BELIEVERS of GEMS Church at Domchanch in Koderma, Jharkhand under the Magahi 2 Zone were demanded to give money for a Hindu festival; when refused they were beaten and their heads tonsured and were forced to perform yagya (a Hindu rite).
As one of the Hindu festivals was nearing, the local villagers demanded the Christian believers to give chanda (money); but the believers refused to give. On the festival day, that is on 22nd April, the people forced the believers to take part in their religious ceremony and to eat the food offered to the idols. Owing to the refusal of the believers the matter was taken to the local village leaders. All the villagers came together and threatened them and destroyed their Bibles. Five believers were also beaten up.
They were taken to the Ganges river’s tributary and were forcefully dipped in the water, made to offer puja, their heads were tonsured and made to attend yagya (ritual of offerings accompanied by chanting mantras). Only then they were allowed to enter & remain in the village. They were threatened not to go to the church and the church Pastor & other believers were also not allowed to meet them.
Bro. Santosh Kumar serves here as the missionary and he is also being threatened to leave the place. The matter was reported to the Police & application was also given to the District Commissioner by the Regional Director Bro. Victor Immanuel, Zonal Superintendent Bro. David Singh and Area Leader Bro. Bimalanand. But the police has not enquired the matter yet and Bro. Santosh is under constant threat.
In spite these the following Sunday 11 people came to worship the Lord in the church and to hear the Word. The local leaders are issuing notices to the neighbouring villages not to have any relationship with the church threatening them with dire consequences if they would do so. Pray for these believers of Domchanch that they may stand strong in the faith and also for the opposition to die down and the opposers to know Jesus. Pray for the work of the Gospel here & for the missionary family. Gems News
