Category: News affecting the Church

Church Members in India Fear Attending Worship after Assault

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Morning Star News

NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – Hindu extremists in central India on June 8 ransacked a church’s worship building, burned Bibles and assaulted every member, causing one to lose consciousness, sources said.

In Chhattisgarh state’s Dhamtari District, the Hindu nationalists attacked during the independent Penial Prayer Fellowship’s worship service in Borsi village, said Pastor Wakish Sahu, who leads the church along with his 57-year-old father, Mannohan Sahu.

“They forcibly entered the church, disrupted the worship service and were carrying wooden rods and shouting slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’ [Hail lord Rama],” Pastor Wakish Sahu told Morning Star News.

Threatening the Christians, the attackers told them to stop gathering for worship, he said. They broke all chairs, fans and musical instruments, then collected all Christian literature along with the Bibles and burned them.

Taking hold of Pastor Mannohan Sahu, they beat him with wooden rods, slapped his face repeatedly, struck his head with wooden sticks and kicked him, Pastor Wakish Sahu said.

“My father was being beaten up, and during this time blows landed near his ear, and he lost his consciousness,” he said. “The assaulters, probably scared that he was dead or going to die from the beating, called for a glass of water and forced it in his mouth.”

Pastor Mannohan Sahu sustained injuries over all his body, especially on the head, ear, chest, hands and back.

The assailants beat all 15 members present that day, including Pastor Wakish Sahu’s mother when she tried to intervene and save her husband; her hands and head were injured in the process.

“Two women and five men sustained severe injuries and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment,” said Pastor Wakish Sahu.

Only five to seven of the assailants were from the village, the others being outsiders the pastor said he “had never seen before.”

Pastor Wakish Sahu registered a detailed complaint at the Maganlodh police station, but officers did not register a formal complaint as they indicated they would investigate first. At this writing, however, no formal complaint has been registered.

“Since the attack, the believers have stopped coming for worship as they are too scared, and understandably so; but our family members, around 10 of us, still worship at the same time,” Pastor Wakish Sahu said. “We have decided that we will not give in to fear.”

Under the Hindu Radar

This was not the first time the church has been attacked.

A mob of Hindu extremists in June 2024 attacked his church in a similar way, threatening all those present and telling them to stop attending worship services, the pastor said.

“Since then, our congregation of close to 50 people had reduced to 15, and since the latest attack, nobody [outside his family] is coming to church for fear of being assaulted,” Pastor Wakish Sahu said.

After the attack last year, Dhamtari Christian leaders had submitted a memorandum to authorities, including the District Collector of Dhamtari.

“Police have been patrolling every Sunday since last year,” the pastor said. “They usually come inside to check if any persons from nearby villages are in attendance, because they maintain that only people from our village should be present in our services. They have warned time and again that no one from other villages should be found in our midst.”

During police visits, after confirming attendance they usually take photos before leaving, he added.

Congregation members stopped coming also from fear of being targeted by anti-Christian groups.

“Many of them have told us that they will attend worship in other churches in nearby areas or in the city but are afraid of attending worship services at our church because of fear of violence and the police,” the pastor said. “However, they do not understand that even city churches have not been spared.”

On the morning of June 8, the patrolling police who visited the church again asked if anyone from outside the village was attending and left. When the ensuing assault was underway, officers arrived and told the assailants to leave.

“It was very surprising that the police just told them, ‘It is enough,’ and they all just walked away,” Pastor Wakish Sahu said. “It appears that it was all in the knowledge of the police even before they attacked us.”

When he and other Christian leaders went to submit a formal complaint at the police station, the Hindu extremists were waiting outside to attack them again. The pastor requested police protection, and officers agreed to drop them halfway to their home.

“When the police were driving us back, the Hindu mob was following the police vehicle,” he said. “They came after us for a mile and then took a detour.”

He later learned the Hindu mob following them had gone to another Christian house in the area and vandalized and burned it, he said.

Another congregation in Dhamtari, Elohim Church, endured an intrusion by members of the Hindu nationalist Bajrang Dal on Sunday (June 29), said Pastor Alok Majumdar.

“The Hindu extremists entered the church while the service was going on and disrupted it by loudly singing Hindu religious hymns,” Pastor Majumdar told Morning Star News. “Subsequently, the police arrived and dispersed the Bajrang Dal members.”

Officers took an informal complaint, but it has not yet been formalized. No physical violence or vandalism was reported.

The same day, Hindu extremists disrupted the worship service of another church in the district, located in Gopal Puri about 10 miles from Pastor Majumdar’s church. Its pastor, Thanu Ram, was unavailable to confirm the incident but it was cited by both Pastor Majumdar and Pastor Wakish Sahu.

Before attacking Pastor Majumdar’s church, the same day Hindu extremists went to Pastor Rekha Mahilanh’s church on the way to Majumdar’s church. Extremists found a 21-year-old man outside the building who was attending church for the first time and assaulted him. They then searched for the church pastor. Pastor Mahilanh stepped forward and revealed that she was the pastor, and she and all other women of the church confronted the extremists.

“The Hindu extremists discreetly used some kind of a spray on some of the women,” Pastor Mahilanh told Morning Star News.

In the end, due to the women’s determination, the extremists left and proceeded to Pastor Alok Majumdar’s church.

Pastor Mahilanh did not report the matter to the police.

Pastor Raju Verghese, also in Dhamtari District, Pastor Majumdar and the Rev. Diamond Phillius, president of the Dhamtari Christian Forum, submitted a memorandum to the collector’s office on Tuesday (July 1) highlighting the rise in attacks against area churches and appealing for action.

Pastor Verghese told Morning Star News that the district collector, Avinash Mishra, was busy in a meeting, so he received the memorandum from them and said that he would take it up with them later.

Christian support organization Open Doors ranks India 11th on its 2025 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. India stood at 31st place in 2013 but has steadily fallen in the rankings since Narendra Modi came to power as prime minister.

Religious rights advocates point to the hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which they say has emboldened Hindu extremists in India since Modi took power in May 2014.

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Southern Baptist Convention Calls for Overturn of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling, Reinforces Traditional Christian Teachings

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STAFF/VOLUNTEER

At its recent annual meeting in Dallas, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) approved a resolution asking for the repeal of the 2015 United States Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. The resolution was one of several passed by delegates, each designed to reaffirm conservative Christian beliefs about family, gender, and marriage.

The resolution is titled “On restoring moral clarity through God’s design for gender, marriage, and the family.” It is presented as a theological statement, expressing specific views about the created order, marriage, abortion, fertility, family structure, gender identity, sexual orientation, free speech, and miscarriage. A key part of the resolution urges the rejection of court rulings that deny the biological categories of male and female.

Baptist News Global, a U.S.-based religious news outlet, reported that resolutions passed by the Convention are nonbinding. This means they are statements reflecting the beliefs of those in attendance at a particular meeting, rather than enforceable policies. However, the same report noted that there have been growing calls to treat these resolutions as tools for shaping doctrinal positions and influencing political discussions within the denomination and beyond.

Along with the resolution on same-sex marriage, the Convention also adopted statements addressing other social concerns. These included resolutions on the dangers associated with sports betting, a call to ban pornography, and a declaration against the use of abortion pills.

For Christians, especially within Southern Baptist communities, these resolutions reflect ongoing efforts to maintain traditional teachings about family and moral life. The Convention’s position on these issues continues to influence how churches under its banner address topics related to marriage, sexuality, and personal conduct.

While these resolutions do not hold legal authority, they signal the Convention’s continued commitment to specific interpretations of Christian doctrine. These positions may shape conversations in churches, schools, and other religious settings in Canada, particularly among Christians who share similar theological beliefs.

The SBC has seen a larger movement among conservative Christian groups to respond to changes in legal and cultural attitudes toward gender, marriage, and family.

India: Arunachal Pradesh to Enforce Religious Conversion Law Amid Rising Concerns

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh plan to enforce a decades-old law restricting religious conversions, following a court directive requiring its implementation by March. The Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, passed in 1978, was originally intended to prevent conversions by force or fraudulent means. However, strong opposition from local legislators and Christian organizations had previously prevented the law from being enforced. The recent decision to implement the law has raised concerns among religious groups about potential restrictions on religious freedom.

Christianity has grown significantly in Arunachal Pradesh since the late 1960s, despite past instances of persecution. Between 1968 and 1974, government actions included arrests, destruction of churches, and restrictions on religious gatherings. By the 1970s, Christianity had expanded enough to prompt legal and social opposition, including violent crackdowns and new laws aimed at limiting conversions. Despite these measures, the number of Christians in the state continued to rise, making it one of the largest religious groups in the region today.

The enforcement of the conversion law comes as Hindutva organizations have gained influence in the region. These groups have worked to formalize and promote indigenous faiths, framing them as cultural alternatives to Christianity. Schools, prayer centers, and religious texts have been introduced to reinforce traditional beliefs, and there have been reports of Christian gatherings being disrupted. The government, which had previously considered repealing the law, has now shifted toward enforcing it, in line with the growing influence of nationalist groups.

Legal and religious organizations have raised concerns that the enforcement of the law could lead to renewed restrictions on religious activities. Past incidents in the region have included government scrutiny of religious practices, as well as limitations on the construction of new places of worship. Reports indicate that religious gatherings have already faced opposition in certain areas, suggesting that implementation of the law may result in increased monitoring and regulation of religious activities.

Christian groups in the state are organizing protests and legal challenges in response to the decision. A demonstration is planned for early March, coinciding with discussions on the law in the state assembly. Organizations advocating for religious freedom argue that the enforcement of the law could lead to further restrictions, despite constitutional protections guaranteeing the right to practice and propagate religion. The outcome of these legal and political efforts remains uncertain as the deadline for enforcement approaches.

Police Investigate Church Assault in Sarnia

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

On January 4, 2025, Sarnia police responded to an assault report at a church near Christina Street and London Road shortly before 7 p.m.

A media release from the Sarina Police Service says officers spoke with a 23-year-old man who said he had been praying alone in the church when an unknown individual attacked him. According to the victim, the suspect approached from behind and placed a ligature around his neck in an attempt to strangle him. A struggle followed, during which the victim managed to escape and seek help. He was later treated in hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Police searched the area for the suspect and determined that he had also tried to tamper with a security camera at the church before leaving the scene. Through further investigation, officers identified the suspect as Nicholas Ritonja, a 38-year-old Sarnia resident.

The search for Ritonja extended to surrounding police agencies. Later that evening, at 11:55 p.m., the suspect attempted to surrender at the Ontario Provincial Police station in Point Edward. He was arrested there and transferred to the custody of Sarnia police.

Ritonja has been charged with several offences, including:

Assault Causing Bodily Harm – Choke, Suffocate, or Strangle
Assault with a Weapon
Mischief Under $5,000
Uttering Threats

Police have stated that the motive for this unprovoked attack remains unclear. However, investigators believe that the suspect’s possible use of illegal substances may have contributed to the incident.

Authorities continue to investigate.

Man with bat smashes windows and doors at four US churches

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Four churches in South Carolina have been vandalized this week, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested for allegedly using a baseball bat to smash windows and doors at the churches.

The incident affected four congregations located several kilometres apart. One church representative reported that 20 windows and entrance doors were damaged, with the front doors alone estimated to cost around $40,000 to repair.

The suspect is currently in custody with a bond set at over $100,000.

While the churches plan to enhance their security measures, they intend to continue holding regular services. Some church leaders are curious about the motivation behind the vandalism.

The affected churches are working to assess and repair the damage. One church representative mentioned that the cost of repairing the front doors alone would be significant, not including the numerous broken windows.

Despite the destruction, the church community has shown resilience and a spirit of forgiveness. They remain committed to their mission and hope to understand the reasons behind this act of vandalism.