’re doing what we can, financially, to take care of medical needs, also food and clothing and housing.”
Please pray for these traumatized brothers and sisters in Christ.
Do you have a strategy for keeping the international community of Christ in your prayers? Does it work? How do we make a difference without also taking on the burden the belongs to Christ?
Source: Intercessors Network via Australian Prayer Network
