By Allie Martin
April 17, 2006

(AgapePress) - The president of Gospel for Asia says it appears that Hindu militants have declared an all-out war against Christians throughout India. Recently across that country, Christians have been falsely accused of crimes, arrested, and beaten -- all for witnessing to Hindus.

Dr. K.P. Yohannan is founder and president of Gospel for Asia, which trains native Indians for missionary work throughout India. He says GFA tells its workers to expect persecution as they serve the Lord.

The persecution and violence being waged against India's Christians is not being carried out or sanctioned by all Hindus but is being perpetrated by "extremists in the Hindu religion, like we have in any religion," Yohannan points out. "They are the ones who are taking the lead like the Taliban," he says.

"But this is not getting easier," the ministry leader continues. "I tell my brothers and sisters, let's not be looking for easy times in the days to come, because persecution is definitely on the increase, and it is in the midst of persecution and suffering that we are going to see the kingdom's work done."

Earlier this month, the government of Rajasthan became the sixth state in India to enact an anti-conversion law. In other states with such legislation, Christians have been targeted for attacks by Hindu extremists.

Nevertheless, Yohannan notes, Christians in India are standing strong, and the increased persecution has only increased the effectiveness of the church's witness across the country. "We have more people coming to Christ now," he says, "especially in places where the worst persecution is taking place."

How this is to be explained, GFA's president confesses, is a mystery. "I don't understand it," he says, "but Jesus said He will build his church. We are suffering for it, but God is faithfully doing His work."

As the persecution against followers of Christ intensifies in India, Yohannan urges prayer. He asks believers in the United States and elsewhere in the free world to pray for Christians facing violence and intimidation from Hindu extremists in India and for believers facing persecution throughout the world.

Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.

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