Officials Locked the Church Against Singing Songs

Malabar (India), SVM News, 27 March, 2007: New Testament Pentecost Church was established 35 years ago. Eleven years ago, the church successfully registered with the government, and has grown to include 11 branches and various ministries, and does not operate using foreign assistance.

However, 12 years ago a Muslim family living nearby started making life difficult for the church. The father of this family tried many different ways to get rid of the church, first by attempting to buy it from the Pastor. When that did not work, he and his son would disturb their worship by shouting loudly over their singing. But the real trial came when four months ago the neighbor and other Muslims joined together and sued the church. The Pastor, Sam George, was summoned to the police station 4 times. Twice the police were favorable to him, but the last two times the police became hostile.

Recently, a notice came from the municipality showing that the church’s worship was causing a disturbance to the neighborhood. Police stopped Sunday services 22 times, verbally abusing the church members and attempting to arrest Pastor George. The police gained a court order against the church, prohibiting their use of a sound system because the sound was more than 55 decibels, the volume of a normal conversation.

Four weeks ago the church received a notice from the municipality showing that the church hall would be sealed if they sang songs or did any preaching. The next day the building was sealed without an order from the high court. For the last four weeks they have been worshipping in another house.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned locking of the church. It is against the fundamental right of a citizen of India for the freedom of worship. CMCI sent petitions to the Central and State governement authorities to take an immediate action and open the Church for the regular worship. Otherwise we will be forced to conduct march for protesting freedom for the worship and against the Christian persecution. Paul Ciniraj said.

Salem Voice Ministries

http://salemvoice.org

Catholic Nuns were attacked in Kerala

Palai (Kerala, India), SVM News, 27 March, 2007: Catholic nuns were attacked in their convent by unidentified people at Bharanaganam, near Palai in Kottayam District in Kerala in India on 23rd March.

Medical Mission Sisters of Bharananganam were attacked at Friday early in the dawn and two sisters got head injuries. It is suspecting that attackers beaten them by iron rods or steel pipes. One of the sisters told to the Salem Voice News Service.

Rev. Sister Dr. Stella M.M.S, 65, who is also a medical doctor among the nuns was seriously injured at her forehead. And the other one got injury at the back side of the head. They are under the treatment of Indo-American Brain and Spine Hospital at Chemanagiri, Vaikom in Kottayam District.

A complaint filed to the Palai Police Station and they are investigating the attack.

There are 12 Medical Mission Sisters living and doing their spiritual and medical services at Bharananganam M.M.S. Convent. Nobody has any idea about the cause of the attack, Mother Superior said to the SVM News Service.

Bharananganam is a small village, but it is an important pilgim place of Kerala. The Blessed Alphonsa's tomb is here. Pope John Paul II visited this place and he declared Sister Alphonsa as a blessed lady of the Church. It was an imporant religious function for Sister Alphonsa before enlisting her as a saint.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned the attack at the Bharanaganam Medical Mission Convent and beaten the sisters there.

Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam, Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
http://salemvoice.org

Evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries beaten up by Fundamentalists

Idukki (Kerala in India), SVM News, March 24, 2007: A group of evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries were beaten up by Muslim fundamentalists at the village called Mullakkudi near Thekkadi in Idukki District on 24th of March.

There were three evangelists named Satheesh Kumar, George Thomas and Kunjumon Mani were preparing for a corner meeting after visiting houses and personal evangelism on Saturday before noon. Suddenly a group of fundamentalists questioned them and started beating.

Evangelists were using a handy megaphone for amplifying the message of Gospel to the public. But the extremists totally destroyed it and thrown out in the Periyar river alongwith tracts, literature and Bibles.

Recently some youngsters believed in Jesus and joined with the evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries to distribute tracts and literature. This may be the cause the evangelists were attacked.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries complained to the police authorities.

Some evangelists of the Brothren Church who were doing personal evangelism also were beaten up in another place of Idukki District. They were beaten up by some zealots at the place called Marayur in Idukki District in Kerala on Thursday, the 22nd March.

After distributing the tracts in the village, brethren evangelists were in the lodge preparing to go for the evening Bible class. A group of people suddenly came and beaten them severly.

Pray for the evangelists that they may be cured soon. Also pray for the persecutors that they may also know the love of the Lord.

Both the evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries and Brothren plan to continue the work with great burden for the perishing souls.

Read the news at the original site: http://salemvoice.org/news149.html

Pastor shot dead in Trinidad while Praying

Moruga (Trinidad), SVM News, 23 March, 2007: Pastor shot dead while he was praying with the church prayer warriors on Wednesday, the 21st of March at the St. Mary's Village of Gomaz Trace in Moruga, the southern sea town in Trinidad.

Kelvin Austin (34 years of old), the pastor of the church named Independant Assembly of the Mantle Sword of the Spirit (IAMSP) was the one brutally murdered on Wednesday early in the morning at the galvanised shack, which is being used as the worshipping Center.

Some members of the church told that the Leader knew his life was in danger and was written to Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago asking for police protection.

He and the church members were on prayers at 5 am. Unexpectedly there were two armed men wearing black wigs with red streaks entered into the church and introduced themselves as police. They ordered the people to lie on the ground and asked "Who is Pastor Austin and let him be stood up". Then Pastor stood up and said I am Pastor Kelvin Austin. Immediately they shot him. Two bullets gone through his head and he died on the spot.

Pastor Austin, his wife Natasha Austin, their two children and some of the believers recently started their mission at Gomez Trace.in Moruga. Before they were in Erin.

The congregation consisted mainly of young people. Few infants, including a three-month-old baby also among them.

They occupied a three bedroom galvanised house, which was without electricity, telephone or even pipeborne water. Apart from the house, there were two small tents outside the building where Austin and another adult was sleeing separately.

"Pastor Kelvin Austin was a dedicated man of God. He founded the IAMSP about five years ago. He used to be called as "Leader". His vision was to eastablish Gospel villages by trained people from the age of younger stage. That's why we started a mission here", his wife Natasha said to the Salem Voice Ministries News Service (SVM News).

“We go wherever our Lord sending us. The Lord sent us here, so we came”, Kimberly John, 19, one of the members of IAMSP, said about their ministry.

Sean Reyes, another member of the mission, said he knew about the letter Austin had sent to the Prime Minister asking for police protection. But when questioned as to how Austin knew someone was trying to kill him and why, Reyes replied that the information came from God.

Local people of the Gomaz Trace said they know nothing of Pastor Austin and his church, for we don't keep much contact with new residents for a few period.

View the pictures alongwith the news: http://salemvoice.org/news148.html

Rev. Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries
http://salemvoice.org/

Evangelist of the SVM says, "Lord Jesus fights for His children"

Kottayam (Kerala in India), SVM News, March 16, 2007: "Lord Jesus mightly fighting for His children, if anybody persecuting Christians, for which I am a clear evidence", says Thankappan corner to corner by holding the Bible in one hand and showing his terrific stomach to the public. "I was an enemy of Christians, but Jesus Christ loved me, made me alive and saved me from sin and death. Now I am His servant". Thankappan says.

Evangelist Thankappan, a clear evidence

Thankappan was a taxi driver and also a fanatic Hindu. He never liked Christian missionaries. He used to speak against Christianity and was organising people near the temples against the evangelism activites.

Once he was driving his taxi, he was happened to go nearby a Corner Gospel Meeting, which was conducted by the Salem Voice Ministries. There he noticed a former Muslim and a former Hindu were witnessing Jesus Christ. He became very angry and spit at the meeting.

Suddenly his car was hit with a truck and he was seriously injured with a comma. His intestines, both small and large came out of the stomach. Doctors tried their best, but they could not replace the intestines back to the stomach. They had not even .01% hope about his life. So they just simply kept intestines together as a pack and stitched the stomach.

After few days, while he was still in the comma, he had a vision that Jesus Christ touched him and told, "I am giving you life again. Confess your sins and show yourself as my witness".

Thankappan opened his eyes. He saw Pastor Paul Ciniraj praying over him. Some others including his wife standing around with tears with an expectation of his death.

Though Thankappan was unable to speak, but slowly opened his mouth and said to Pastor Paul Ciniraj, "Pastor, I spit at you. I spit to my Lord Jesus. I persecuted my Lord's servants. I persecuted my Lord Jesus. Forgive me. Forgive me. Ask my Lord to forgive me". Thankappan wept deeply.

While this time, somebody called the doctor. Doctor was amazed to see Thankappan speaking and crying. He said it is a great miracle.

When Thankappan totally healed, he was baptized and became an evangelist of the Salem Voice Ministries, distributing tracts and literature and witnessing Jesus Christ corner to corner. His wife also helping him.

But his children not yet fully saved. Some extremists trying to get Thankappan back from Christianity through his unsaved children. Pray for Thankappan and family.

News with picture: http://salemvoice.org/news147.html

Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India.
http://salemvoice.org/

Gospel Center vandalized in Kerala in India

Kottayam (India), SVM News, 11 March, 2007: Gospel Center run by the Indian Pentacostal Church was vandalized by the Hindu extremists on 6th February in Kottayam, which is known as literal district in India.

Carmel Gospel Center at the village named Kooroppada in Pampady, around 10 miles east from Kottayam town was the one attacked on Tuesday just before the midnight.

Gospel Center was started three months ago. Around 50 people attending the worship service.

"The glasses of the front side windows were totally destroyed because of stoning and the pieces were scattered in and out side of the bulding. Number of stones they used for stoning", Pastor Baby Paul (30), the minister of the Gospel Center said to the SVM News Service.

"After a prayer meeting I and my wife were having our lunch at the dining room. Our son Barose of 5 years old and daughter Basia of 2 years old were sleeping in the front room. Suddenly we heard the sound of stoning at the front room where our children were sleeping. We cried aloud and rushed to the room to protect the children. When the attackers heard our voice, they stop stoning and left", Pastor Baby Paul told.

"They were a group of people came by motor bykes and attacked us", Anu Baby, the wife of Pastor Baby Paul said. "Our Lord Himself protected our children under His wings without having any harm".

Later we saw that the attackers had been written some Hindu symbals of "Oum" and "swasthic" on the public road at the front of the Gospel Center. Anu Baby added.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) visited the vandalized Gospel Center. He condemned the incident and asked the State Government to find out the attackers very soon.

Pastor Baby Paul alongwith the Church Secretary Alex complained a petition to the Pampady Police Station. Police investigating the case and also keep patrolling the total area.

SVM Missionary attacked (leg broken) in Kashmir

Kupwara (Kashmir in India), SVM News, March 7, 2007: Pastor Ashir, the missionary of the Salem Voice Ministries was attacked on 6th of March in Kupwara in Jammua and Kashmir in India.

Pastor Ashir was returning back home on Tuesday afternoon after a prayer meeting in a small village Rikwaza, which is about 6 miles away from Kupwara. Suddenly a group of masked people attacked him with steel pipes and wooden sticks. He was severly beaten.

Ashir became unconcious and fallen down. Some of the local people found him lie-down on the street and admitted him to the hospital.

He was seriously injured and one of his legs has been broken. Police registered a case against some unidentified militants.

Tahira, the wife of Pastor Ashir and their four month old child Noorul Masih also under threat.

Pray for this family and the believers. They are having few families believing in Jesus Christ in that locality.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack against Pastor Ashir, the SVM missionary of Jammu and Kashmir.

Send Prayer Requests for Night Vigil and 3 days fasting and prayers

By the grace of our Lord we will be having our next full night prayer on 9th February Friday 6 pm to 10th Saturday 6 am (Indian time).

And also we will be having a three days fasting and prayer on 21st March Wednesday morning 9 (am) to 23rd Friday evening 3 (pm).

Those who need prayers may go to the website http://salemvoice.org and submit prayer requests at the window of "submit prayer". We will be interceding their prayer requests throughout the night vigil and our fasting and prayers. (We print out all the prayer request from the website, distribute among the participants of the night vigil and fasting and prayers and pray for it by name). Let us hope that they may not forget to send a praise report, when they are being answered for their prayer requests.

Also I request you to join with us in prayers at the time of our night vigil and three days fasting and prayer. Indian time is GMT +5.30 (It is easy to find out through the BBC TV channel. For the time of BBC is according to GMT. If BBC shows 12 noon, that means Indian time is 5.30 pm. So we start our night vigil on Friday, the 9th March on 12.30 pm of BBC time. In India it is 6 pm. Likewise, we start our fasting and prayer on Wednesday, the 21st March on 3.30 am BBC time (In India it is 9 am).

Wherever you may be, but you can join with us in prayers, if possible with fasting and prayers. Kindly pray for me, my family and entire Salem Voice Ministries. Increasing our persecutions as different types by different ways. Your prayers are our fort.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India
http://salemvoice.org

Praise the Lord! Website salemvoice.org retained

Praise the Lord that the website service provider websuvidha.com made apology and retained our website salemvoice.org. Certainly it is because of your prayers. Thank you, thank you so much for your prayers. We praise and thank God again and again for His loving care and mighty protection.

Kindly continue praying for us and the Salem Voice Ministries. Increasing our persecutions as different types by different ways. Your prayers are our fort.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj,
Salem Voice Ministries,
Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam,
Kerala-686038, India
http://salemvoice.org