CHURCH BUILDING DEMOLISHED, PASTOR AND MEMBERS ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN INDIA

CHURCH BUILDING DEMOLISHED, PASTOR AND MEMBERS ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN INDIA

CHURCH BUILDING DEMOLISHED, PASTOR AND MEMBERS ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN INDIA

In the early morning of March 9th, authorities ordered the destruction of a Christian church building in the town of Chelur in Karnataka State. The pastor and ten other Christians were arrested.

According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, the authorities were spurred on in the action by Hindu militants, and the church leaders were charged with alleged document discrepancies despite the pastor demonstrating that all required building permissions were in place.

Members of a demolished church in Chelur, India remain in prison awaiting release on bail.

All eleven remain in detention, and efforts are ongoing to secure bail for them.

“China isn’t the only country where church buildings are being demolished by authorities,”

says Representative Foley.

“India is a country of growing concern for Christian persecution. Ever since Prime Minister Modi came into office in 2014, persecution of religious minorities in India has increased.”

In its 2019 report, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said this about India:

 “Over the last decade, conditions for religious minorities in India have deteriorated. A multifaceted campaign by Hindu nationalist groups like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sang (RSS), Sangh Parivar, and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) to alienate non-Hindus or lower-caste Hindus is a significant contributor to the rise of religious violence and persecution. Those targeted by this campaign—including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and lower-caste Hindus—face challenges ranging from acts of violence or intimidation to the loss of political power, increasing feelings of disenfranchisement, and limits on access to education, housing, and employment.” 

“Authorities in China are realizing that demolishing buildings does not demolish the faith of Christians. We need to pray the same thing for India,”

says Representative Foley.

“Please pray that the case against the pastor and church members in Chelur would be dropped and that justice would prevail over the destroyed church. Also be praying for the families of those arrested, those seeking to help them, and also for their persecutors.”

Map of India showing the location of Chelur

Individuals or churches interested in helping persecuted Christians in India and around the world can visit www.vomkorea.com/donate or give via electronic transfer to

  • VOM Korea website : vomkorea.com/donation
  • Bank Account : KB bank  463501-01-243303 예금주: (사)순교자의소리

2 Comments

  1. 오정은

    Says March 26, 2020 at pm 4:04

    인도에 카르나타카(Karnatake)주 첼루르(Chelur) 마을에 있는 교회 건물이 파괴되고, 목회자와 성도 10명도 체포된 상황을 아룁니다. 체포된 자들의 염려와 불안을 평안과 감사함으로 바꾸시고 이들의 입술에서 감사와 찬양이 끊이지 않게 하소서. 당국자들 앞에 섰을 때 담대히 예수를 전하게 하시고 이들을 통해서 그 곳에도 하나님 나라가 확장되게 하소서. 인도땅에 어둠의 권세가 끊어지고 하나님 나라 임하소서.

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