ATLANTA – Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ministry partners in India are currently safe, as violence against Christians in the eastern state of Orissa has escalated since Christmas.
According to the Associated Press, at least four people have died and nearly 700 Christians have fled to relief camps. The All India Christian Council reports that 95 churches and 790 houses have been destroyed.
Sam Bandela, one of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s field personnel, said so far the indigenous pastors and church starters he partners with have not been directly affected by the unrest. Narayan Paul, along with other hill tribe pastors, is reaching out to Christians in Orissa who have been victims of violence and advocating for peace with the government.
"As a Fellowship we have a wonderful opportunity to be the presence of Christ by joining our hands with the Indian leaders and Christians," said Bandela, a native of India. "Christians in India are now raising their voices with unity, praying and appealing for outside help. We in the West need to be making noise about this, we need to be praying and helping the churches in India and even take it a step further – talking to Congress members and Senators about why such things are happening in the world’s largest democratic country."
Among Indian states, Orissa has one of the worst histories of violence against Christians, with Hindu nationalists frequently threatening new converts. In recent years, several foreign missions workers, including Australian Graham Staines and his two young sons, have been killed.
To learn more about Bandela’s ministry in India, go to www.thefellowship.info/OGM.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.