GFA-supported church leader released from wrongful imprisonment

Believers honored Pastor Samuel with flowers
 following his release. (Image courtesy of GFA)

India (GFA/MNN) ― After spending 8 years in prison under false charges, a pastor supported by Gospel for Asia (GFA) is finally free.

Jharkhand, India, is home to thousands of insurgent Maoists fighting for communist control. After a vicious fight that left 19 policemen dead, authorities were on the lookout for rebels behind the attacks. Thinking they found one in 2004, the supposed insurgent was arrested and put in prison.

But the man authorities arrested wasn't a rebel: he was a GFA-supported missionary named Samuel. Though believers did everything they could to get Samuel released, days dragged into years.

Fast-forward to 2010: Pastor Samuel was officially cleared of all charges. But national strikes and more delayed court hearings kept him behind bars. He was unable to return to his wife and 8-year old daughter.

"I was totally depressed in this situation, but the Lord helped me to realize He has a special plan for me to be in the prison," Samuel wrote.

"The Lord is helping me to share the love of Jesus with the prisoners. Through my ministry, I see the transformation that is happening in the lives of the prisoners."

Instead of sulking, Samuel kept sharing the Gospel with fellow prisoners. He soon gained the trust and appreciation of jail authorities. Through Pastor Samuel's influence, many inmates found new hope in Christ.

Pray that these new believers would grow in their relationship with Christ.

GFA trains, equips, and sends out national missionaries throughout Asia to reach their people for Christ. You can learn more about their program and sponsor a national missionary here. Now that he's free, Pastor Samuel intends to keep sharing the Good News.

"Many of our missionaries face extremely difficult and unexpected circumstances," says GFA President K.P. Yohannan. "But they know these are normal challenges for servants of God working in such unreached areas where the powers of darkness are so strong.

"These missionaries are willing to face these unexplainable circumstances and continue on. And God is blessing their sacrifice."

Pray for national missionaries facing persecution in India. Ask God to comfort and strengthen them and their families.

In Hiding from His Own Family

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

Rasul was able to escape before his family members could beat him, but this believer was not so fortunate. When his father found out he was going to church, he beat him and threatened to kill him.

SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" -Ps. 27:1 (NKJV)

His heart pounding, Rasul Gupta hurried into hiding to escape from angry family members who wanted to beat him. What did they have against him? He chose to follow Christ.

A few months ago, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Pallab Singh met Rasul, a member of the Brahmin caste, and the two struck up a conversation. As they talked, Pallab had the opportunity to share about how Jesus had touched his life.

 He also explained the Gospel to his new friend. After thinking about Pallab's words, Rasul ended up deciding to surrender his life to the Lord. At the church where Pallab serves as pastor, Rasul testified that he wanted to follow Jesus, and he joined the congregation.

But his new faith sparked frustration from his family members. Staunchly devoted to their traditional religion, his parents, in-laws and even his wife chastised Rasul for his decision to serve Christ. Like many other Brahmins, they believe any connection with Christianity, which is often considered a low-caste religion, would make them impure.

On July 25, Rasul's family members told him he must deny Christ and stop attending the church. His father-in-law and his uncle planned to beat him. Thankfully, Rasul was able to flee and find refuge at the home of a believer from his church.

Two days later, Rasul had the opportunity to meet the GFA regional leader, who prayed for Rasul and encouraged him to trust God.

Rasul is still staying at the fellow believer's home. His friends have gravely warned him not to return home because his whole family is waiting to torture him.

Rasul's situation is unique. Many women in South Asia face opposition from their entire families when they choose to follow Christ, it is much less common for a man to face the anger and abuse of all his family members-even his wife.

Pastor Pallab and other GFA leaders in the area request prayer for Rasul to stand firm in the Lord during this trying time and for God to protect him from harm. Also, please pray for his family members to come to know Christ very soon. 

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• Like Rasul, Namisha comes from the highest caste and suffered the rejection of relatives when she chose to follow Christ.
• Read more stories about believers who have faced persecution for their faith in Christ.

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Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.