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NEWS &
EVENTS |
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FEATURES |
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AN YEAR
LATER GFA MISSIONARIES BRINGING HOPE TO
SURVIVORS |
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ORISSA, INDIA 4
September 2009: (ANS) — There is both good news
and bad news coming out of Orissa, India, one year after
Hindu radicals went on a bloody rampage that left 50,000
Christians fleeing for their lives into the state’s
forests. As they fled, the religious extremists killed
whoever they could capture, then destroyed Christian
homes and burned churches.
The bad news, according to Gospel for Asia President K.P.
Yohannan, is that a year later, despite government
assurances of help and repeated calls for reconciliation
and justice, 20,000 believers are still living in
refugee camps because they are too fearful for their
lives to return to their home villages.
“In many villages, the radicals have warned the
Christians that if they return, they must convert to
Hinduism or, as they say, suffer the consequences,” the
GFA founder reported. “And for most of the believers,
they have nothing left to return to—their homes and
everything they owned have been destroyed.”
But that is where some of the good news comes in.
“Despite some remaining underlying tensions in the area,
Gospel for Asia is already in the process of rebuilding
homes,” Dr. Yohannan said. “Gracious and caring
believers around the world have provided enough gifts to
fund 240 homes, and we are committed to build 1,000 in
one district to replace those that were destroyed. We
have already started rebuilding, and we are grateful to
the Lord that He has allowed us this great beginning!”
GFA–supported native missionaries and other believers
continue to minister among survivors still living in the
refugee camps, providing food and clothing, but more
importantly, praying with the people and encouraging
them as Christian brothers and sisters.
Another bright spot in Orissa is the fact that August
23, the anniversary of the event that was used as the
excuse for the violence, passed peacefully.
Christians in Orissa, especially in the 14 districts hit
by the violence, were apprehensive that plans to
publicly commemorate the death anniversary of Swami
Laxmanananda Saraswati would lead to another rampage
against believers. It was his murder by Maoist rebels
that sparked the killings and destruction. The Swami had
been a leader of a virulent anti-Christian Hindu
nationalist group, so his followers fanned the flames of
hatred toward Christians, even as they knew the Maoists
were taking credit for the murder.
“Thank you for praying for Orissa,” said a local GFA
leader. “As answer to prayer, there were no untoward
incidents in Orissa on the death anniversary of Swami
Laxmanananda Saraswati. The government, especially the
district administration, took a lot of commendable
precautionary measures to maintain peace.”
Dr. Yohannan points out that since last year’s
elections, the political party allied with the Hindu
extremists has lost power in both state and national
governments.
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This page
is updated on Sep 18, 2009 |
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PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
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