Dear Friend of the Persecuted Church—

            Persecution happens every day, all over the world, as it has for centuries.  But in spite of the regularity of the news of persecution, there are some things that one can never get used to.  Sometimes the stories are so breathtakingly horrible that it is hard to even imagine what reality is like for a suffering saint.

            That is what is happening right now in Orissa, India.  Orissa is the ninth-largest state in India, with a population of over 36 million people.  Just a couple of days ago, five Hindu leaders were killed, and in spite of the fact that a Maoist group claimed responsibility, hard-line Hindu groups have targeted Christians for “retribution.”  The results have been nothing short of absolutely tragic.

            The attacks have not been piecemeal, unrelated violence, but have instead been carefully planned and coordinated, then carried out by vicious mobs.  Every Christian is targeted – men, women, and children; pastors, nuns, and families – and no cruelty is too brutal.  I could go on for pages detailing the horrors, how pastors have been beaten and killed, families split up, women violated, churches and houses deliberately destroyed.

            In fact, the violence became so bad that in one province, police staged marches and were issued “shoot-at-sight” orders.  All in all, 92 separate but coordinated attacks have been leveled all throughout the state, and while number are uncertain (and growing, as violence continues), at least 18 Christians have been killed.

            This is not the first time that radical Hindu groups have targeted Christians in Orissa.  On the contrary, it is becoming a regular occurrence – but one that we cannot, and should not, become used to.  The cries of our brothers and sisters are ever before the Lord, and they should be before us, too.  Across the time zones that separate us from our Indian family in Christ, this persecution is happening right now.

            Pray for them.

Yours for the Body of Christ,

Gabriel J. Waddell
Executive Director

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