One Saint
  • Home
  • Jesus Said
    • Matthew
    • Mark
    • Luke
    • John
    • Acts
    • I Corinthians
    • II Corinthians
    • Revelation
  • One Saint Blogs
    • Eschatology
    • Annie
    • All Saints
    • One Saint
    • David
    • Askakido
  • The Persecuted Church
    • Prayer
    • Crown of Life
  • Library
  • MP3s
    • Mystery Babylon
    • Pastors, Ministers and Priests
    • Run from the Devil
    • Miscellaneous Teachings
  • Music
    • Music of Heaven
    • Handel's Messiah
    • Miscellaneous Music >
      • Musical Library XXIII
      • Musical Library XXII
      • Musical Library XXI
      • Musical Library XX
      • Musical Library XIX
      • Musical Library XVIII
      • Musical Library XVII
      • Musical Library XVI
      • Musical Library XV
      • Musical Library XIV
      • Musical Library XIII
      • Musical Library XII
      • Musical Library XI
      • Musical Library X
      • Musical Library IX
      • Musical Library VIII
      • Musical Library VII
      • Musical Library VI
      • Musical Library V
      • Musical Library IV
      • Musical Library III
      • Musical Library II
      • Musical Library I
  • Video
    • DR S M Lockridge, Full Sermon
    • Enoch
    • Genesis
    • Gospel Of Luke
    • Greatest Biblical Archaeological Discoveries Of All Time
    • King Solomon
    • Leonard Ravenhill
    • One Saint
    • Paul, The Apostle
    • Rabbi Jonathan Cahn
    • Revelation, The Book
    • Roger Morneau
    • Ruth
    • Sermon On The Mount
    • That's My King!
    • The Bride, The Beast & Babylon
    • The Jesus Movie
  • Links

Vandalized Church Restored In India

8/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture




International Christian Concern

2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #241
Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org  |  E-mail: icc@persecution.org
Global Church Restores Vandalized Church in India through ICC's Assistance Program
By ICC's India Correspondent 

8/14/2014
Washington, D.C.
International Christian Concern

Anti-Christian violence continues to flare up all across India as rightwing Hindu radicals take the BJP government's rise to power as license to perpetrate an onslaught of assaults on the minority community scot-free. There has been an escalation in brutality as Hindutva activists run rampant, attacking churches and Christians at an ever increasing rate in recent times.

One such incident took place in Malakpet area of Hyderabad and shocked the Christian community when Hindu radicals set fire to the thatched roof of Bethel Gospel Church in the middle of the night on February 2, 2014.

Pastor Christopher, the head pastor of Bethel Gospel Church, told ICC of the gruesome incident that shook him and his entire congregation to the core. Bethel Gospel Church was set on fire by unknown assailants suspected to be connected to Hindu radical groups. The anti-Christian activists carried out the attack during the early morning hours in an effort to inflict maximum damage to the church.

The church was burnt to ashes, everything inside the church including carpets, musical instruments, speakers and chairs were utterly destroyed.

"We are living in fear," the Pastor told ICC. "There have been continuous threats from the Hindu radicals. We Christians are treated as second-class citizens in this country."

During his 15 years of service, Pastor Christopher has been threatened by the Hindu radical group RSS on many occasions. Once, he was threatened by RSS to stop all church activities or else they would "chop him into pieces."

ICC came in contact with Pastor Christopher one month after the attack and was informed that the damage caused by the arson attack on the church was expensive and the believers who gather every Sunday at Bethel Gospel Church were unable to pay for the necessary repairs to restore the church to its original condition. This inability to cover repair the church forced the Christians of Bethel Gospel Church to gather in the damaged building they once called their church, exposing them to rain and other discomforts caused by bad weather.

With funds given by Christians around the globe to ICC's Community Rebuild Fund, ICC was able to initiate a project to assist the Christians of Bethel Gospel Church in repairing the roof, walls and other parts of their church building that were damaged in the February arson attack. ICC was also able replaced items that had been destroyed in the fire like carpets, the church's PA system, musical instruments and other items.

Following the completion of the project initiated by ICC, Pastor Christopher said, "I am so thankful to God and ICC for helping me to sustain and carry on the work of God in this area [Malakpet, Hyderabad]. When the incident took place, many sympathizers, pastors, Christian leaders and even political leaders visited and encouraged us, it was good gestures from those people. But I could not undo the damage caused in the incident."

"ICC has come and rescued us," Pastor Christopher continued. "They also took an interest in visiting the church that was burnt to ashes. We are very encouraged knowing that ICC helped undo the damage caused by the Hindu radical."

Pastor Christopher and the church are now encouraged by the fact that they are part of the larger family of God. This simple act of kindness has shown to them they are a part of a global church and this has further strengthened their faith and will help them continue to endure persecution.

Bethel Gospel Church is now able to meet for worship Sundays and also the midweek services without any problems caused by the arson attack on the church. The repairs have made the church a comfortable gathering place for these Christians who are daily forced to confront and endure persecution.

Persecution is an everyday reality for Indian pastors and Christian community as whole. Pastor Christopher of Bethel Gospel Church is only one of the many thousands in India who face attacks and threats because of their faith in Christ. The small gesture of kindness shown to these Christians in India through ICC's assistance project has already had a large impacted and will continue to impact these Christians' faith and walk with Jesus.

ICC assisted the Christians of Bethel Gospel Church in repairing the roof, walls and other parts of their church building that were damaged in an arson attack.

For interviews, contact William Stark, Regional Manager for South Asia:  RM-SAsia@persecution.org  

# # #

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference International Christian Concern (ICC) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.    
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Crown of Life Blog

    Picture
    The Martyrdom of ST Stephen, Pietro da Cortona, 1660

    News and Information about
    Persecuted Christians from all around the
    World

    Persecuted saints benefit most from your heartfelt and earnest prayer.

    Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
    for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him
    .
    James 1:12

    'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
    devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so
    that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
    Revelation 2:10

    New American Standard Bible 
    (NASB)

    Copyright © 
    1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971,
    1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
    by
    The Lockman Foundation


    Picture

    HOW TO READ A PERSECUTION NEWS STORY

    Trials make the promise sweet;
    Trials give new life to prayer;
    Trials bring me to His feet,
    Lay me low, and keep me there.


    "God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and subjecting them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow. Well, Christian, may this not account for the troubles through which you are passing? Is the Lord bringing out your graces and making them grow? Is it for this reason He contends with you?"

    Read Why Do I Face Trials?,
    by Alistair Begg, Truth for Life Daily, at One Place

    Christian persecution is just a phenomenon in the
    Middle East.

    Christians aren’t greatly
    impacted by persecution.

    Whatever persecution there is, the damage is superficial - more a loss of multicultural diversity than anything else.

    Christians supposedly bring persecution upon themselves by proselytizing.

    Persecution couldn’t
    happen here.

    Please read 5 Myths about Persecution of Christians, by
    Kristin Wright, at Religion Today.


    Share



    email the webmaster

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    January 2018
    November 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012