Mumbai Blasts Strike A Chord of Anger, Fear

(Story photo from AMG India's
 Leprosy ministry) (Cover photo: file
 footage courtesy BBC World Service)

India (MNN) -- India's government is promising justice for the victims of last week's triple bomb attacks in Mumbai.

AMG International spokesman Pat Ragan says early indications were that the attacks were a message.  "The newspaper says that on the 13th of July, it was the birthday of a Mr. Kasab who was a terrorist and part of the gang attacked the hotel Taj, in Mumbai, two years ago, so there's some history there. They said, ‘This attack is the birthday gift to Mr. Kasab who is in Mumbai jail now.'"

Investigators  questioned members of a home-grown Islamist militant group, although no one has claimed actual responsibility for Wednesday's assault--the deadliest since 2008 when Pakistani extremists struck the same region.

  

Each terror strike on Mumbai raises fresh international concerns about security in India. AMG partners were not directly affected, but AMG India country director Arun Kumar Mohanty wrote that "police have put many security forces in all the important places, and they've announced ‘high alert' in all the cities of Andhra Pradesh."

Ragan says the concern has radiated out from Maharashtra State. "In Andhra Pradesh [State], which is where our ministry is located, the government has taken many steps to find out about the terrorist. They're checking all the important places like hotels, theaters, shopping malls, and the bus shelters. They're checking all the vehicles, so security definitely has heightened there."

The police presence, however, has done little to alleviate fears. The July 13 attack is the ninth major attack on India in 20 years. Anyone can advise people to be cautious during instability, says Ragan, but he notes Mohanty's approach: "'Everyone should think that we should be reigned by God or under His authority in our lives. And we have to be in the hands of God for our safety and security,'" Ragan quotes Mohanty as saying. "I appreciate his viewpoint, particularly that there's also a responsibility for the change of the terrorists' mind and their views."

Therein lies a solution that would address the discontent that fuels malcontent. The hope of the Gospel changes the heart. Ragan says, "God is using AMG India to really transform the culture there in Andhra Pradesh."

The professional impact of AMG India's ministry on the nation is felt through the many thousands who receive vocational training in the care of Christian instructors. Armed with marketable skills and Christian values, they shine the light of Christ through their lives as professionals and business owners.

Ragan explains that through their teams, "We touch, it's estimated, 100,000 lives a month in India through shelters, reaching the elderly, the young, the impoverished, and the sick. And we also work through newspaper evangelism and radio. We have church-planting going on and evangelism in villages."

Although Mumbai searches for the culprits, people don't feel that anyone is in control. The message of the Gospel changes that. "It's not just safety and security for the population, but also our heart needs to go out to the terrorists themselves, that God would change their hearts." Keep praying for wisdom for the team as they continue working in increasingly dangerous times. Pray for opportunities and open hearts.