Two Pentecostal Pastors Attacked in India
Two pastors from the Assemblies of God Church denomination were attacked by a group of unknown people on Wednesday in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Pastor Shiju Kuriakose, 35, and Pastor Jayan, 30, from the Nitya Vachanam Bethel Assemblies of God Church were attacked with iron rods after they had conducted prayer at a believer's house.
According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, the pastors finished the prayer and went to a nearby tea stall when a "group of unknown people came in two motor cycles wielding iron rods."
The pastors were "beaten mercilessly" and sustained serious injuries, said the Bangalore-based advocacy group.
Both the pastors have been admitted to Sprush Hospital in Electronic City.
Their church was established seven years ago and has a membership of over 500 Christians.
GCIC has requested prayers for the injured pastors.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Tamil Nadu, seven vehicles belonging to Jesus With Us Ministries were allegedly burned by Hindu group VHP and Bajrang Dal workers.
The incident occurred after the culmination of a Gospel meeting in Hosur on June 22. The main speaker of the meeting was Pastor Mohan C. Lazarus of Jesus Redeems Church of Chennai.
The burnt vehicles were used to transport the believers to the meeting place and back.
GCIC reported that the VHP earlier had called for a Hosur shut down in protest against the Christian meeting.
The organizers were forced to shift the venue after opposition from Hindu radicals
