(1) Christian communities in India's Kandhamal region of Orissa experienced severe persecution and violence in 2007-2008, with many deaths, injuries, destroyed homes and churches, and thousands fleeing to forests. (2) The persecution was part of increasing hate campaigns and attacks against Christians across several Indian states based on false allegations of forced conversions. (3) However, facts show Christianity in India has grown very slowly and Christian organizations run many educational and social services, while Christians have responded to persecution with forgiveness rather than violence.

1. “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it
hated you…… If they persecuted me, they will persecute
you……..They will do all these things to you on account of
my name, because they do not know HIM who sent me”.
(John 15:18 – 21)
You are welcome to this presentation on “The cost of Christian Discipleship in India

2. Churches &
Christian
Institutions
in
Kandhamal,
Disfigured statue of Our Lady Orissa, Carmal Convent
December
2007
St. Paul Church Carmel Convent

3. The Week of Nightmares
(December 2007)
• Death – 6
• Houses burnt & looted – 500
• Shops, commercial properties –
126
• Destruction:
– Parish churches – 5
– Village Churches – 48
– Convents – 5
– Hostels – 7
– Leprosy centre -1
– Vocational Training Centre – 1
• Vehicles – not surveyed
• Animals killed – not surveyed

4. Still Counting…. (violence 2008)
• Death confirmed: 45
• priests/ pastors/ nuns seriously
.injured: 10
• Priests kidnapped : 2
Houses demolished in 160 villages
: 4300
Institutions/ schools destroyed : 7
Churches/Chapels : 101
Convents and hostels: 14
• Residences of priests : 5
Dispensaries : 2
Vocational Training Centres : 3
• Shops : 126
• Vehicles burnt / destroyed: 43

5. Forest was the only refuge…..
Shops & Houses Owned by Christians
About 50,000 people fled to the forests

6. What is happening today?
• 12,000 persons in the refugees camps
• Little medical care
• No rehabilitation taking place
• 40,000 people still hiding in forests
• On return, people are forced to forsake faith
• No Christian Leader is allowed to visit
Christian Organizations are not allowed to do relief works……….
WHEREAS……In the Super Cyclone & other natural calamities
Christian NGOs and church groups were first to set up relief and
rehabilitation works in Orissa

7. Orissa is not alone….
• Hate Crimes against
Christians in several states
• Prominent are Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh,
M.C. Sister, Kerala
Fr. Ignatius Bara, Jharkand
Maharashtra and Karnataka
On Sep. 14th 2008 in Karnataka,
14 churches attacked,
Blessed Sacrament
desecrated, statues
broken, even cloistered
nuns were not spared

8. Leaping out of Memories
Dr. Graham Stains and children burnt
to death in Manoharpur
Grace Nayak & family
Tomb of Sr. Rani Maria In MP beaten up in MP

9. Increasing Hate Campaign,
Attack On Christians
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
organised attacks
1500
1000
500
0
1998 2000 2007 2008

10. The Allegation For Hate
Missionaries convert
the masses to Christianity
Christians receive foreign
funds for conversion

11. Here are the facts ……..
CHRISTIAN POPULATION AS PER CENSUS
3 2.59 2.43 2.32
2.04
2
Population %
1
0
1971 1981 1991 2001
As per Justice Wadhwa Commission Report, Between 1991 to
1998 the Hindu Population rose by 2.52% whereas the Christian

12. More facts…….
In India, every year, over 15 million
students go through the portals of
Christian Institutions. Can any one
prove that even one out a million of
these students is converted as the
result of missionary activities?
Footnote: Most leaders of the organizations who
spread hatred against Christians send their
children and grand children to church-run
schools

13. Still More Facts ……...
• The constitution of India provides ample safeguards
against fraudulent conversions
• Several states have passed laws aiming at “preventing
conversion through force, fraud and inducement”
STILL IN THE PAST SIX DECADES OF
INDEPENDENT INDIA’S HISTORY NOT A SINGLE
CASE OF FORCED OR FRAUDULENT
CONVERSION WAS PROVED/PROSECUTED

14. Is spreading faith a crime?
History Says NO!
• From India, the Hinduism • From India, the Buddhism
spread to Malay Peninsula, spread to China, Korea,
Cambodia, Annam, Sumatra,
Java, Bali and Borneo besides
Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet,
the Indian Sub-continent Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam
• From Israel Christianity • From Arabia, the Islam
spread to Europe and spread to Asia and Africa
America

15. What do the religions teach?
“Go into all lands and
“Go and proclaim the
preach this gospel.
“May the active be good news to all
Tell them that the
Glorifying God, creations”.
poor and the lowly,
the rich and the high arianising all” - Jesus Christ
are one”. (Rig Veda 9.63.5)
- The Buddha
“May I speak these
blissful words to my
“You must go out to “For this purpose was I
own people and the born, and to spread this
preach your religion, foreigner” religion God appointed
preach it to every (Yajur Veda 26.1-2) me”.
nation under the sun”.
- Guru Govind Singh
- Swami Vivekananda

16. Missionaries from India
“Up India, rise and
conquer the world
with Your spirituality” There are thousands of Hindu monks
running ashrams and temples in
Europe & America

17. Who receives the foreign funds?
• The funds received by the Christian organizations are reported
to the Home Ministry under FCRA
• Not a single case of misuse of foreign funds is found till date
• The funds received by the Christians are visible in 25 % of the
social sector in India.
• The largest recipient of foreign funds in India are RSS affiliated
organizations
• Where is that money going?
Christians demand a white paper by the
home ministry on the receipts of foreign
funds in India.

18. Christian Contribution to the Nation
Building
• Over 24% of the social services in the
country are run by the Christian groups
• Schools
• Christians run more than 40,000 • Colleges
educational institutions
• Christians proved to be the most • Hospitals
peaceful and law abiding community
even under tremendous provocations • Orphanages
• Destitute homes
• Leprosy rehabilitation
• Counseling centres
• HIV/AIDS rehabilitation
• Nursing Schools
• Vocational Services

19. Christian Response to Persecution –
“Father, Forgive them”
“My husband and our
children have sacrificed
their lives for the nation of
India. India is my home”
- Gladis Stains
“I praise God that my
father and my brothers
are found worthy to die
for Christ”
- Esther Stains

20. Christians Demand Justice too
• Christians demands
protection of their
fundamental rights
• Christians seek
support from all right-
thinking citizens of
this country
irrespective of caste
and religion

21. The Truth Will Prevail…
After every death
There is
resurrecTion…
The persecuted church in India awaits the day of Resurrection!!!

22. This is our prayer
• Oh God, our Father, let your Spirit
enlighten us to understand that all human
beings, irrespective of race, caste and
creed, are your children. As Jesus taught
us, let ‘truth make us free’ from all
prejudices, hatred and violence,
transforming our society into a family of
love, joy and peace. We make this prayer
through your beloved son and our Lord,
Jesus Christ, AMEN.

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