Christians in India
Please pray for Christians in India who are being persecuted, even murdered, for their faith.
You may have read of the situation for Christians in North India. A Financial TImes report says:
....In a relief camp in Bhubaneswar, Rabindra Nath Pradhan, a Christian of the Pana ethnic group, recounts the mob attack on his village. “First, they burnt down the church. Then they went to my brother’s house and burnt him alive,” he said. “They were shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’,” the cry of Hindus hailing the warrior-god.....
.....About 20,000 Christians in Kandhamal have taken refuge in state-run camps that remain off-limits to relief agencies and journalists. Christians who have lost their homes have been told they can return only if they convert to Hinduism....
Another victim, a 30-year- old Pana Christian from the village of Sakadi, said she fled to the forest when a mob approached. As she surveyed the charred debris of her house the next morning, villagers told her she was no longer welcome: “Since you are Christian we cannot protect you. You’d better leave.”.....
These two links give a picture:
http://www.wfn.org/2008/09/msg00090.html
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36825272-8fcd-11dd-9890-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
Bishop Dominic says: I had four Indians in my bible study group at Lambeth who told us about this and of course a number of RC priests have been murdered and the Pope has spoken out. In most of the churches I attend, the persecution of Christians in India is mentioned in the intercessions so I think people are aware and there has been coverage in the church newspapers, but not everyone may realise how the situation is serious. Some years ago when I preached at the Maramon Convention I had to have an armed guard because of the threat from Hindu fundamentalists.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said of the situation: "I hope that Christians and people of faith around the world will make known their horror at this violence, their support for the rebuilding of lives and the churches, orphanages and schools destroyed, and for work towards future reconciliation".
Please pray with and for the Christians of India. You may wish to use the following prayer which is shortened and adapted from 'the Litany of the Disciples of Christ the Servant'. It was written in India.
Servant Christ,
Help us to follow you
Deep into the waters of baptism,
To break the chain of past wrongs;
To become fit to face your coming age:
Servant Christ, help us all to follow you.
Help us to follow you
In untiring ministry to town and village,
To heal and restore the broken body of humanity,
To cast out the demonic forces
Of greed, resentment, communal hatred
And self-destructive fears
Servant Christ, help us all to follow you.
Help us to follow you on the road to Jerusalem,
To set our faces firmly against friendly suggestions to live
A safe, expedient life;
To embrace boldly the way of self-offering,
The way of life given for other's gain.
Servant Christ, help us all to follow you.
Help us to follow you out of the dark tomb;
To share fully in your resurrection life,
To be renewed daily in your image of love,
To serve daily as your new body
In ministering to the world.
Servant Christ, help us all to follow you.
For more information contact Clare Amos, Coordinator of NIFCON (the Network for Inter Faith Concerns for the Anglican Communion)
at clare.amos@anglicancommunion.org