Situation in Orissa 'worse than any of us could have imagined'

Hindu extremists place $250 bounty on pastors' heads

November 19, 2008

The message of persecution is "STOP"
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Click below to hear Mission India's President update Mission Network News on the latest in Orissa

There seems to be no end in sight to the persecution of believers in Orissa.

Since late August, Christians in this eastern Indian state have suffered unspeakable atrocities at the hands of Hindu extremists. Hundreds of homes and churches burned. Thousands left homeless.

Meanwhile, there are reports in the media that extremist Hindu groups are offering rewards of money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and to destroy their homes.

"The going price to kill a pastor is $250 US dollars," an Indian Christian leader said in a recent article in Christian Today.

At least 60 people have been killed in Orissa over the last three months and one report speculates the death toll could be as high as 500 victims.

Mission India sent one of our own staff members (who we are not naming for security reasons) to the area to see first-hand how Christians are suffering in the name of Jesus. Here is an excerpt from an email he sent:

What happened in [the worst-hit region of] Kandhamal is clearly much worse than most people are aware. Nearly 60,000 people are in relief camps, about half in government-run camps in Kandhamal, the rest in camps outside of the affected area.

In every single camp we visited—whether it was home to 7,000 people or 50—people came forward with stories of loved ones being murdered before their eyes. Beheaded, burned alive, buried alive, dragged to death....

Yesterday we visited two attacked villages in the district next to Kandhamal (several other districts also experienced anti-Christian riots). Each village was 100% Christian—and each village was 100% destroyed.

According to our staff person, Hindu extremists continue to grow bolder and are calling for a repeat to last Christmas Eve's attacks on believers. Police and government leaders have done little to quell the violence or to stop the violence from continuing.

He went on to say:

The only high point of this week is hearing the testimonies of the people. They have lost everything, yet they all stand so strong in their faith...every single one that I've met has said the same thing. Our staff and our ministry partners in Orissa are quick to say (and often) that they are prepared to die for Christ.

It has been a sobering week. The situation here is worse than any of us could have imagined. These people were not randomly crushed by an earthquake's tremor or a tsunami's wave—they have been targeted because of their faith in Jesus. And they are willing to live with that threat.

Pray for India's believers

Believers in Orissa and across India need your prayers as they cling to their faith in Jesus during this frightening ordeal. Your gifts will also help support Mission India's three outreach programs: Bible-based Adult Literacy Classes, Children's Bible Clubs, and Church Planter Training.

For more information or to make a donation over the phone, please call us at (877) 644-6342.