MY ACCOUNT
“When I gave my life to Jesus, I knew it would not be easy, but I never imagined the hatred we would face.”
Somaji*, a pastor in Northern India, converted to Christianity 15 years ago. He has dedicated his life to sharing the story of God’s love for humanity. Somaji oversees several churches in a region hostile to Christianity, which is viewed as an “outsider faith.” The persecuted church in India regularly faces discrimination, harassment, and even violence.
Pastor Somaji has faced relentless persecution from the local village head, known as a “sarpanch,” who perceives the growing Christian presence as a threat to his authority.
The sarpanch even led a mob to disrupt a service at Somaji’s church. The mob shouted that the pastor was “brainwashing” his congregants, pushed him around, overturned benches, and promised further violence if services continued.
Some of the congregants at this persecuted church in India reported being denied access to communal water, having their homes vandalized, and facing social isolation from neighbors.
“The sarpanch threatens my family, my church, and even my life, but I cannot stop sharing the truth,” Somaji says.
But the threats only escalated. The village leaders view owning a BIble as an act of defiance toward local traditions and authority. But Somaji knew that the sarpanch could force him to end his church gatherings, so he began to discreetly distribute Bibles to his Christian brothers and sisters.
Most of them had never owned their own copy of the Bible. The ability to read God’s Word in their own language, at home, empowered them to deepen their faith independently. Families began holding private devotionals. Parents started teaching their children Bible stories, fostering a new generation of believers. Women gathered together, forming Bible studies disguised as sewing circles.
Your generosity provided pastors like Somaji with more than 10,000 Bibles that landed in the hands of believers in Jesus and those who wish to know about Him. Learn more about how the Word of God is spreading across India.
“The Bibles are our strength,” Somaji says. “I see the joy in my people’s eyes when they hold God’s word for the first time. One sister told me she reads Psalm 23 every night to her children, and they no longer fear the village’s anger. Another brother said the book of John showed him Jesus’ love, giving him courage to stand firm.”
Members of this persecuted church in India draw comfort from passages like Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
*Names have been changed as a security precaution.
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