May 2023 Persecution Magazine

Church photo via Usplash/Paul Silvan to protect the true identity of the church
It’s an epidemic of violence toward
Christians in Uttar Pradesh, an Indian
state that has seen a sharp rise in
crimes against Christian communities
in recent years. In one attack, radical
Hindu nationalists left a church
building destroyed, the congregation
injured, and everything, including and
especially the Bibles, burned.
The furious mob demanded the
Christians leave the area and told them
that the police would not protect them
from their wrath. Sure enough, the
police stood by while the attack took
place. It was only after the damage was
done that police arrested the attackers
– only to release them later that day.
The mob would later rally and move
on to the neighboring village to
inflict more harm on the Christian
community.
There, several Christian families were
expelled from the village. Fearing for
their lives, they took shelter where
they could until the hostilities died
down. Hungry and traumatized, the
Christian families never waned in
their faith. They ultimately decided
to return to their village to repair the
damage from the attacks.
THE CHURCH AS ONE BODY
ICC found out about the attacks
shortly after and stepped in to aid the
Christian community. Food packages
for the affected families, rent for their
stay, and medical attention were
needed. ICC also
The church congregation gathers for prayer during
their first worship service in their new church building.
supplied building materials to repair
the church building.
In total, ICC served more than 30
Christians in the small community who
expressed their deep gratitude.
“When we saw things that were
brought to us like groceries and the
items for the church repair, I felt
scriptures being fulfilled in our lives.
When one part of the body suffers, the
other part shares and helps,” said one
member of the congregation. “I want
to really thank God and His servants
for not only meeting our physical
needs by providing food and church
building repairs but assuring us that
we were one alone. We are one body.”
The local pastor of the church also
shared his feelings, saying, “We have
a roof over our heads again. We have
resumed our Sunday worship after
almost three months of recovery,
thanks to people who graciously
supported the repair of our church.”
It was a full house with all the
congregants of the church gathering for
Sunday worship. The pastor continued
to share his gratitude, saying how the
congregation was in full attendance
after seeing God’s people come
together to help and pray for them.
A TERRIFYING TREND
What happened to these Christians
is all too common in India, especially
in Uttar Pradesh. Last year alone,
immense pressure from Hindu
nationalists closed more than 500
churches and house fellowships.
Politicians and media turn a blind eye
to the flagrant persecution of religious
minorities, only adding to the system
of oppression for those who suffer
because of their faith.
We continue to pray for our Indian
brothers and sisters and be inspired
and humbled by their resilience.
They cling to their faith, even when
it costs them everything. ICC will do
everything it can to bring attention to
this injustice, advocate for change, and
bring relief to God’s suffering children.
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