March 25, 2011
The rapid growth of Christianity in India has triggered a reaction by radical Hindu nationalists. Church buildings have been burned. Missionaries and national preachers have been beaten, robbed, and even killed. Anti-Christian hate literature has been circulated, and many Christian converts have been forced to return to Hinduism.
India is the largest democracy in the world, and the Indian constitution guarantees religious freedom. But Indian authorities have been known to turn a blind eye to atrocities committed by Hindus against Christians.
Eight Indian states have passed anti-conversion laws designed to prevent Hindus from converting to Christianity.
It is not without risk that Prabhu Kumar travels all over India setting up WEI classes and teaching Hindu students about Jesus Christ.
On Tuesday, March 22, Prabhu traveled to Kodad, Surypet, and Nalgonda to inaugurate new WEI branches. Things went well at Kodad and Surypet, but at Nalgonda, Prabhu ran into trouble. Arriving at Nalgonda at 6:00 p.m., Prabhu gave the WEI materials to Bro. John Paul, the WEI teacher, and asked him to arrange the materials on a table. Prabhu writes, “At the time I went to bathe, many young people came and covered the area. They went up the stairs where the [WEI] banner was tied, and they checked the books. Then they understood that this English teaching is connected with the Bible. So they became ready to beat us if we will inaugurate the WEI branch there. They were all from RSS (Rsstriya Swyam Sevak Sangh which is the sister concern of Viswa Hindu Parishad, India), and they were ready to catch us. They had already warned our local teacher not to teach the Bible, but we were not aware of this.
“So, in fear, the local teacher kept us in the room and served food. We were there for two hours. The RSS people were not gone from the surrounding places. Though our teacher was afraid, I decided to go out to reach the Railway station. My train will leave at 12:30 a.m., so I need to catch that. Even auto people would not come to that area because of RSS fear. Then, I and Michael both started to go out by taking a daring step. I caught the train and reached Vijayawada by 6:a.m.
“Please pray for those foolish people so that God may work on their hearts.”
Later, Prabhu wrote, “I have traveled to may areas in various states where these Hindu people are quite against our Christianity. But I have never experienced a fearful condition like this. Certainly it is the grace of God which saved us on that night. Bro. John Paul called me and said that after my departure, there was a big quarreling between his family and the RSS people. They were almost beaten with long rods. When I heard that, I was surprised by the seriousness of the Hindu opponents.” Please pray for Prabhu as he risks his life to spread the gospel of Christ in India..
