November 2017
Ten church congregations in Tamil Nadu have
been told to stop meeting for worship – and 20 more have been threatened with
similar bans.
Hindu extremists put pressure on local officials to close down the
churches in Coimbatore district – by insisting they stop worship until they gain
official permission to meet. Applying for a permit can take at least 18 months
and sometimes several years, local Christians say.
Please pray for our Christian family in Tamil Nadu who are facing what
appears to be an orchestrated campaign of persecution from Hindu
extremists.
Officials and police who issued the orders appear to be acting after
complaints from the Hindu nationalist organisations including Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). These groups have threatened to lodge complaints
against 20 further churches. Most of these congregations have been meeting for
many years.
‘It is a well-planned conspiracy against the Christian community,’ said
Pastor Johnson Sathyanathan, president of the Synod of Pentecostal Churches of
Coimbatore.
Hundreds of local Christians have demonstrated against the move. The
minister of Internal Affairs of Tamil Nadu has instructed senior police and
politicians to intervene and ensure worship services can resume.
- Please pray that Christians in Tamil Nadu who are currently barred from meeting as a congregation for worship will find other ways to worship and have fellowship. Praise God that as our Indian brothers and sisters draw near to God, He will draw near to them (James 4:8). Pray that God’s presence will fill their homes.
- Pray that the orders to halt worship services will soon be withdrawn.
- Pray that high-profile state officials such as the minister of Interior Affairs will take a stand and ensure religious liberties are upheld in Tamil Nadu, and across India. Release Int.
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