On May 1st, and following last month’s elections, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and police in Indonesia’s Aceh province closed down one Protestant and two Catholic churches.  Enforcing the closures, the authorities cited the church’s failure to comply with a biased 2006 government decree which requires any non-Muslim religious community to have at least 90 congregation members, as well as written approval to build a house of worship from at least 60 people from other religions.  The three closed churches are located in a predominantly Muslim region where Sharia law is enforced.

Frans R Zai, a Capuchin seminarian from Sibolga diocese said the closures were politically motivated, rather than socially or religiously, and were a direct result of the recent regional elections which changed the balance of power in the province.

The Indonesian Committee on Religion and Peace said they would ask the central government for help to resolve the matter, as the actions against the Catholic and Protestant minority groups were unreasonable.  The Catholic Chapel was more than 40 years old and the other over 38 years old.  Indeed, in all of their history, none of the three closed churches has ever had an incident of protest or tension with their overwhelmingly Muslim neighbours.

Half of Indonesia’s 32 provinces have now accepted Sharia law at some level, but in Aceh, which has fully adopted Sharia law, Muslims are now forbidden to convert to Christianity or even enter a church.  Once characterised as having a “spirit of tolerance,” Aceh has now succumbed to the influence of Islamic extremists who denounce the growth of Christian churches and seek their closure.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“And what does Jehovah require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?”   (Micah 6:8)

Heavenly Father,

We come before you in prayer and in support of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are under increasing persecution in Indonesia, and for whom three churches have been unilaterally closed down by the Aceh provincial officials this month alone.

Father, you ask us to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you, and oh Lord, it is our honour, it is our pleasure, and our will to do so.

We pray the same for those who persecute your peoples in Indonesia, and we ask that your Holy Spirit will hover over them all and bring them to Christ, such that it will be their joy and pleasure also to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you.  Bless them oh Lord, with a heart which beats for you and for you alone.  Turn them oh Lord, from that wide path which leads to destruction, onto the narrow path, which leads to you.

For the persecuted Christians in Indonesia, we pray you fill them with the faith of Jesus Christ himself.  Please double and redouble their strength and their resolution to continue following you and to continue doing your work, in spite of the injustices perpetrated against them.

We thank you Lord God in the mighty name of Jesus, in whose name we pray.

Amen and amen and amen.

The Malay-language Bible (“Alkitab”) is 400 years old this year. Its publication was a significant event as it was the first Bible published in a non-European language. To mark the occasion, the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM) and Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM) at Trinity Methodist Church, Petaling Jaya, organized a celebration.

A seminar was also held in conjunction with the event. Papers were presented on “Ruyl’s Malay Translation of Matthew’s Gospel”, “The Allah Controversy: Ideological and Theological Contestation”, legal issues surrounding the Bahasa Malaysia (BM) Alkitab, and challenges in the printing and distribution of the Alkitab. Those involved in the translation of the Alkitab also shared their perspectives on the work.

A thanksgiving service ended the day of celebration, with a specially written prayer and a message on the challenges facing believers in East Malaysia.

Lee Min Choon, President of BSM, honoured the translators by giving each a gift of an Alkitab with a serial number, as a sign of the importance of their work. These were part of the consignment of 5,000 BM Bibles confiscated by the Home Ministry, serialised and stamped with the ministry’s seal in 2011. BSM has said these “defaced” copies cannot be sold but it is keeping them as heritage pieces.

A potential factor in the eventual release of the Bibles was the fact that Sarawak was about to hold its state elections a month after the issue had exploded. Considering that Sarawak is home to Malaysia’s largest percentage of Christians, it dawned on the government that the confiscation may not have been a politically prudent move.

The Alkitab uses the word “Allah” for God. This became a controversy when the Home Ministry in 1986 issued a circular banning the use of this word by non-Muslims on the grounds of national security. This was followed by a string of state enactments that gave the circular the force of law. The apparent rationale for the ban was that the term is used in the Qur’an for God, so using it in Christian publications would confuse Muslims in the country.

What is clear is that both of these issues have not reached a resolution. The “Allah” issue has been pending in the Court of Appeal for two years now, while the Alkitab resolution rests on government assurances that have no real legal basis on which the Christian community can firmly rely.

Of the more than two million Christians in Malaysia (approximately 9.1 percent of the population), 70 percent are in East Malaysia. So, the Christian population in Malaysia is largely Malay speaking. Since the early 17th century, Malay has been the medium of worship, preaching, prayer and religious education in East Malaysia. So, it is the spiritual language of the people there.

While the Bible has nourished many Malay-speaking Christian communities in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years, it has never stirred the kinds of controversies that have emerged in modern Malaysia in recent years. The controversies had much of their roots in startling interventions by the government.  Thus, it is no surprise that recent developments concerning the Alkitab have left the people of East Malaysia distressed and disillusioned.

It should come as no surprise that the Alkitab, 400 years after it came into existence, is now alleged to be a source of “confusion” and a threat to “national security and interest”’. After all, Jesus did say that he is the Word. And since the Alkitab is also the Word, we can draw the incontrovertible conclusion from what is happening that Jesus is very much alive and continues to walk in our midst.  And he is just as radical and revolutionary to society in Malaysia today as he was in Jerusalem 2000-plus years ago.

The Alkitab, Kalam Hidup and Perjanjian Baru publications are still banned by orders made under the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 for being “prejudicial to national interests and security”. This is despite the fact that the ISA has now been abolished and replaced with a new law. The Christian Federation of Malaysia has called on the government to revoke the orders.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.”  (John 11:57 NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your Word is like lifeblood to the people of East Malaysia, and like lifeblood, it knows no boundaries of nations or languages. It is just as potent and powerful to the people of Malaysia today as it was centuries ago when it was heard and written down. It is surely a sign of Your universal sovereignty that Your Word touches every corner of the globe today in thousands of tongues and transforms lives wherever it is heard and acted upon. We thank You for Your many faithful servants in Malaysia, and we ask that You would continue to touch many hearts there, including those in positions of political and religious power, to show them You are the one true God, and that they are all Your sons and daughters of the greatest worth. Thank You for all the blessings You shower upon us, undeserving as we are. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Giving a homily in Rome, Cardinal John Tong Hon of the Roman Catholic Church touched on four major concerns as Bishop of Hong Kong diocese: evangelization, promotion of vocations in the priesthood and religious life, non-Chinese Catholics in the diocese and the situation of the church in China.

The cardinal was speaking in Rome after taking possession of his titular church of Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola, and celebrated Mass for Roman parishioners as well as a group of Chinese immigrants, nuns and clerics. Every new cardinal is assigned a parish church in Rome, which entitles him to elect a new pope.

Cardinal Tong’s first concern is evangelization. He sees a need for “the first” and “the new evangelization” in Hong Kong and hopes the Year of Faith (2012–2013) announced by Pope Benedict XVI, will give “new impetus” to the mission of his diocese, which sees 6,000 baptisms (half of them of adults) each year. He hopes for a growth not only in numbers but also in “the quality” of their faith.

The needs of non-Chinese Catholics in Hong Kong include those of many Filipinos, who need the Mass in English and other facilities.

Cardinal Tong focused at length on his fourth concern: the church in China.

Recent popes have “entrusted” to the Hong Kong diocese “the role of being a bridge between the church in China and the universal church”, and Pope Benedict “encouraged [Cardinal Tong] to carry on this role.” According to the cardinal, improving relations between the church and the Chinese government is “a win-win case” for both sides. Asked whether the new leadership will improve the situation for Chinese Catholics, he said he would “hope and pray for that.”

Then in words that echoed his speech to the College of Cardinals last February, he described the situation of the church in China as “wonderful, difficult and possible”:

• Wonderful — “Not only for the vitality of the Church and for the growth in numbers (from 3 millions in 1949 to 12 millions today), but also for the marvellous examples of courage and zeal by her members both in the past and at present”. They “live in situations similar to those of the early Church and the Holy Spirit raises in them the evangelizing spirit of the two disciples of Emmaus and the courageous witness of the early apostles.”
• Difficult — “The church in China lives in very difficult situations. The Chinese government pushed towards creating an autonomous national church, and through the Patriotic Association tries to achieve this objective, even by means of repressive ways.” The situation of the church in China “seems depressing, especially if we consider that there are some illegitimate bishops and a dozen among faithful bishops and priests still in prison”. But, “it is not desperate, since the Lord is present and active”.
• Possible — “The Church in China is still open to great possibilities”. Such optimism “is founded upon the strong courage the Lord inspires in many Catholics for defending their faith”. The cardinal revealed how a bishop friend in the Mainland, who had endured “the turmoil” from 1951–79, assured him that efforts by the government “to increase its control (of the church) would definitely not work, but rather would cause the church to become more aware, more united”, and told him: “The future is bright; we must quietly await God’s grace. The time for this is not very close, nor is it far away”.

Cardinal Tong concluded his homily by asking his new parishioners to pray for fellow believers in China “who are suffering”. The congregation responded with tremendous applause.

Since China re-opened to the world in the late 1970s, “its economy is moving very fast towards greater freedom and its progress is quite visible”, but “the policies on religion remain strict,” said Cardinal Tong. And “although there is only one Catholic Church in China, she must face not a few difficulties: the main ones are the control by the government authorities, the limited freedom of action, and the disunity among the faithful who need reconciliation.”

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NIV)

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wonderful work that you are doing in China and for the courage and zeal of the saints who have paved the way. Thank You for the vibrant growth in the number of Christians and churches there. We pray for the believers to be grounded in faith and the Word so that their faith may not be easily shaken. We also pray for unity among the different churches in China and for their leaders to be preaching the truth, and be united in the Holy Spirit and in mission. May You strengthen and protect the believers from the evil and wicked one and uplift those who are persecuted for their faith. Even though evangelism in China remains restrictive, we are hopeful that Your Grace is sufficient for us. We pray for our hearts to be set on fire to spread Your Gospel all over China. We pray for Cardinal Tong to have the courage and wisdom to lead the church in Hong Kong towards an improving relationship with the Chinese government. We especially pray for a smooth transition in the leadership in China and may it be according to Your will. May the Holy Spirit transform the hearts of the leaders in the new Chinese government and open the doors wide for Christians to worship and evangelize freely in China. We pray all this as the body of Christ in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the light of improving Sino-Vatican ties, Joseph Chen Gong-ao was ordained as the new bishop of Nanchong diocese in Sichuan province, southwestern China on April 19 by six bishops.

Chen’s ordination was the first of a Catholic bishop in China this year and was done with the approval of both Rome and Beijing, as was the last such ordination in November 2011. Both are positive developments.

Bishop Peter Fang Jianping of Tangshan presided over the ceremony in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral. Eight hundred lay people and 87 priests attended while hundreds more watched on a close-circuit TV screen.

Born in 1964, Bishop Chen graduated from Sichuan Catholic Seminary in 1988 and was ordained as a priest in 1990. Elected by a unanimous 23 votes in a democratic election in 2010, he succeeds Bishop Huang Wo-ze who died in 2004. Bishop Chen now leads a diocese with 86,000 Catholics, 11 priests and 11 nuns.

Sino-Vatican relations have been tense since 1951, when China severed ties with the Holy See after the Communist Party took over and set up its own church outside the pope’s authority. The issue of who should appoint bishops is a key obstacle to Pope Benedict XVI’s goal of improving relations with China. An informal understanding that allowed the Vatican to give tacit approval on new bishops largely broke down two years ago. Chen’s ordination is one of the few that Beijing and the Vatican have agreed on since then.

Chinese government officials who attended the ordination ceremony were said to have urged the diocese to follow the steps of the Communist Party, according to the state-run Nanchong Daily.

Meanwhile, a Vatican committee that meets once a year will gather this week to discuss the problems of the Catholic Church in China. Their focus will be on how to promote faith formation among lay people, in the context of the “Year of the Faith” proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI to run from October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013.

The Vatican press office stated that the meeting “will look at progress made in formation programs for priests, Religious and seminarians” and what is still to be done so that they can “fulfil their service in the Catholic Church and for the good of society.”

The Vatican has also announced that Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong will be a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and will also join the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. He will thus be a key figure in setting Vatican policy in those two areas.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” (Psalms 145:4–5 NIV)

Thank You, Father God, for the improving ties between the Vatican and the Chinese Catholic Church. May the meeting this week of the Vatican committee be fruitful as they discuss problems of the Catholic Church in China. May You ensure progress will be made in furthering the social services of the Catholic Church. We are thankful for the ordination of a new bishop approved both by Beijing and Rome. May Bishop Joseph Chen continue to soldier on in his new role, bringing many to see the light and to stand firm in the faith despite pressures from authorities, so that your name be lifted high and your works be known throughout all generations. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; keep me from the violent man, who devised evil things in the heart; they are always gathered for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. O Jehovah, keep me from the hands of the wicked; keep me from the violent man who purposed to trip up my steps. The proud have hidden cords and a trap for me; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set snares for me.” (Psalm 140:1–5 MKJV)

Heavenly Father,
 
We come before You as members of the Body of Christ and stand in intercession for, and in unity with, our Lao brothers and sisters. We pray that Your mighty right arm of protection will be outstretched and cover all Christians in Laos, stopping this persecution. We pray that Your Holy Spirit will fall heavily on all non-Christian Laos and bring them to Christ. We pray that at this time of persecution of Christians in Laos, You will strengthen the faith of all Christians such that they may face the present and the future with a hope which only comes from You. We pray, Lord, that this persecution of Your people, will now result in a mass revival in Laos, such that Laos will soon become a Christian nation! We pray, Lord, that a spirit of forgiveness, of reconciliation and of unity in You, will now fall over all of Laos.
 
We thank You, Lord God, in the mighty name of Jesus, in whose name we pray! Amen and amen and amen.

MALAYSIA: Seminar on threat of Christianity

Religious and education officials in Johor state, West Malaysia, renamed a 31 March seminar on the so-called threat of Christianity, following outrage from non-Muslims. State education officials faced criticism over a schoolteachers’ seminar that was to be titled: “Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism, and the Threat of Christianisation of Muslims. What Is the Role of Teachers?”

The furor over the seminar title follows allegations of Christian proselytisation in the Muslim-majority country after religious police raided a Methodist church event last August, fearing Muslims were being converted there. State lawmaker Maulizan Bujang told the Bernama national news agency that the reference to Christianity would be removed from the seminar title, saying, “The seminar aims to strengthen the faith of Muslims and it does not need to be politicised by any party that claims it (the seminar) is a threat to other religions.”

However, organizers from the state religious department said the seminar’s content would remain the same. “The seminar is part of the right of Muslims to defend the faith of its practitioners from any action which may lead to apostasy. It is our responsibility,” an official told Bernama. The seminar was finally renamed “Strengthening the Faith: What is the Role of Teachers?”

Opposition leaders say the ruling coalition, which is expected to announce national polls this year, is trying to woo back Malay support by utilising fear of other religions, after a swing vote in the 2008 polls led to the government losing control of a third of parliamentary seats and four states.

Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri, general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, said the government had to take a stand against the seminar, telling the AFP, “Of course we are disappointed, it derails the whole idea of harmony and mutual respect and understanding each other.”

Malaysia has largely avoided overt religious conflict in recent decades but tensions have simmered since a court ruling in late 2009 lifted a government ban on the use of “Allah” as a translation for “God” in Malay-language Bibles. The ban had been in place for years but enforcement only began in 2008 out of fear the use of the word in such a context could encourage Muslims to convert. The 2009 ruling triggered a series of attacks using Molotov cocktails, rocks and paint on Christian places of worship.

Muslims make up 62 percent of the country’s 28 million people, while Christians account for about 9.4 percent, mostly comprising indigenous groups in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Bishop Ng Moon Hing, chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said in a 30 March media statement that Christian feelings would be soothed only if the content and structure of the forum were changed in addition to the title to remove any implication that Christianity was a threat to Muslims in the country.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility … He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” (Ephesians 2:14, 17 NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your voice was raised against using Your name and Your faith as an enemy to the Muslim people in Malaysia. Please open the eyes and hearts of all Malaysians, including and especially government and religious officials, to Your grace and love that unites all peoples everywhere as sons and daughters of the one true God. We pray You continue to fortify and imbue with Your transcendent peace Your sons and daughters who are persecuted in Your name there and elsewhere. And please banish and silence the voices of division and strife that are afoot in this great land, and let there be peace and reconciliation in Your name, and in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose name we hold up in prayer.

State media announced on 23 March that the Union Election Commission had postponed polls inKachin state in the north because “security conditions are not conducive to free and fair elections”. Conflict between ethnic rebels and the government resumed in the state last year and is still ongoing.

The postponed polls were 3 of 48 scheduled to take place on the 1 April by-elections, seen by international observers as a test of the government’s commitment to democracy and a possible key to the lifting of international sanctions on Burma.

Opposition parties were surprised, frustrated and disappointed by the decision and questioned it, saying the three constituencies where polls have been postponed are in areas not directly affected by fighting. They alleged that such irregularities could jeopardise a free and fair vote on 1 April.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) reported that some of its candidates have been harassed and electoral registers in some areas were out of date. NLD spokesperson Han Thar Myint pointed out the polls were postponed because of security concerns by the government but “whether the security is meant for them, the observers, the candidates, or for the people” is uncertain.

The conflict in Kachin has mainly been confined to the rural areas and there has been no fighting in the towns.

Earlier on 13 March, soldiers from the 33rd battalion of the Burma Army’s 88th Infantry Division ransacked Sin Lum Pang Mu Baptist Church in Pang Mu village, Bhamo district.

According to the church’s pastor, Rev. Jangmaw Gam Maw, the soldiers burnt Bibles, destroyed church property, and stole a video player, loudspeakers, villagers’ belongings and money from the church donation boxes. The soldiers however claimed that the property belonged to a Kachin Independence Army outpost.

Rev. Jangmaw and over 1,000 church members had abandoned the village for the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Mai Ja Yang on 19 November 2011.

Pu Van Cin, a Member of Parliament from the Ethnic National Development Party, saw the soldiers confronting the village headman and was threatened at gunpoint when he tried to intervene.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

Heavenly Father, God of peace and justice, we pray for fair and free elections in Burma, that the rightful government will rule the land fairly and without prejudice especially against ethnic minorities. We lift up all those in authority, we pray in hope for a better future for Burma and her people, that violence, discrimination, injustice and human rights abuses will no longer be seen. Sovereign Lord, may You rule in that land, that Your purposes and will be done, so that Your people will no longer suffer for their faith. May freedom of religion be upheld. Father, we lift up Rev. Jangmaw Gam Maw, pastor of the church in Pang Mu, into Your hands, protect him and his church members. May they stand firm in their trust and faith in You. Be with them in their suffering, that Your presence may be closely felt and Your peace be upon them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

On 12 March, the Grand Mufti (highest religious official) of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, declared that all churches in the Arabian Peninsula must be destroyed. The statement prompted anger and dismay from Christians throughout the Middle East and has been sharply criticized by Christian leaders as an unacceptable denial of human rights to millions of foreign workers in the Persian Gulf region.

The Grand Mufti made the controversial statement in response to a question from a delegation from a Kuwaiti non-governmental organisation (NGO). A Kuwaiti parliamentarian had called for a ban on the construction of new churches in February, but the initiative had not been passed into law. So, the NGO, called the Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage, asked the Grand Mufti to clarify what Islamic law says on the matter.

The Grand Mufti gave his decision citing the Prophet Mohammed, who said on his deathbed, “There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula.” This passage has long been used to justify intolerance in the kingdom.

In Saudi Arabia, all religions other than Islam and churches are banned, forcing Christians there to risk arrest by praying in private homes. Even then, the morality police have been known to show up unexpectedly and halt proceedings. Until recently, Jews were not even allowed into the country.

At least 3.5 million Christians live in the Persian Gulf region. They are mostly Catholic workers from the Philippines and India, but also include Western expatriates of all denominations.

Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, head of the Russian Orthodox department for churches abroad, called the fatwa “alarming”. He told the Interfax news agency he hoped that Saudi Arabia’s neighbours “will be surprised by the calls made by this sheikh and ignore them”.

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, chairman of the Catholic German Bishops Conference, said the Grand Mufti has shown “no respect for the religious freedom and free co-existence of religions”, especially for all the foreign labourers who made its economy work. “It would be a slap in the face to these people if the few churches available to them were to be taken away,” he emphasised.

The Catholic bishops conference in Austria, where Saudi King Abdullah plans to open a controversial centre for interfaith dialogue, demanded an official explanation from Riyadh. “How could the Grand Mufti issue a fatwa of such importance behind the back of his King?” they asked. “We see a contradiction between the dialogue being practised, the efforts of the King and those of his top mufti.”

In recent years, the Catholic Church has been urging Muslim states to give Christian minorities in their countries the same freedom of religion that Muslims enjoy in Western countries.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2–4 NIV)

Heavenly Father, You who are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we pray for Your mercy and power to be upon the Christians in the Middle East and Your church there, which is under attack. May the Christians in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations stay strong in their faith and be filled with Your joy, peace and hope despite the opposition and threats. We pray for King Abdullah’s spiritual eyes to be opened and for the softening of his heart to see Your face and to do Your will. We pray that the King will oppose the Grand Mufti’s fatwa, which is in clear contradiction to the peace that the King is seeking to foster between those of different faiths and religions. May the blood of Christ break down the dividing wall of hostility between the people of different religions and may they be reconciled to God through the Cross. We believe and pray for the day when all things in heaven and on earth will be brought together under Christ. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.

On March 12, armed Hindu extremists in the Indian capital, New Delhi, forcibly entered a house prayer meeting for women as it concluded and dragged Pastor Jagdish Dey of Apostolic Faith Church (AFC) out to the street, where 30 others waited to give him a beating. The women at the meeting quickly surrounded Pastor Dey and protected him.

The extremists, claiming allegiance to Bajrang Dal, a militant Hindu organisation, alerted police who then apprehended Pastor Dey. Outside the police station holding Pastor Dey, 50 demanded police action against the Christians and threatened to hurt them. Inside the station, extremists claimed the Christians had met to desecrate idols and denigrate their gods and goddesses, a charge AFC firmly denies.

Under pressure, Pastor Dey agreed to stop conducting house prayer meetings. A later visit to the police station revealed that a First Information Report had not been recorded, so an investigation of the matter is still pending.

The following day, on March 13, the incident was repeated but as it was Pastor Dey’s wife, Blessy Bobby, a female pastor, who led an all-female gathering, the extremists left after the sisters protested. One sister asked, “Why should the men enter the women’s prayer meeting which was meant only for women?”

On March 14, persecution in the city continued when a Christian woman was denied water from a public well on the pretext that the water was not for Christians, and that Christians should dig their own well. Two Christian families were evicted from their rented properties following intimidation on their landlords by Bajrang Dal.

AFC’s Rev. Chellappan said allegations by the extremists were all false, explaining, “We do not talk about other people’s religion nor teach people to talk ill against any other faith.” He added that tensions still prevailed in the area, and as only about six Christian families live there, he fears more attacks.

As persecution continues and given the ban on house prayer meetings and restrictions on using the public well, Rev. Chellappan asked for prayers for the safety of the people, for justice, and God’s intervention and protection.

Please also consider writing a letter or email to the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, asking her to protect the rights of minority communities and protect churches, as she takes action against all perpetrators of violence. (See sample letter below)

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? … For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His shelter, in the secrecy of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me up on a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies, my encirclers; and I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing; yea, I will sing praises to Jehovah.” (Psalm 27:1, 5–6 MKJV)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You, our Lord and God, reigns supreme over all! Yes, Lord, with You as our Light and our Salvation, whom shall we fear?

Father, we come before You united in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ in New Delhi, who are under persecution just for being Christians.

Lord, these humble Christians are being evicted from their homes, denied their rights to draw water from the public well and even banned from holding prayer meetings in their own homes. We ask for Your right hand of protection to be extended to cover them and keep them safe and secure.

We pray, Lord, that the Peace of Jesus will now reign in their lives and in their community, such that once again they can return to doing Your works unfettered. We pray, Lord, that You will strengthen the faith of this Christian community amid the onslaught of the enemy, that they may stand, and not waver.

Finally, Lord, we pray for those in Bajrang Dal and others who persecute them, that Your Holy Spirit will fall heavily on them all now, bringing them all to Christ.

O Lord, let this incident will become a great testimony for You and Your Church in India and around the world.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen and amen and amen.

Sample letter:

Email: cmdelhi@nic.in

­­

ATTN: Smt. Sheila Dikshit

Chief Minister of Delhi

3 Motilal Nehru Marg

New Delhi 110011

Your Excellency

As a concerned Christian, I write to your good self to appeal for the safeguard of the rights of the minority communities in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

I ask that you provide protection to Christian churches against attacks and to take immediate action against the perpetrators of violence in your communities.

In particular, I refer to the March 12th and 13th attacks on Christian house prayer meetings of the Apostolic Faith Church in Kalkaji. In the attacks, some 30 armed extremists, allegedly from the Bajrang Dal, threatened the attendees with dire consequence if they met for prayer meetings in the future. The police then arrested the pastor-in-charge after accusations by the extremists.

As you are aware, such attacks are unconstitutional. It was therefore very surprising that when the victims visited the police station two days later and talked to the Station House Officer in charge about the incident, they discovered that the police had not even recorded any First Information Report (FIR).

Madam, as the Chief Minister of Delhi, we place this in your capable hands for justice and for action.

Yours sincerely

The trial of seven men accused of the murder of Sister Valsa John Malamel in November began on Tuesday 6 March, even as new arrests were being made.

According to several witnesses, on the night of 15 November 2011, a mob of about 40 men armed with primitive weapons killed Sister Valsa at a house in Pachwara village in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.

For the last 12 years, Sister Valsa had been working among the Santhal Adivasis in the coal-rich region of Dumka. Adivasis are descendants of the original inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent, and are typically poor and often oppressed. Santhals are the largest Adivasi community in India and mainly live in the northeast part of the subcontinent. Sister Valsa focused on mobilizing these villagers against the mining of coal in the area.

A few days after her murder, police arrested seven men from Pachwara village and neighbouring Alubera village for their alleged involvement. Sajal Kumar Ghosh, a lawyer for the seven men, says his clients are innocent. Two of the seven have been granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court. The other five still in jail are Pycil Hembrom, son of the local tribal chief, and Adwin Murmu, a local college student. Murmu has also been accused of raping Sister Valsa’s friend Surajmuni Hembrom a week before the murder, a charge which he denies.

Jharkhand state police filed formal charges against the seven men at the civil court in Pakur district on 16 February. The charges include murder, house trespassing and being members of the banned Maoist rebel movement. The punishment in India for murder is either life imprisonment or execution.

According to Ghosh, the trial will include a formal examination of witnesses as well as material and circumstantial evidence. The trial will reportedly last for at least six months. Mayur Patel Kanaiyalal, superintendent of police for Pakur district, says the murder investigation is continuing.

In recent days, six more men from Pachwara and neighbouring villages have been arrested. Police say they are still looking for about 25 men allegedly involved in the murder. “We will continue the investigation and file the additional charge sheets as we make more arrests and as the new facts emerge,” says Kanaiyalal.

Police are also exploring the possible involvement of PANEM Coal Mines Ltd., a company that has mining operations near Pachwara. Sister Valsa had organized villagers against PANEM and launched an anti-mining movement in 2002. After an agreement with the company in 2006 that allowed it to mine in the area in return for several benefits for villagers, Sister Valsa had overseen the agreement’s implementation.

Sister Valsa’s friends and several villagers in Pachwara say that a few months before her murder, she was becoming increasingly critical of the company for what she saw as its failure to abide by the agreement’s terms. The company has denied any involvement in the murder of Sister Valsa.

HOME GROUP PRAYER

“The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. … for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.” (Psalms 37:14–15, 17 NIV)

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for martyrs like Sister Valsa who can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil, because she knows You are with her, and that she was serving You, and now she is with You as Your good and faithful servant. Lord, we pray You continue to touch many hearts among the poor in India she served so selflessly as they remember a life lived for You, and lived for them with whom she shared Your love freely and abundantly. Lord, we also pray for the men responsible for Sister Valsa’s death, that they may be convicted by the Holy Spirit, repent and come to know You, that no one is beyond your forgiveness, mercy and love who seeks You sincerely and with a contrite heart. And we pray for India, Lord, that the seeds that Sister Valsa and Your other brave servants have planted and continue to plant may blossom forth with a bounteous harvest of saved souls, followers and disciples. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.