NEWS FROM CHRISTIAN SOURCES
__________________________________
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom added five countries to its list of top offenders in its 2020 annual report, released April 28.
India is listed as one of the “countries of particular concern” (CPCs), a designation of the world’s most egregious religious freedom violators.
All countries included in the report have engaged in “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations.” But the USCIRF separates countries into two categories:
All countries included in the report have engaged in “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations.” But the USCIRF separates countries into two categories:
- Countries of Particular Concern (CPC’s), where the government engages in or tolerates “particularly severe” violations of religious freedom and
- Those on the Special Watch List (SWL), which includes countries where the government engages in or tolerates “severe” violations of religious freedom.
- Do the violations include “torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment”?
- Are prisoners subjected to “prolonged detention without charges”?
- Does the government “cause the disappearance of persons by the abduction or clandestine detention of those persons”?
- Is there evidence of “other flagrant denial or the right to life, liberty or the security of persons”?
Therefore, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended the U.S. Government: “Designate India as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
_______________________________________
Celebrating the Release of Pastor Nerren.
Pastor Nerren describes his 7-month ordeal and his personal observations
of the current situation facing Christians in India today.
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ.org) represented Pastor Bryan Nerren when he was detained in India. The above is an excerpt from ACLJ's interview of Pastor Nerren upon his arrival back in the U.S. (Go to the full interview here.)
Wrongfully detained in India for over 7 months, Christian
Pastor Bryan Nerren – a U.S. citizen from Tennesee who has trained Sunday
school teachers in India for more than 17 years – has finally been freed to
return to America. But what was behind the false charges leveled against him?
On his way to attend conferences in India and Nepal, Pastor
Nerren (who heads up the non-profit ministry Asian Children’s Education
Fellowship) was targeted and arrested in Bagdogra, India. His alleged crime?
Evading a customs duty on the funds he was carrying for the conference trip. But the amount of money he was carrying, which
he openly declared to customs in New Delhi, was less than the minimum required
to constitute a crime under India law. In
fact, Pastor Nerren was never even questioned by customs officials about the
duty. Instead he was asked if he was a Christian and if the funds he declared
would be used to support Christian causes.
Unfortunately, India is ranked No. 10 on Open Doors 2020
World Watch List, which monitors Christian persecution. It has moved up 11
spots since 2015, indicating a sharp increase in extreme persecution. Open
Doors states that “the primary force for persecution in India is Hindu
nationalism, which advocates for the belief that India belongs to Hindus and
people of other faiths should find somewhere else to live, work and worship.”
Pastor Nerren experienced first- hand the nightmare consequences
of this belief when he was targeted, detained and even spit on simply because
he was a Christian visiting Christians in India. Thankfully, he had advocates
in the Unitied States government and the prayers of believers that secured his release.
But Christians living in India are less
fortunate.
Join Our
While we celebrate the miracle of Pastor Nerren’s safe
return, let’s not forget Christians in India who suffer persecution daily for
their faith. Watch the video as Pastor Nerren recounts his personal ordeal and
miraculous release. Then please join KGM in thanking God for answering the
prayers of His people for Pastor Nerren and in praying for persecuted
Christians all over the world.
_______________________________________
 |
| Hindu Nationalists |
According to International Christian Concern (ICC):
On March 10th a pastor was attacked by 150 radicals, tied to a tree and beaten severely for hours. The pastor was conducting Sunday worship services when the attackers broke into the service, destroyed furniture and musical instruments, harassed the worshipers, and dragged the pastor to several different public locations where he was beaten repeatedly. His injuries are severe.
Another pastor interviewed by ICC stated: “Recently, there have been five attacks on pastors in Gadag district alone,” a local Christian leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told ICC. “Across the entire state, the number of incidents have grown sharply because of the complicity of the police and the free hand given to Hindu radicals. This will make it even more difficult for Christians in the state.”
The persecution in India has its roots in social and cultural discrimination. Believers in India are often shunned, unjustly arrested, attacked—even killed—because they choose to follow Jesus and not Hinduism or the local religion. In addition to these, Christians are experiencing other forms of discrimination and denied employment. In southern India, many communities rely on fishing for a sustainable living. Collective fishing is a common practice, which requires village members to share boats. Unfortunately, Hindus have denied Christians access to these communal village boats. This social boycott has left thousands of Christians in crisis, and deprived them of their sole source of income.
JOIN OUR
_______________________________________
Boys: 216 Girls: 0 - Birth Records of 132 Indian Villages Surprise Officials
Over a period of three months no girls were born in 132 villages in India. Boy births were 216 during the same time frame in these villages.
Officials are investigating the suspicious data findings according to an NDTV news short video.
While the preference for boys over girls in India is known, cultural changes are slow. Kerusomen Gospel Ministries has two programs that are bringing hope to marginalized women. Read about them here.
________________________________________
Telangana Christians Face Increased Attacks
 |
The International Christian Concern (ICC) published 6 recent attacks on Christians in the southern state of Telangana in an article dated August 14, 2019.
The ICC correspondent writes "The attacks included beatings, threats, vandalism, and the disruption of worship services. This swell of violence and intolerance has many Christians living in India's Telangana State concerned both for their safety and their ability to practice their Christian faith openly." Telangana is home to eight Kerusomen churches. Please include them in your prayers.
International Christian Concern (ICC) is an interdenominational human rights organization dedicated to assisting Christians throughout the world who are victims of persecution due to the practice of their faith. The organization works to raise public awareness and provide advocacy for persecuted Christians. ICC assists persecuted Christians with spiritual and other practical means. The organization also assists Congress and the Executive Branch in providing research and evaluation to effectuate policies to safeguard religious freedom.
 |
| Kerusomen Gospel Ministries is blessed to partner with Living Water Ministries in it's Haiti School Lunch Program |
'I Thought We Were Going to Die':
U.S. Missionaries Ambushed,
Saved by Mysterious Man on Motorcycle
CBNnews.com Headline 5/29/2019
CBNnews.com Headline 5/29/2019
On a recent Haiti mission trip, Doug Burbella, the Living Water Ministry's Medical Director, was shot and critically injured when Gang members fired a barrage of bullets into the ministry vehicle. To his horrified team members, it appeared the worst was yet to come...
Then 'something extraordinary happened' reports CBN.
Watch this amazing CBN video to see how Doug's life was spared and none of the other team members were injured, by the grace of God through a mysterious man on a motorcycle. We pray it will encourage you on your faith walk.
________________________________________
Christianity Today Podcast:
INDIA IS NOT PROTECTING ITS CHRISTIANS
When India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and his Bharativa Janata party (BJP) won landslide victories in last month’s national elections, Modi tweeted:
The Hindutva movement—which is made up of extremists who believe that all Indians must be Hindu—have gone after Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and other religious minorities.
“Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!”But difficulties for religious minorities in India during Modi’s five-year tenure paint a different picture than his “winning” message.
The Hindutva movement—which is made up of extremists who believe that all Indians must be Hindu—have gone after Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and other religious minorities.
Since 2014 when Modi was first elected, India has risen 11 spots on the Open Door’s World Watch List. Last year they reported that more than 12,000 Christians were attacked.
 |
| Vijayesh Lal, Evangelical Fellowship of India |
- The difference between Hinduism and the Hindutva (translation, Hindu Essence) political movement that has been the driver for increasing religious minority persecutions in India.
- The Hindu Rashtra Vision: How P.M. Modi, an ardent follower and former evangelist for Hindutva,, has empowered this ideology and its political party, the BJP, that seeks to create a Hindu Nation where Chrisians, Muslims and other minorities are the enemy.
- Learn who the Dalit's really are and why they are considered "untouchables".
- The truth about "Conversion Accusations" used to target Christians and persecute the Church.
Click here for a transcript of this podcast interview.
___________________________________________________________
Three Indian Christians Charged with 'Murder by Prayer'
The three have been released on bail after 11 months in prison but they still must stand trial for "murder" by prayer. During that 11 month span they have led 13 fellow inmates to faith in the Lord Jesus. Surjan, Kolah, and Krishna may face life in prison. Please share with us in this special opportunity to stand with our brothers in India, lifting them in prayer.
You can read the full VOM article here
___________________________________________________________
Three Indian Christians Charged with 'Murder by Prayer'
The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports that the three young men pictured above were arrested in India after praying for a sick village woman who later died.
The charge was "murder" by prayer.
The men belonged to a small village Christian church. They knew better than to share the Gospel on the streets of their village - that was certain to attract persecution. They simply prayed for the wife of a friend who was ill. But the woman's neighbors blamed the Christian men for her death when she didn't get better after their prayer. This led to their arrest and imprisonment.The charge was "murder" by prayer.
The three have been released on bail after 11 months in prison but they still must stand trial for "murder" by prayer. During that 11 month span they have led 13 fellow inmates to faith in the Lord Jesus. Surjan, Kolah, and Krishna may face life in prison. Please share with us in this special opportunity to stand with our brothers in India, lifting them in prayer.
You can read the full VOM article here
- _______________________________________________________________
- Hindu Attacks Against Christians on the Rise in Southern India
 |
| Click Picture to Read Full CBN Article |
Level of persecution against them continues to rise, according to various media reports.
In the first nine months of the year, the Indian southern states of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have reported at least 60 cases of attacks against Christians. In contrast, 36 attacks against Christians were seen in the first nine months of 2017, according to religious freedom advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
The state of Kerala, India, home of Kerusomen Gospel Ministries, India headquarters, is located at the Southern tip region
where these attacks occurred.
Please join us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in India.
Click button to join the Kerusomen Prayer Team
- ________________________________________________________________
Christians Standing Strong Amid Rising Persecution in India
Continued violence against Christians and churches
Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, attacks have increased, and Hindu radicals believe they can attack Christians with no consequences. As a result, Christians have been targeted by Hindu national extremists more and more each year. (Open Doors USA 2019 World Report) The churches you support with Kerusomen are not immune to these attacks. While we cannot publish details for the protection of our fellow church families in India, if you join our prayer team we will gladly share with you updates as we receive them.
The following video will give you insight and knowledge as you pray.
 |
| Join Us in Prayer for India |
