Nigeria is currently experiencing a great spiritual upheaveal and unrest . There has been much violence erupting against Christians, and some counter violence against Muslims occurring on several fronts. Churches have been burned, many people killed and there is a great stirring up by political forces against religious minorities. Many factors have combined to create this hostile environment, one of them being the fall out from the danish cartoons that have incited Muslims to recent violence across several nations.
Quoted from CSW
"... Sources in northern Nigeria report that at least 30 churches and 250 shops and houses were destroyed in Borno State, when a peaceful protest in the capital city Maiduguri turned violent and a crowd armed with sticks, machetes and iron bars rampaged through the town destroying Christian properties and targeting members of the clergy..."
http://www.csw.org.uk/latestnews/article.php?id=480
However this is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are other factors that have created this volatile situation, many groups have been working long and hard to turn the nation of Nigeria into an Islamic nation.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide has informed us that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have designated 1 March as a day of prayer for Nigeria.
Remember this nation and pray for it's people and the breaking down of those strongholds that have set itself against the Kingdom of the most high God on March 01/2006!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (New King James Version)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Seoul Wailing Prayer Vigil - North Korea (02/28-03/01)
Please pray for God's spirit and power to fall upon and ignite all the participants of this prayer vigil being held for the North Korean people and His church...
http://www.kccnk.org/Eng/index.html?PHPSESSID=9da3bc75a3380f4e73
"... On February 28 - March 1, 2006, KCC will be hosting the Seoul Wailing Prayer. This spectacular event will be held at the Youngnak Presbytarian Church in Seoul, Korea, and an attendance of approximately 26,000 attendees is expected. This event is expected to be the largest gatherings of Korean pastors (total 6,000 pastors expected - 5,000 from Korea and 1,000 from outside Korea) from all over the world for North Korea freedom, and will feature many prominent speakers and experts on the North Korean issue. We will be honored by your presence, as well as that of your congregation, or any other interested person will be greatly appreciated. Won’t you please join us, and be part of this historic event?..."
http://www.kccnk.org/Eng/index.html?PHPSESSID=9da3bc75a3380f4e73
"... On February 28 - March 1, 2006, KCC will be hosting the Seoul Wailing Prayer. This spectacular event will be held at the Youngnak Presbytarian Church in Seoul, Korea, and an attendance of approximately 26,000 attendees is expected. This event is expected to be the largest gatherings of Korean pastors (total 6,000 pastors expected - 5,000 from Korea and 1,000 from outside Korea) from all over the world for North Korea freedom, and will feature many prominent speakers and experts on the North Korean issue. We will be honored by your presence, as well as that of your congregation, or any other interested person will be greatly appreciated. Won’t you please join us, and be part of this historic event?..."
Prayer events for North Korea
Monday, February 27, 2006
NEW INTERNATIONAL INTER-AGENCY WEBSITE FOR NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
NEW MALDEN, SURREY, UK (ANS) -- Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a British human rights organization specializing in religious freedom, has announced that a new website dedicated to mobilizing and facilitating prayer for North Korea is being launched on Tuesday, February 28.
The website, http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/, has been launched as part of the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea which will run from June 19-25, 2006. The week is an inter-agency initiative designed to focus the worldwide Church's attention on the need to pray for the desperate plight of the country's 22 million people.
“North Korea has long been shrouded in secrecy, masking it from the interest and prayers of the outside world,” said CSW's International Advocate, Elizabeth Batha, who has pioneered the Global Week of Prayer, “but in recent years information on the terrible oppression, statewide enforced idolatry and utterly brutal persecution of the Christians has become available to all. The level of brutality and the suppression of the gospel should make this a key prayer focus for the worldwide Church. The Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is a call for all of us to recognize and respond to the seriousness of this situation.
”Numerous resources have been created and made accessible through the website to enable prayer and facilitate the running of meetings. These include a video and self-running PowerPoint presentation, as well as a plethora of written materials to enable even those with no previous knowledge to run a prayer meeting for North Korea.
GLOBAL SCALE
A CSW spokesperson said, “The scale of the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is reflected in the agencies that are participating, including agencies with millions and tens of millions in their memberships, such as the National Association of Evangelicals (US) and World Assemblies of God. Large Korean church umbrella bodies are also participating. The Human Rights Committee of the Christian Council of Korea, the representative body of the majority of the South Korean Churches, is a participating organization as are the large Korean American Church Coalition and the Korean Church Association in the UK. Other agencies, such as the North Korea Freedom Coalition, Open Doors, and Release International are on board, and media such as God TV and Premier Christian Radio are supporting the Week.
HISTORIC EVENT
“The website is launched to coincide with a historic prayer vigil taking place in Seoul from February 28 to March 1. The organizers, the Korean Church Coalition, are anticipating that the Seoul Wailing Prayer Meeting will be the largest international gathering of Korean and non-Korean pastors worldwide to pray for North Korean freedom. They estimate 5,000 pastors from Korea and 1,000 pastors from elsewhere will be participating with a total attendance of approximately 26,000 believers.” (For more information visit http://www.kccnk.org/).
CSW's Elizabeth Batha will be addressing the event and encouraging all participants to engage in the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea and to take up the prayer, advocacy and aid dimensions of the week.
GETTING INVOLVED
“Churches and agencies are encouraged to adopt the focus in their meetings and publications during that week, to use the resources in Sunday meetings, to encourage prayer meetings and fellowship meetings to follow the focus and even to organize local or regional meetings with others,” said the CSW spokesperson. “Meetings and peaceful protests are already planned in several major cities across the world, including London, Washington and Seoul.
“Believers are also encouraged to adopt the week of prayer as a focus, to encourage services and meetings to include the focus and to get involved in other ways. Alongside prayer, the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea will carry advocacy and aid dimensions, encouraging believers to use their voices to speak out for those suffering under the dire oppression and to donate to help North Koreans, including those who flee the repression and misery only to encounter further suffering at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
”The website http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/ is designed as a key vehicle to facilitate all these activities.
“We believe North Korea deserves to be high on the worldwide Church's agenda and that, as awareness rises, believers all over the world will feel moved to pray against this idolatry,” said Elizabeth Batha, “Even the word for God is banned and most Christians have been killed or sent to the gulag. Ninety-nine years ago North Korea was a centre for revival and many of the mega churches in South Korea that are looked to as examples of church growth around the world were planted by those fleeing from North Korea. Now is the time to raise up a concert of prayer that will see that blessing flood back into North Korea. We urge all believers to get on board, to participate in the Week and to visit the new website to see how they can get involved.”
For more information, please visit http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/, e-mail admin@prayfornorthkorea.org / mary@csw.org.uk or call Christian Solidarity Worldwide at 020 8329 0048
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
NOTES TO EDITORS SUPPLIED BY CSW:
BREAKING THE SILENCE
Behind the wall of silence in North Korea, the Communist regime has sought to decimate the Church and repression of Christianity has been ruthless and thorough.
The isolation of North Korea has enabled the leaders to brainwash the population and teach them unquestioning obedience to their authority. Kim Il Sung (the “Great Leader”) and his son, Kim Jong Il (the “Dear Leader”) have instituted a personality cult in which they are worshipped. No belief in a higher authority is tolerated and being a Christian is viewed as one of the most serious crimes.
HORRIFIC PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
Before the Communist regime was installed, the North was a centre of revival and Pyongyang was known as the Jerusalem of the East. Most Christians fled to the South during the Korean War, or were martyred. Kim Il Sung, the “Great Leader”, ordered that three generations of a Christian's family must be eliminated. A few believers have managed to hold on to their faith despite the horrific persecution. Many Christians have been publicly executed and others have been taken away to camps where they are subject to barbaric abuse and treated as sub-human. They will never be allowed out of the camps, alive or dead, and are worked to death in brutal conditions and terrible deprivation. Christians suffer especially cruel treatment in these death camps as they are under ongoing pressure to renounce their faith. They are subject to frequent torture and abuse and are also forced to do the most grueling and dangerous work, both by guards, as punishment, and by fellow prisoners, who despise their faith as insanity. The persecution of Christians i n North Korea may be the worst anywhere in the world.
SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
As the Church worldwide lifts up North Korea in prayer, it will join with many South Koreans who have been praying earnestly for their brothers and sisters in the North for many years. Pastor Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world, has endorsed the call to prayer, stating: "We have been praying fervently for North Korea for many decades now, specifically praying for the peaceful unification of the two Koreas. We have many young pastors preparing for the ministry who are planning to enter North Korea when this door is open. It would be deeply appreciated if you would join us in prayer for North Korea. God is not willing that any should perish without Him.
"North Koreans are immensely open to the gospel. Those who flee the country often accept Jesus with open hearts. They have been trained to such a level of obedience in North Korea that they can quickly become devoted disciples, even ready to face death for their faith.
CHINA
Although North Korea forbids its citizens to leave the country without permission and punishes those who do, significant numbers have fled over the border into China, which they consider a comparatively free and prosperous country. However, even there, they face grave danger, exploitation, bride-selling and, if caught, repatriation to brutal treatment in North Korea. Those repatriated are cross-examined about whether they have come into contact with Christians or become Christians. Those discovered to have done so are singled out for the harshest punishment, including execution or imprisonment.
Note: Dan Wooding is one of the few Christian journalists ever allowed into North Korea to report from there.
- story reported by -
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: http://www.assistnews.net/ -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
** Posted with permission ***
NEW INTERNATIONAL INTER-AGENCY WEBSITE FOR NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
NEW MALDEN, SURREY, UK (ANS) -- Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a British human rights organization specializing in religious freedom, has announced that a new website dedicated to mobilizing and facilitating prayer for North Korea is being launched on Tuesday, February 28.
The website, http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/, has been launched as part of the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea which will run from June 19-25, 2006. The week is an inter-agency initiative designed to focus the worldwide Church's attention on the need to pray for the desperate plight of the country's 22 million people.
“North Korea has long been shrouded in secrecy, masking it from the interest and prayers of the outside world,” said CSW's International Advocate, Elizabeth Batha, who has pioneered the Global Week of Prayer, “but in recent years information on the terrible oppression, statewide enforced idolatry and utterly brutal persecution of the Christians has become available to all. The level of brutality and the suppression of the gospel should make this a key prayer focus for the worldwide Church. The Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is a call for all of us to recognize and respond to the seriousness of this situation.
”Numerous resources have been created and made accessible through the website to enable prayer and facilitate the running of meetings. These include a video and self-running PowerPoint presentation, as well as a plethora of written materials to enable even those with no previous knowledge to run a prayer meeting for North Korea.
GLOBAL SCALE
A CSW spokesperson said, “The scale of the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is reflected in the agencies that are participating, including agencies with millions and tens of millions in their memberships, such as the National Association of Evangelicals (US) and World Assemblies of God. Large Korean church umbrella bodies are also participating. The Human Rights Committee of the Christian Council of Korea, the representative body of the majority of the South Korean Churches, is a participating organization as are the large Korean American Church Coalition and the Korean Church Association in the UK. Other agencies, such as the North Korea Freedom Coalition, Open Doors, and Release International are on board, and media such as God TV and Premier Christian Radio are supporting the Week.
HISTORIC EVENT
“The website is launched to coincide with a historic prayer vigil taking place in Seoul from February 28 to March 1. The organizers, the Korean Church Coalition, are anticipating that the Seoul Wailing Prayer Meeting will be the largest international gathering of Korean and non-Korean pastors worldwide to pray for North Korean freedom. They estimate 5,000 pastors from Korea and 1,000 pastors from elsewhere will be participating with a total attendance of approximately 26,000 believers.” (For more information visit http://www.kccnk.org/).
CSW's Elizabeth Batha will be addressing the event and encouraging all participants to engage in the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea and to take up the prayer, advocacy and aid dimensions of the week.
GETTING INVOLVED
“Churches and agencies are encouraged to adopt the focus in their meetings and publications during that week, to use the resources in Sunday meetings, to encourage prayer meetings and fellowship meetings to follow the focus and even to organize local or regional meetings with others,” said the CSW spokesperson. “Meetings and peaceful protests are already planned in several major cities across the world, including London, Washington and Seoul.
“Believers are also encouraged to adopt the week of prayer as a focus, to encourage services and meetings to include the focus and to get involved in other ways. Alongside prayer, the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea will carry advocacy and aid dimensions, encouraging believers to use their voices to speak out for those suffering under the dire oppression and to donate to help North Koreans, including those who flee the repression and misery only to encounter further suffering at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
”The website http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/ is designed as a key vehicle to facilitate all these activities.
“We believe North Korea deserves to be high on the worldwide Church's agenda and that, as awareness rises, believers all over the world will feel moved to pray against this idolatry,” said Elizabeth Batha, “Even the word for God is banned and most Christians have been killed or sent to the gulag. Ninety-nine years ago North Korea was a centre for revival and many of the mega churches in South Korea that are looked to as examples of church growth around the world were planted by those fleeing from North Korea. Now is the time to raise up a concert of prayer that will see that blessing flood back into North Korea. We urge all believers to get on board, to participate in the Week and to visit the new website to see how they can get involved.”
For more information, please visit http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/, e-mail admin@prayfornorthkorea.org / mary@csw.org.uk or call Christian Solidarity Worldwide at 020 8329 0048
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
NOTES TO EDITORS SUPPLIED BY CSW:
BREAKING THE SILENCE
Behind the wall of silence in North Korea, the Communist regime has sought to decimate the Church and repression of Christianity has been ruthless and thorough.
The isolation of North Korea has enabled the leaders to brainwash the population and teach them unquestioning obedience to their authority. Kim Il Sung (the “Great Leader”) and his son, Kim Jong Il (the “Dear Leader”) have instituted a personality cult in which they are worshipped. No belief in a higher authority is tolerated and being a Christian is viewed as one of the most serious crimes.
HORRIFIC PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
Before the Communist regime was installed, the North was a centre of revival and Pyongyang was known as the Jerusalem of the East. Most Christians fled to the South during the Korean War, or were martyred. Kim Il Sung, the “Great Leader”, ordered that three generations of a Christian's family must be eliminated. A few believers have managed to hold on to their faith despite the horrific persecution. Many Christians have been publicly executed and others have been taken away to camps where they are subject to barbaric abuse and treated as sub-human. They will never be allowed out of the camps, alive or dead, and are worked to death in brutal conditions and terrible deprivation. Christians suffer especially cruel treatment in these death camps as they are under ongoing pressure to renounce their faith. They are subject to frequent torture and abuse and are also forced to do the most grueling and dangerous work, both by guards, as punishment, and by fellow prisoners, who despise their faith as insanity. The persecution of Christians i n North Korea may be the worst anywhere in the world.
SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
As the Church worldwide lifts up North Korea in prayer, it will join with many South Koreans who have been praying earnestly for their brothers and sisters in the North for many years. Pastor Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the largest church in the world, has endorsed the call to prayer, stating: "We have been praying fervently for North Korea for many decades now, specifically praying for the peaceful unification of the two Koreas. We have many young pastors preparing for the ministry who are planning to enter North Korea when this door is open. It would be deeply appreciated if you would join us in prayer for North Korea. God is not willing that any should perish without Him.
"North Koreans are immensely open to the gospel. Those who flee the country often accept Jesus with open hearts. They have been trained to such a level of obedience in North Korea that they can quickly become devoted disciples, even ready to face death for their faith.
CHINA
Although North Korea forbids its citizens to leave the country without permission and punishes those who do, significant numbers have fled over the border into China, which they consider a comparatively free and prosperous country. However, even there, they face grave danger, exploitation, bride-selling and, if caught, repatriation to brutal treatment in North Korea. Those repatriated are cross-examined about whether they have come into contact with Christians or become Christians. Those discovered to have done so are singled out for the harshest punishment, including execution or imprisonment.
Note: Dan Wooding is one of the few Christian journalists ever allowed into North Korea to report from there.
- story reported by -
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA Visit our web site at: http://www.assistnews.net/ -- E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com
** Posted with permission ***
Pakistan's blasphemy laws - tools for misuse
In many countries blasphemy laws are being misused and are frequently tools for personal vengence, and silencing christians. In Pakistan the law requires the testimony of only one Muslim against the accused. Without the legal need for any witnesses, innocent Christians are increasingly falling victems to vicious slander and being wrongly imprisoned based on the false testimony of disgruntled neighbors, and radical extremists. A call for reform of these laws by the government was abandoned due to fear and intimidation tactics from high profile islamic organizations. This is a growing trend in many islamic countries.
Hindu Festival Threatens Indian Christians
I wanted to update you on the outcome of this festival. God is good AND He does provide spiritual protection and answer the prayers of His saints, even in these times of great spiritual upheaval... Please continue to pray that there will be no residual violence emerging from those who attended the hindu festival.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
HINDU EXTREMISTS SPREAD HATE; CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE FESTIVAL OF JOY
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-Mail: JerryD@odusa.org
Web Site: www.opendoorsusa.org
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- Organizers and local sources estimated that 300,000 Hindus converged on the Dangs region of Gujarat state in India during a three-day rally that began on February 11, although the government figure stands at 160,000 people.
The rally was designed by extremists “to trigger the return of thousands of Christian vanvasi [forest-dwelling] converts back to the Hindu fold.” At the same time, many of the area’s Christians attended an annual three-day Christian worship event.
The three-day Shabri Kumbh, or “Hindu Re-Awakening,” was organized by Hindu extremist groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council). The rally started amidst shouting of militant Hindu slogans such as, “Only those people will rule this country who talk about favoring Hindus.”
Participants listened to speakers, including Hindu religious leaders, espousing the “one nation based on one culture” theory as propagated by the extremists groups. Speakers accused Christians in general and Christian missionaries in particular of inducing Adivasis (tribal, sub-caste Indians) to convert and advised them to stay away from Dangs. Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, among others, spoke openly against Christians and vowed to prevent the conversion of tribals to Christianity. Modi said that he saw nothing wrong in extending state help to prevent conversions of tribals and to facilitate “reconversions” -- even though tribals are historically animists, not Hindus.
As religious ceremonies continued throughout the first day, participants grumbled at the lack of proper sanitation and other basic facilities, noise levels and dust. At the same time, the organizers credited themselves for successfully planning the massive gathering in one of the least developed areas in the country.
Many of the bookstalls at the festival selling literature promoting Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ideology were also seen selling provocative material targeting Christian missionaries. One bookstall also sold books glorifying the anti-Muslim Gujarat riots which caused the massacre of thousands of Muslims at the hands of frenzied Hindu mobs.
Having attracted attention from the international community, the organizers were unable to carry out assaults on Christian tribals, missionaries, churches and Christian institutions in the Dangs region on the first day. The situation continued to be sensitive, however, as more Hindus gathered on the second and the third days.
Festival of Joy
The threat of reconversions and violence was not enough to dampen the spirit of celebration of many local Christians as they gathered February 10 for a three-day Joy Mahotsav (Festival of Joy).
The Festival of Joy is an annual event in the area bringing in more than 25,000 local Christians participants from the Dangs and the surrounding areas. It is organized by Joy Ministries, headed by the Rev. Vijay Gavit from Khodtalav village, Taluka Vyara, District Surat.
This year, the threat of the Hindu rally loomed large over the preparation of the festival. Still, more than 10,000 local Christians attended the first day.
Political leaders and senior Christian leaders from the area were present on the stage, in addition to the main speaker, the Rev. Suresh Babu, and the worship team. The event also showcased prominent Christian artists from Mumbai especially invited to minister with songs of worship during the event.
As local Christians traveled to the venue for the Festival of Joy, they met thousands of VHP and RSS supporters on their way to the Hindu rally. Still, peace was maintained and no clashes were reported.
Police fortified the rally site at Subir, Dangs, even as Suresh Kulkarni, the joint general secretary of the Shabri Kumbh Samiti (organizing committee), released a press statement assuring the authorities and the media that “there will be no reconversions or any law and order problem and that peace will prevail.”
The police presence at the Festival of Joy, however, was limited to 15 men and a police van to cater to the needs of more than 10,000 Christians. As the evening progressed, many policemen could be seen raising their hands in worship as they prayed along with the local Christians for healing and deliverance.
The local Member of Parliament, Mr. Tusshar Choudhary, openly proclaimed his commitment to the Christian community, saying that if anyone tries to harm even a single Christian Adivasi in the area, they would first have to deal with him. He also said that the Christian Adivasis and the other Adivasis were being manipulated to fight against each other by the Hindutva BJP Party and their allies.
He asked the Christian community for prayer for strength as he worked to eliminate the influential powers trying to destroy the area. He began his speech with a loud cry of “Praise the Lord,” and ended it with “Jai Yeshu!” (Victory belongs to the Lord Jesus). Choudhary is not a professing Christian but a Hindu.
Other political leaders, including the Member of Legislative Assembly, echoed similar sentiments as they pointed out the positive changes brought to the area by the gospel of Jesus Christ. After tribals embrace Christianity, they said, the power of Jesus makes them into ideal citizens and good human beings.
“We need to pray for Christians caught in the volatile situation in India,” says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. “The Hindu extremists want to intimidate Christians, so pray that Christians there will stand strong in their faith.”
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
HINDU EXTREMISTS SPREAD HATE; CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE FESTIVAL OF JOY
OPEN DOORS USA
Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Coordinator
Phone: 616-915-4117
E-Mail: JerryD@odusa.org
Web Site: www.opendoorsusa.org
SANTA ANA, CA (ANS) -- Organizers and local sources estimated that 300,000 Hindus converged on the Dangs region of Gujarat state in India during a three-day rally that began on February 11, although the government figure stands at 160,000 people.
The rally was designed by extremists “to trigger the return of thousands of Christian vanvasi [forest-dwelling] converts back to the Hindu fold.” At the same time, many of the area’s Christians attended an annual three-day Christian worship event.
The three-day Shabri Kumbh, or “Hindu Re-Awakening,” was organized by Hindu extremist groups, including the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council). The rally started amidst shouting of militant Hindu slogans such as, “Only those people will rule this country who talk about favoring Hindus.”
Participants listened to speakers, including Hindu religious leaders, espousing the “one nation based on one culture” theory as propagated by the extremists groups. Speakers accused Christians in general and Christian missionaries in particular of inducing Adivasis (tribal, sub-caste Indians) to convert and advised them to stay away from Dangs. Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, among others, spoke openly against Christians and vowed to prevent the conversion of tribals to Christianity. Modi said that he saw nothing wrong in extending state help to prevent conversions of tribals and to facilitate “reconversions” -- even though tribals are historically animists, not Hindus.
As religious ceremonies continued throughout the first day, participants grumbled at the lack of proper sanitation and other basic facilities, noise levels and dust. At the same time, the organizers credited themselves for successfully planning the massive gathering in one of the least developed areas in the country.
Many of the bookstalls at the festival selling literature promoting Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ideology were also seen selling provocative material targeting Christian missionaries. One bookstall also sold books glorifying the anti-Muslim Gujarat riots which caused the massacre of thousands of Muslims at the hands of frenzied Hindu mobs.
Having attracted attention from the international community, the organizers were unable to carry out assaults on Christian tribals, missionaries, churches and Christian institutions in the Dangs region on the first day. The situation continued to be sensitive, however, as more Hindus gathered on the second and the third days.
Festival of Joy
The threat of reconversions and violence was not enough to dampen the spirit of celebration of many local Christians as they gathered February 10 for a three-day Joy Mahotsav (Festival of Joy).
The Festival of Joy is an annual event in the area bringing in more than 25,000 local Christians participants from the Dangs and the surrounding areas. It is organized by Joy Ministries, headed by the Rev. Vijay Gavit from Khodtalav village, Taluka Vyara, District Surat.
This year, the threat of the Hindu rally loomed large over the preparation of the festival. Still, more than 10,000 local Christians attended the first day.
Political leaders and senior Christian leaders from the area were present on the stage, in addition to the main speaker, the Rev. Suresh Babu, and the worship team. The event also showcased prominent Christian artists from Mumbai especially invited to minister with songs of worship during the event.
As local Christians traveled to the venue for the Festival of Joy, they met thousands of VHP and RSS supporters on their way to the Hindu rally. Still, peace was maintained and no clashes were reported.
Police fortified the rally site at Subir, Dangs, even as Suresh Kulkarni, the joint general secretary of the Shabri Kumbh Samiti (organizing committee), released a press statement assuring the authorities and the media that “there will be no reconversions or any law and order problem and that peace will prevail.”
The police presence at the Festival of Joy, however, was limited to 15 men and a police van to cater to the needs of more than 10,000 Christians. As the evening progressed, many policemen could be seen raising their hands in worship as they prayed along with the local Christians for healing and deliverance.
The local Member of Parliament, Mr. Tusshar Choudhary, openly proclaimed his commitment to the Christian community, saying that if anyone tries to harm even a single Christian Adivasi in the area, they would first have to deal with him. He also said that the Christian Adivasis and the other Adivasis were being manipulated to fight against each other by the Hindutva BJP Party and their allies.
He asked the Christian community for prayer for strength as he worked to eliminate the influential powers trying to destroy the area. He began his speech with a loud cry of “Praise the Lord,” and ended it with “Jai Yeshu!” (Victory belongs to the Lord Jesus). Choudhary is not a professing Christian but a Hindu.
Other political leaders, including the Member of Legislative Assembly, echoed similar sentiments as they pointed out the positive changes brought to the area by the gospel of Jesus Christ. After tribals embrace Christianity, they said, the power of Jesus makes them into ideal citizens and good human beings.
“We need to pray for Christians caught in the volatile situation in India,” says Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller. “The Hindu extremists want to intimidate Christians, so pray that Christians there will stand strong in their faith.”
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