A district in India once known for its extreme persecution of Christians is now hosting massive evangelistic events where hundreds of Hindus and tribal animists are embracing Jesus Christ.  According to a report from Christian Aid Mission, the predominantly Hindu Kandhamal District in eastern India was at one time “a hotbed of Hindu persecution of Christians.”

The persecution reached its peak in 2008, when Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati—viewed as a messiah figure by many Hindus—was murdered. At the time, radical Hindus spread rumors that Christians had killed him, even though non-Christian Maoists said they had killed Saraswati. Hindu extremists retaliated with attacks that wounded thousands, destroyed 300 church buildings and 6,000 homes, displaced at least 50,000 people for months.  FULL REPORT


Advertisement