Native Pastor Beaten During Conference

Ministries face a “unique” spiritual climate in India

By Pauline J. Chang, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, November 05, 2003

India -- While missions grow continuously in India, Christian leaders become a target for violence and crime.

According to a spokesman for Global Advance Ministries, Hindu terrorists attacked a native pastor while he attended the annual Frontline Shepherd’s Conference

"Pastor Sukh Deve is a young pastor in Nagpur, India. He serves Christ faithfully in a small, but growing congregation," says Dave Shibley from GAM.

Shibley says radical Hindus interrupted the annual conference held at Deve’s church in Maharashtra.

"Sukh Deve calmly welcomed those who had intruded into the meeting. He said they were welcome to stay, but that they were going to continue to pray in the name of Jesus. He also said that he was committed to protecting his congregation as the shepherd of the flock. Well, that enraged the terrorists and they stormed the platform. They viciously beat him,” Shibley said.

"I think this simply allows these men to put their literal lives on the line and when they have paid such a dear price for the Gospel their certainly not going to turn back."

Currently, the spiritual climate in India is unusual "With the mass exodus of Dalits out of Hinduism.” According to Shibley, “there are many who are looking for a new faith or a new religion. Many of them are coming to a faith in Jesus Christ."