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.

Missionary Couple Slain in Mexico; Peace Pact in Puebla

Drug traffickers suspected in robbery/murder.

By Elisabeth Isais

John and Wanda Casias

MEXICO CITY, February 3 (Compass Direct News) – A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, Nuevo Leon.

John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and stole a safe, televisions and ministry vehicles, along with other items. The area has suffered heavily from attacks by drug cartels in recent weeks, including the murder of the mayor of El Cercado, leading to the tentative conclusion that the crime was committed by people serving narcotics traffickers.

Drug traffickers in Mexico oppose the message of Christ because it turns people away from their business, and thus Christians have been among the targets of the criminals. Christians noted that the assailants would not have needed to kill the missionary couple in order to rob them.

The killers left Wanda Casias dead inside the house, and the body of her husband was reportedly found in a storage room of a small building elsewhere on the property.

They were affiliated with the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship; the couple’s home church is located in Lewisville, Texas.

Their ministry included the founding of churches, beginning with the First Fundamentalist Independent Baptist Church in their locality, and they also did work in Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, and other parts of the state of Nuevo Leon. Daily vacation Bible schools and youth camps were important aspects of their ministry, and they placed strong emphasis on Bible study and music.

They are survived by 10 children who have reportedly said they hope to continue their parents’ ministry.

Peace in Puebla

With intervention by Puebla state authorities after Protestants came under threats of expulsion and death, Catholics in San Rafael Tlanalapan, have agreed to allow evangelicals to construct a worship place in the town far from the Catholic church building.

Last fall Catholics threatened to crucify the Protestants if they didn’t leave town immediately. Parishioners later revealed that a local priest incited them to make this threat, and after this became public, Catholic authorities transferred the priest to another town.

State officials initiated negotiations to resolve the conflict, and an agreement was reached last October; officials will be responsible to ensure that terms of the agreement are kept.

Pastors Agustin Castillo Morales and Josue Ovando Jimenez accepted the pact, which calls for them to hold worship services far from the Catholic church site. Evangelical leaders from Mexico City celebrated the peaceful solution to the problem in an event that included musical groups.

Last September about 70 Protestants in San Rafael Tlanalapan had been given the ultimatum to leave immediately or be “crucified or lynched.” Catholics (not “traditionalist Catholics” that mix Catholicism with indigenous practices, as previously reported) in the town, near San Martín Texmelucan, about 60 miles from Mexico City, reportedly threatened to burn down or otherwise destroy their homes.

The conflict goes back several years; in 2006, the Protestants asked for government help after Catholics led village authorities to cut off their water supply.

Last year the evangelicals promised to leave town at a Sept. 7 meeting, though the 200 Catholics present sought to beat them and expel them at that time (seewww.compassdirect.org, “Christians in Mexico Forced from Village,” Sept. 16, 2011). The Protestants sought refuge in nearby towns, including the municipal center of San Martin Texmelucan, where their churches have become prominent. Othersreportedly fled to a church building in Alto Aposento.

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Copyright 2012 Compass Direct News

A Captive Audience

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

These prisoners are reading Gospel literature for probably the first time.

SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- Pastor Anek and his team of Bible college students had been praying long and hard for the opportunity to share Christ’s love at the jail in their area. God answered their prayer when, at long last, local authorities gladly extended an invitation for the Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries to visit.

On the day of the event, 1,200 prisoners and their superintendents filled t
he conference hall. Although Pastor Anek and his team weren’t permitted to speak directly from God’s Word, they effectively communicated the Gospel through skits, traditional dances and Bible stories. The event also incorporated food and games.

The prisoners and guards were captivated throughout the entire message; there was no disturbance of any kind, and everyone stayed until the end. The presence of the Lord was evident.

The jail superintendents thanked the team when the day was done, and Pastor Anek is now even more eager to bring Christ’s love to the prisoners.

Pastor Anek asks for prayer for more opportunities to reach out to the prisoners and for the Lord to work in their hearts so they can be saved.

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Read about a pastor who ministers behind bars.www.gfa.org/news/articles/missionary-ministers-to-inmates-while-behind-bars/
Learn about other ways Bible college students serve!www.gfa.org/news/articles/bible-college-students-clean/

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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.

Radio reaches past resistance

Tibet being ruled by communist China means the Gospel is often met with persecution. Radio signals can still reach the lost.


Tibet (MNN) ― The history of mission work to spread the Gospel in Tibet has often been met with fierce political resistance. Often there is only one channel that can reach through closed lines: radio broadcast.

Words of Hope helps put on the Gaweylon (Good News) Tibetan program through radio broadcast every evening. Thirty-minute segments include Bible teachings with wonderful responses from listeners who have made the eternal decision to follow Christ.

But as is the trend in this communist country, their program has met resistance. Governmental authorities in Tibet imposed restrictions on their broadcast and are making the situation very difficult for their mission.

Opposition to religion is frequent in Tibet. In the nineteenth century there were common cases of persecution such as sewing missionaries up in a wet yak's skin and then setting them out in the sun to be crushed to death as the drying tomb of skin constricted.

Later in the 1960's, the Cultural Revolution took place and a communist-ruled Tibet suppressed any form of religion with beatings and arrests. During this time in Tibet, going to prison was practically a death sentence. Figures compiled by the Tibetan Administration showed that nearly 70% of those imprisoned died there.

These days, missionary works seem to ebb and flow. Cases of persecution remain, but the people are interested in learning more. Words of Hope developed a method that they have been using for two decades to reach beyond the closed sections of the community with the Gospel message: radio broadcast.

Also, the Gaweylon Tibetan program is in desperate need of a Tibetan Christian who can help them with thorough translation of the gospel messages into their language. Pinning down the correct dialect useful for Tibetans is difficult since certain words and ideas are hard to translate.

Words of Hope writes for the Tibet radio program in their prayer letter, "Pray that God will enable the programming to continue with clear reception in spite of difficult conditions and restrictions imposed by authorities."

Pray also that the Lord would bring a Tibetan Christian out of the woodwork for translation on the program.
 If you would like to consider donating to their Gospel broadcast mission, you can click here.

Two Missionaries Arrested

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

GFA-supported missionary Murli Ghulam and his family are shown here. Murli spent a day in jail after being accused of forcing people to convert to Christianity.

INDIA (ANS) -- Two Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries in India were arrested over the weekend. One was released later that same day, but the other remains behind bars.

Pastor Accused of Being Member of Rebel Group

Rahul Akkunj was arrested on July 2 and is charged with being a member of a well-known rebel group. Rahul is not part of the group. Rather, he is the pastor of a church in the village where he was arrested. The allegations came after a fasting and prayer meeting Rahul led at his church. Several villagers who heard about the event were distressed, saying that if Rahul's church continues to grow at the rate it has been, their traditional religion will be wiped out.

Rahul's district leader went to the jail on Monday and tried to post bail on his behalf, but he was refused. The local authorities told the leader the charges against Rahul were serious and he would be forced to remain in the jail until there is a court hearing.

Pastor Rahul and the people who love him are asking for prayer that the Lord will speak into the heart of the judge to rule in favor of the missionary, and that the charges against him will be dropped.

Missionary Charged with Forced Conversion

Just a few miles away, GFA-supported missionary Murli Ghulam was arrested on Saturday. He was charged with forcing people to convert to Christianity after he led a prayer meeting for 25 people at the home of a local believer.

A local anti-Christian extremist group brought police to the home. They broke up the service and arrested the missionary on the spot.

In the state where Murli and Rahul serve, there are strict laws that outline the process by which an individual is allowed to change their faith. The rules, which are officially known as "freedom of religion laws," were enacted to prevent conversion by force, fraud or allurement. The laws are said to protect those who practice traditional religions from being forced to convert to a Western faith by a pastor or missionary. In many cases, especially those involving Christianity, extremists accuse the pastor of forcing people to change their faith, even when they testify that they chose to follow Christ by their own will. In some areas, the new believers are forced to register their intention to switch faiths with the local government. There are a myriad of penalties and fines for anyone who does not follow all the rules outlined in this legislation.

Murli was questioned by local authorities about the charges leveled against him. He clearly explained that he was not forcing anyone to change their faith. He was released on Sunday.

Murli's supporters are asking for prayer that God would encourage him and help him as shares the love of God with the villagers. They also ask for prayer for wisdom and strength for the believers in this village, where Murli serves as the pastor of a local church. They are asking for prayer that they would be able to defend their faith in whatever circumstances come their way and that they would continue worshiping Jesus in spirit and in truth.

Murli and the believers in this village also asked for prayer for the salvation of those who opposed the ministry and brought the charges against the pastor.

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·         Believers in South Asia face almost constant persecution. Read about a village where the believers are denied water.

·         Viplav received healing as a result of the fervent prayer of a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary.

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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.

Servants No Greater than Their Master

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

While new believers receive love and spiritual nourishment at their churches, family members often try to prevent them from worshiping with other Christians.

Like these men, believers in Pastor Sulekh's congregation faced jail time because of false accusations by anti-Christian extremists.

SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- Jesus told his disciples, "'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20, NKJV).

Throughout South Asia, many of Jesus' followers-especially those who have recently committed their lives to Him-face persecution from their communities. Within the past year, the following Christians have experienced threats and abuse because they claim the name of Jesus:

Man's New Infectious Faith Provokes Village Unrest
Kantimoy once devoutly followed the religion traditional to his people group. He, his wife and their three children got up early every day to worship their deity. Kantimoy was even in charge of maintaining the property of the temple in his village.

But the gods and goddesses he worshiped couldn't heal his three children. His 10-year-old son, Jugnu, suffered from seizures, his 8-year-old daughter had a hole in her heart and youngest daughter experienced night terrors that disrupted his entire household, robbing them of sleep.

One day, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor told Kantimoy about Jesus. This pastor continued visiting him and praying for his family. Jugnu stopped having seizures, and Kantimoy started to have faith in Jesus. Finally, Kantimoy gave his heart to the Lord. He stopped working at the temple and even opened his home for a prayer group. Three neighboring families ended up joining!

But the other villagers-including his relatives and family members-turned against Kantimoy. They started opposing his congregation and are causing problems for his pastor.

Justice Denied for Christian Villagers

In a part of South Asia where believers have experienced unimaginable hostility and violence in recent years, believers in one village still face opposition. In September, some villagers attacked the believers, beating one individual. When a group of Christians protested against this violence, police jailed 10 of them. Although they were released on bail, hostility in the village continues.

Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Sulekh Kapoor reported in January that the villagers were cooperating with an anti-Christian extremist group to prevent the believers from going to the market.

In light of this situation, Pastor Sulekh has requested prayer for protection and safety for the Christian families in this village.

Choosing Christ's Family or Earthly Family

Kanan Tamang, 20, recently chose to give his life to Jesus. He worships with a growing congregation led by GFA-supported missionary Rehmat Chatterjee. However, his parents have threatened to disown him if he continues to follow Christ. The other villagers are also opposing Kanan's decision, saying that if he makes his decision to follow Jesus final, they will chase him from the village.

Pastor Rehmat requests prayers on behalf of Kanan that God will give him courage to remain faithful. Also pray that Kanan's witness will draw his family to Christ, and Pastor Rehmat will point many people to Jesus as he continues abiding in the Holy Spirit

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Counting the Cost at a Young Age

Recently on May 10, two adolescent boys decided to give their lives to Jesus. Sixteen-year-old Bodhan Tambe gave his life to Jesus after his friend and schoolmate Yash, a Christian in a GFA-supported congregation, shared the Good News with him.

When Bodhan's parents found out, they angrily threatened to kick their son out of the house if he went to church. However, he is still trying to attend worship services.

The other young man, Kiranmay Mehta, faces a similar dilemma. When his parents learned that he chose to follow Christ, they started abusing him and prevented him from going to church.

Please pray that Bodhan and Kiranmay will stand strong in their new faith and be able to worship with other believers. Also, please pray that their families will receive salvation.

Please intercede for God to work mightily in each of these situations, strengthening the believers and transforming the hearts of those who are against Him and His followers. 

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• Find out more about how persecution affects believers and missionaries in South Asia.
• A few years ago, Christians faced some of the most horrific persecution seen in modern times.

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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.