On 31st January, Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Surendra Ravi and a team of missionaries conducted a film show in a town where people from all over the state come to worship their goddess. Fifty people gathered to see the film about Jesus. Everything was going smoothly—at least at first.
“Everyone watched the film peacefully from beginning to end,” reported a GFA field correspondent.
It wasn’t until after the film finished, when Surendra and his team were packing up to leave, that a group of 30 people came up to them and started asking questions.
“Who is the main person screening the Jesus film here?” the mob wanted to know.
Surendra told them he was the one who arranged the show. Without hesitation, the mob attacked the pastor and started to beat him. Some of the film team members were able to escape with the projector, but the rest of the film equipment was destroyed.
They left Surendra with a swollen face, an injury near his eyes, bruises and pain throughout his entire body.
The police came to arrest Surendra after the group called the police station and falsely accused the pastor. After the town inspector listened to Surendra’s side of the story, he advised him to file a counter case against the 30 anti-Christians, but Surendra chose a different route.
“I have forgiven them,” he said.
Around midnight, Surendra was released from the police station, but threats to his safety continue.
A few days later on February 4, a group climbed onto the roof of Surendra’s house while he, his wife and three children were sleeping. His neighbors called him, informing him of the people who were waiting to harm him. Surendra and his family stayed in the house that night, but the following morning he found out they tried to break his front gate as well.
“The pastor did not know what their hidden agenda behind this was, but one thing is for sure: The anti-Christian elements want to threaten our pastor and make him afraid,” the correspondent said.
Please pray for:
- Protection for Pastor Surendra and his family, and that he will feel the Lord’s peace as God protects him and watches over him in the midst of the conflicts and persecutions.
- The church believers to unite together and be bold enough to support their pastor in this difficult time.
- Changed hearts for the ones opposing Surendra, and that God will help them experience His love in the coming days.
