Missionaries in crossfire of ethnic tension

(Photo courtesy of GFA)

South Asia (MNN) ― Heated ethnic tensions in an undisclosed country in South Asia have missionaries and Bible College students trapped.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) reported word from their missionaries in that country last Friday saying an ethnic war has been escalating for over three weeks now.

It started on May 28 after a young woman there was brutally raped and killed. The perpetrators belonged to an opposing ethnic group.

The community the young woman was from became enraged and struck back. They attacked a bus on June 2, killing 10 people.

As each ethnic group tries to retaliate, the violence has spread across local villages. GFA says mobs are roaming the area, burning homes, and attacking villagers. Many people can’t even leave their homes to buy food during the day for fear of their lives.

A GFA missionary in the country writes, “At this very moment, the groups are attacking homes and killing each other. Many local people are coming to our church building and staying together with great fear.”

A group of Bible College students with GFA are even prevented from going back to school in the area because of the violence.

Pray for the peace and protection of the Lord over the missionaries there. Pray that others would come to find the peace of Christ in this dangerous time.