Praise God for persecution?!

A message from Rev. Dave Stravers, President of Mission India

Literacy classes give India's Christians a way to reach out to their neighbors with practical help and Christ-like compassion.

That’s what the pastor said, after hiding with his wife in the jungle for five days to avoid bloodthirsty militants who had come to kill him.

“Praise God for persecution.”

You may wonder how he could say this when you read about the reports of violence in Orissa state where he is ministering — who could thank God for being threatened, or having your home or church burned down, or being assaulted?

But when I heard his explanation, I understood.

Many Hindus and Muslims in Orissa stand against the violence. When they see their Christian neighbors persecuted, they reach out with love and charity to save them, to get them back on their feet.

“Many Muslims and Hindus have compassion on us,” the pastor says.

“Many are also asking serious questions about our faith, and many are coming to faith in Christ. We are baptizing them immediately. During the past 14 days, we have baptized more people than in our previous seven years of ministry. Praise God for persecution!”

His story encourages me, particularly in our Adult Literacy Classes. When Christians reach out to their own community with a compassionate ministry like literacy, it touches that community —

And it’s going to be harder for militants to interest people in persecuting those who have brought hope and practical help to their needy neighbors.

Thanks for extending the practical love of Jesus Christ to the lost and hopeless of India. You are changing lives, and you are disarming persecution through your compassion, too.

Dave Stravers