Opposition Heats Up, Believers Denied Water
June 16, 2011
Christians in one South Asian village are desperately trying to bear persecution hurled their way by their unbelieving neighbors. On March 18 the believers were having a home prayer meeting when a man named Kushal Mehta vandalized the roof on the house while the Christians were still inside. He then stormed inside and broke many items there.
The believers didn't say anything to him, but when they came out of the house, they saw he had defaced property outside as well. To prevent Kushal from escaping without legal consequences, they detained him.
The head of the village came to assess the situation and take responsibility for punishing Kushal. In the sight of multiple pastors, the village leader decided Kushal's judgment would occur the next day. However, the next day came and no hearing occurred. The village leader said he would set a day for the final verdict at a later time.
As the village leader delayed bringing Kushal to justice, a second village official, Shoorsen Singh, also ignored the issue. Shoorsen previously said he wanted to kill all the Christians and destroy their homes.
As the days went on, the malicious opposition escalated. A few days after the first incident, a Christian lady was walking home from a nearby well in the village when someone snatched her water pot and left it in the middle of the road to be shattered. The perpetrator warned the believer not to draw any water from the well.
News spread throughout the community that Christians should not draw water from the wells. Later that same day, Kushal's son Sameen broke a believer's water pot.
Out of 65 families in the village, only eight follow Jesus. The non-Christian majority will not even allow the believers to take water from a dirty pond in the village.
This is not the first time the extremists have tried to deny the Christians water, one of their basic life necessities. A previous village leader—a man who wanted to demolish the home of his own brother, who is a Christian—had forbidden the believers from drawing water from seven wells in the village.
The eight families here desire prayer that God will open the hearts and minds of those who are persecuting them. Also, please pray the Lord will protect these Christians, help them to stand firm spiritually and give them His peace and joy.
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