Chandrakar was raised in a Hindu family. Growing up in North Central India, he thought Christianity was foreign and strange. That is, until he received a copy of the New Testament and began to read it. He found Revelation 21:8: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
Overwhelmed by the list of sins mentioned in the verse, he sought counsel from a pastor. Chandrakar repented from his sins and accepted the Lord as his Savior. Chandrakar became a pastor himself, and he and his wife started a prayer ministry to reach remote villages in India.
A mob attacks
One day, the couple visited the home of a few fellow believers. They began singing hymns together as they prepared their lunch. Suddenly, a mob barged into their home, demanding to know what was happening. When Chandrakar tried to speak to them, the men became violent. They stole his phone, shoved his wife to the ground, and began beating Chandrakar. They forced each of the Christians into their car and drove away, shouting insults as they went.
The kidnappers took the believers to the police station where they were imprisoned on conversion charges. But instead of despairing, Chandrakar thought of Christ’s suffering.
“A peace filled my heart, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit strongly,” he said. “We were surrounded by dangerous criminals who wanted to know why we had been put in jail. We shared the Gospel with twenty inmates who were eager to listen to us.”
When the jailer heard them preaching the Gospel, he warned them to be silent. They refused. The jailer began to beat them in retaliation.
“The joy of being able to share the Gospel was so great that we did not feel any pain in the beatings,” the pastor arrested in India said. When the Christians returned to their cell, their fellow inmates asked them to pray.
Meanwhile, in a separate cell, Chandrakar’s wife was frightened, but she found comfort in remembering stories from the Bible.
“I thought often of how the crows fed Elijah at God’s command,” she said. “One morning, I heard a crow loudly cawing outside my cell. That evening, we were told we were being released on bail.”
The pastor arrested in India is freed
After seven days, the Christians were released. However, they have not been able to return home. Chandrakar’s son has had to leave his school, and the pastor remains unable to visit his places of ministry. Their case is still ongoing.
Still, he remembers fondly the warm welcome he and his friends received from fellow Christians after their week in jail.
“The joyous welcome erased all the pain and suffering we experienced,” he said. “Now we look forward to our welcome in heaven.”
Let’s say a prayer for Chandrakar, the pastor arrested in India, his family and his friends.
Heavenly Father, we lift up Chandrakar and all those persecuted in India for their faith in you. Please allow them to find safe places to live free from harassment and suspicion. Let them return to their churches and continue to spread Your gospel. We pray also that You would protect Chandrakar and those arrested with him in the case against them. Give them strength and comfort. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
*Please note: Chandrakar’s name has been changed to ensure his safety and anonymity.
About the author
Chandler Peterson is a staff writer and editor for Global Christian Relief where she shares stories of Christian persecution. Read the latest Christian persecution stories on our website and learn more at GlobalChristianRelief.org.
