India: Hindu Militants Burnt Church in Orissa
Koraput (Orissa in India), SVM News, 2 January, 2006: Christian Church was attacked and burnt by Hindu militants at a tiny village called Biriguda of Briguma Block of Koraput District in Orissa State in India on 23rd December, 2006.
Sangh Parivar activists set to fire on Biriguda Pentecostal Church on Saturday midnight to stop worshipping Jesus on Sunday and the following Christmas day.
Normally youth wing of the church stay inside to decorate for the Christmas Day on 23rd night every year. The attackers had a plan to burn them together along with the Building. But fortunately, the youth somehow decided not to stay this time, but come in the next day morning to complete the decoration works for the Christmas celebration. So there was no loss of life.
All the furnitures, mattresses, doors and windows along with the Pulpit and a Gunny bag full of Paddy offered by a believer, wooden planks and pillars including the roof were completely burnt.
Pastor Esau Suna and the believers filed a F.I.R no.150(5), Dt.24.12.06 under section no.436 and asked the Police protection for 24th & 25th day to celebrate Christmas in the village. It was granted and they arranged hired tents & P.A. Systems & celebrated Christmas in a more joyful way inside the village in a centrally located open ground while praising God in the midst of trauma, repeated financial loss and loss of mental peace and place of worship etc. Immanuel God is with us, a poor believer of the church told to SVM News.
The local M.L.A. Mr. Rabi Narayana Nanda was also contacted and briefed about the incident who on request of GCIC (Global Council of Indian Christians). He visited the spot and advised all the villagers to remain in unity and brotherhood integrity. GCIC also in touch with the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other Government Officials for the Issue.
The Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and Pastor Paul Ciniraj of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack and burnt the Biriguda Church. They asked the Central and State Governments to stop anti christian movements in India immediately at any cost.
Biriguda village has around 150 families out of which 27 families have come to the Lord through Pastor Esau Suna, the Elder of Berseba Pentecostal Church. It was a Dalit village and all were Hindus. The main profession of these villagers are Brick making during summer as hired skilled labourers and after the summer, they work in the fields as daily labourers in the cultivation.
Through Pastor Esau's regular pursuance of the gospel to these people and praying with them, ultimately God opened the door in 1998. In the same year, a miracle took place in the house of one witchcraft fellow called Samudu Harijan whose son Sri Sanu Harijan was seriously ill for a very long time suffering from unknown disease . The so called witchcraft method and all other treatments could not heal that young man but finally when
Pastor Esau fervently prayed in the name of Jesus having requested by his witchcraft father who had also left all hopes for his son's life and dedicated that young man to Pastor Esau, God did a miracle and Sanu got healed and believed in Jesus Christ. Sanu was the first convert and slowly along with his family consisting his wife and children and relatives have also come to Lord and thereby subsequently a need of a common worship center called Church was felt when the number of the believers went on increasing. Prior to which they used to meet in small groups in different believer families. Presently the strength of the said Church is around 150 members.
Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/
Sangh Parivar activists set to fire on Biriguda Pentecostal Church on Saturday midnight to stop worshipping Jesus on Sunday and the following Christmas day.
Normally youth wing of the church stay inside to decorate for the Christmas Day on 23rd night every year. The attackers had a plan to burn them together along with the Building. But fortunately, the youth somehow decided not to stay this time, but come in the next day morning to complete the decoration works for the Christmas celebration. So there was no loss of life.
All the furnitures, mattresses, doors and windows along with the Pulpit and a Gunny bag full of Paddy offered by a believer, wooden planks and pillars including the roof were completely burnt.
Pastor Esau Suna and the believers filed a F.I.R no.150(5), Dt.24.12.06 under section no.436 and asked the Police protection for 24th & 25th day to celebrate Christmas in the village. It was granted and they arranged hired tents & P.A. Systems & celebrated Christmas in a more joyful way inside the village in a centrally located open ground while praising God in the midst of trauma, repeated financial loss and loss of mental peace and place of worship etc. Immanuel God is with us, a poor believer of the church told to SVM News.
The local M.L.A. Mr. Rabi Narayana Nanda was also contacted and briefed about the incident who on request of GCIC (Global Council of Indian Christians). He visited the spot and advised all the villagers to remain in unity and brotherhood integrity. GCIC also in touch with the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other Government Officials for the Issue.
The Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and Pastor Paul Ciniraj of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack and burnt the Biriguda Church. They asked the Central and State Governments to stop anti christian movements in India immediately at any cost.
Biriguda village has around 150 families out of which 27 families have come to the Lord through Pastor Esau Suna, the Elder of Berseba Pentecostal Church. It was a Dalit village and all were Hindus. The main profession of these villagers are Brick making during summer as hired skilled labourers and after the summer, they work in the fields as daily labourers in the cultivation.
Through Pastor Esau's regular pursuance of the gospel to these people and praying with them, ultimately God opened the door in 1998. In the same year, a miracle took place in the house of one witchcraft fellow called Samudu Harijan whose son Sri Sanu Harijan was seriously ill for a very long time suffering from unknown disease . The so called witchcraft method and all other treatments could not heal that young man but finally when
Pastor Esau fervently prayed in the name of Jesus having requested by his witchcraft father who had also left all hopes for his son's life and dedicated that young man to Pastor Esau, God did a miracle and Sanu got healed and believed in Jesus Christ. Sanu was the first convert and slowly along with his family consisting his wife and children and relatives have also come to Lord and thereby subsequently a need of a common worship center called Church was felt when the number of the believers went on increasing. Prior to which they used to meet in small groups in different believer families. Presently the strength of the said Church is around 150 members.
Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/
posted by Salem Voice @ 4:48 AM
<< Home