ANTI-CHRISTIAN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN INDIAN STATE

In early October the State of Tamil Nadu in India brought an emergency anti-conversion ordinance to be passed in the state legislature. The opposition parties are very weak and in all probability, the ordinance will be passed. The Christian minorities and the opposition parties are opposing this. They fear that this can be wrongly used against all those who oppose the state government as well as those who on their own volition may want to change their religion. Such ordinances are in place in a number of northern states. It is the first time that this has been introduced in the South that has enjoyed much freedom so far. A leading Hindu religious leader and a Hindu extremist movement in Tamil Nadu (Hindu Front) are calling the other States to implement the same ordinance. They are planning to have a procession in Tamil Nadu in support of this ordinance soon. No one knows what the consequences would be. Ironically, the constitution of India provides religious freedom to all citizens but the State governments totally ignore that. Would you pray that the Lord would intervene and help the Christians and the minority communities in Tamil Nadu?

One Christian minister who leads a Reformed Baptist Fellowship in Tamil Nadu was threatened by the Hindu extremists (RSS) forbidding him to meet on Sundays for worship. They have also threatened the owner of the building where the fellowship meets. This is the only Christian group that meets for worship in the village and they are faced with opposition for the first time. The group is working towards constituting the fellowship as a church in the near future. The pastor and his family live in the
village.

Prayer points:

1. Pray that the churches in Tamil Nadu State would be given the strength to be faithful in preaching the Word.

2. Pray that the local Christian leader and the fellowship would be protected from any harm and that they may continue to serve the
Lord with a renewed zeal.

3. Pray that if it is the Lord's will that this ordinance would not be passed in the State legislature.