Missionaries in India Suffer Persecution
Two first year students at a Gospel for Asia-supported Bible College are reportedly suffering persecution in their New Delhi Village in India.
Cousins Jadhav and Paavan, have become outcasts in their village community because of their belief in Jesus Christ according to Joseph DeCaro at Worthy News.
Villagers began persecuting the two when Paavan’s father passed away. Paavan requested to bury his deceased father, while the villagers, who are predominately Hindu, insisted that he be cremated which is the common practice in Hinduism.
Paavan, a devout Christian, went through with the burial according to DeCaro, who says most South Asian Christians traditionally bury their lost loved ones.
Soon after the burial, villagers started to avoid Paavan and the rest of his family who are all Christian, and even prevented them from drawing water.
Along with Paavan another Gospel for Asia missionary, Nabarun Gupta ran into similar persecution while ministering.
Gupta has experienced hostility by many locals upon his mission travels, and many openly voice their opposition to his activities.
“You are a child born yesterday,” said one villager. “Are you really trying to teach me? I am not interested in your tribal gods and religion because I have my own. Why are you trying to misguide the local youth? You should be chased out of the village.”
Gupta has been blocked from entering one village where some of his Christian followers meet, and he reports that the Christians there are now suffering in their faith due to a lack of ministerial support to guide them.
Persecution is common in villages such as these, according to DeCaro, who says that it is not uncommon for entire families to be asked to leave their homes due to their Christian faith.