Could you describe the situation?<\/h4>\n
Sipra Biswas: We in Kolkata, do not have direct persecution at present,\u2026 but in the villages, in the rural area, persecution is there.<\/p>\n
Vikal Rao: I belong to Chhattisgarh, one of the central states of India. In recent times, churches have faced persecution from the Hindu extremists. But persecution is not only in the form of physical harassment or damage to the property. Christians as a minority are mentally persecuted: our voices are not heard\u2026. Even though we have the legal documents for our properties and for our churches, we always are a target.<\/p>\n
Sipra Biswas: But mostly, all the states have more or less cases of persecution.<\/p>\n
Vikal Rao: We cannot get open meetings like the majorities, we have to get permission. That is also a part of persecution.<\/p>\n Another thing is: It is mandatory in India to register any organization under FCRA (Foreign Currency Regulatory Act)\u2026if you want to receive foreign aid or help. In the recent year (2021), the government of India cancelled the FCRA registration for many Christian and Muslim organizations, for example, MCSFI (Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India). Many of our churches are waiting for their FCRA renewal.<\/p>\n This is resulting that churches are not able to do the social work. Through the foreign help we were actually able to serve the community.<\/p>\n Sipra Biswas: Anti-conversion laws is another thing. Dalits were neglected people of the societies, but Christianity helped them to feel like human beings, to feel their importance. Now, in many places, they are forced to join Hinduism.<\/p>\n The first [threat] is money or \u201cIf you do this, you have to suffer the consequence.\u201d So, this is a fear people have.<\/p>\n To take baptism there will be legal procedures. You have to go to the court and tell nobody has forced me or given money.<\/p>\n Christians don\u2019t force, [yet] we were accused to tempt people to be Christians.<\/p>\n Vikal Rao: The legislative assembly has the power to amend some of the constitution. But now, they say: You cannot convert. Earlier days, we were able to preach openly the good news of the gospel on the markets. Now if we were doing it, we would be beaten or put into jail.<\/p>\n Vikal Rao: Muslims sometimes with violence. Christians most of the time [are] silent. Sikh, Jainists and Buddhists have no problem.<\/p>\n Vikal Rao: Prayer is the thing we believe helps. We pray for those who persecute us. And we would like to share Christ\u2019s love through our living and action\u2026. We are not protesting. We are not getting violent. We are for peace.<\/p>\n Vikal Rao: That the churches can become the agents of peace and love of Christ. That they can follow the way Jesus teaches us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In recent times, churches have faced persecution from the Hindu extremists. But persecution is not only in the form of physical harassment or damage to the property. Christians as a minority are mentally persecuted: our voices are not heard\u2026. Even though we have the legal documents for our properties and for our churches, we always are a target.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"network":[],"eventcategory":[299],"class_list":["post-7971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","eventcategory-assembly"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"two](\"https:\/\/mwc-cmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/img_7284-compressed.jpg\")
Officially, India is a secular country with religious freedom. How then can it be, that there are anti-conversion laws?<\/h4>\n
How do the minorities in India react?<\/h4>\n
What do you think are practical and spiritual ways for Indian Christians to deal with the situation?<\/h4>\n
What is your prayer request for the global MWC family?<\/h4>\n