The ministry honored martyred Indian Christian Kande Mudu with a plaque on its Martyrs Timeline this week and released a video about Kande Mudu and other Christian martyrs in India to commemorate this year’s International Martyrs Day. The video, which is available for use by churches, small groups, and families, is available at www.vomkorea.com/en/dotcm.  

“According to church tradition, June 29 marks the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul, so Christians around the world take time this week to honor the legacy of those who have sacrificed their lives for the advancement of the gospel,” said Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley.  

Representative Foley said that this year her organization is honoring Indian Christian Kande Mudu, who was martyred in a small village in India on June 7, 2020. (The specific village name is withheld for the safety of Mr. Mudu’s surviving family members.) 

“Kande and his wife Bindi were the first – and only – Christians in their Hindu village,” says Representative Foley. “Kande’s active faith bothered the local leaders, and they demanded that he renounce his faith at a community meeting. Instead, Kande proclaimed the gospel to them.”  

According to Representative Foley, in the days following the community meeting, Kande, his wife, and his two daughters were harassed and began to receive death threats.  

“On the evening of June 7, 2020, after family worship, someone knocked loudly on their door. When Kande looked outside, he saw a group of armed men,” says Representative Foley. “Kande told his wife, ‘If God is willing to take away my life, it is His will. If God wants to save me, He will save me. No matter what happens to me, you should not give up your faith in Jesus. In difficulties, you must continue to follow Jesus.’ He told her, ‘Our Lord is able to provide for you even if my life is taken away.’”  

Representative Foley says that moments later, one of the armed men broke down the door and dragged Mr. Mudu out of the house. The next morning, Mr. Mudu’s body was found on the side of the road leading to his church.  

“His death was so violent that his body was barely recognizable,” says Representative Foley. 

Mr. Mudu’s wife, Bindi, told Voice of the Martyrs that in the months following the attack, she remembered that her husband had told her, “I will live for Jesus or die for Jesus, but I will never turn back.” 

Representative Foley says that although the Mudus’ story is violent, the Voice of the Martyrs’ videos about Mr. Mudu’s martyrdom and the martyrdoms of other Christians have been made so that they are suitable for viewing by all ages. 

“Kande and his family were the first Christians in their Hindu village and faithfully proclaimed the gospel to their neighbors,” says Representative Foley. “The video shows how Kande is part of the line of faithful witnesses to the Lord Jesus in India that goes back to the apostles themselves. Every Christian needs to watch this video not just to learn this amazing history, but also to be inspired to be faithful witnesses for the Lord wherever they are today, no matter how difficult it may seem.” 

According to Representative Foley, International Martyrs Day is an opportunity for churches around the world to learn about Christians facing martyrdom today, particularly in the more than 70 countries where there are restrictions on the practice of the Christian faith. She said Voice of the Martyrs Korea tries to highlight a martyr from a different country or region on International Martyrs Day each year so that Christians can better understand the extent and types of persecution currently being faced by other Christians around the world.  

In recent years the ministry has honored martyrs from Central Asia, China, Colombia, and Africa. Videos for each martyr are available at  www.vomkorea.com/en/dotcm for individual viewing as well as use by churches and small groups.