House Church of Salem Voice Ministries Demolished by Muslim Extremists

Malabar (India), SVM News, December 30, 2007: Underground house church of Salem Voice Ministries demolished by Muslim extremists at Sunnam Potty in Malabar on December 29.

A mob of 10 to 15 people came by cars and vans with spade, pick axe, iron bar and other tools and weapons and totally demolished the church on Saturday night. Suspecting the attackers were the activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Around 50 people were attending in that church every week for worshipping service since last few months. The majority were individual muslim youngsters from various families.

There was a baptism service held on Saturday early morning. Eight youngsters and three couples were baptised. Though it was a secret service, the news somehow leaked out. That might have provoked the extremists to demolish the church.

The church building was leased from a believers family without any rent. That family is living in a distant place. They were threatening by unknown people since last few days for giving this house for prayer and worship.

Pastor Mildad and family are ministering in this area. They face death threat.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries visited the demolished church. He condemned the incident and requesting prayers for the pastor and family, house owner and family and the believers.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews290.html

Christians torturing in Orissa; State Minister resigns

Bhubaneswar (Orissa), SVM News, December 28, 2007: At least 55 Churches at G Udaygiri, Nuagaon, Brahmanigaon and Phulbani Sadar were attacked and a Congress MP Radha Kant Nayak's house was ransacked in Dasingbadi in violence on the fifth day in the rural tribal dominated areas of Orissa.

Eight people killed in the communal violence was sparked off on Monday, the 24th of December when mobs led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists set ablaze Churches, Convents and some houses belonging to Christians. Hundreds of members of the community were hiding in forest to save their life from the attackers.

Orissa Government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. Retired High Court judge Basudev Panigrahi will conduct the inquiry.

The All-India Christian Council criticised the government decision for a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. John Dayal, the general secretary of the Christian Council demanded that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe be ordered into the attacks on the Christians.

Raphael Cheenath, the Archbishop of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack said that the judicial inquiry will not lead to giving justice to the victims.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christiam Ministers of the Churches in India said, "All and real attackers can be held through the CBI inquiry".

Meanwhile, the State Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera, a Dalit hailing from the violence-hit Kandhamal district, resigned from his post on moral grounds in the wake of the communal violence for the fifth day on Friday.

Behera, a former member of the Lok Sabha told that he submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as he was pained over the continuing violence in the area.

The Kui speaking tribal people who had been agitating in Kandhamal had demanded Behera's resignation. The tribals were opposing the demand of the Dalit Christians of the district for grant of Schedule Tribe status.

The State government also transferred District Collector of Kandhamal Bhagirathi Mohapatra and appointed District Collector of Malkangiri Manish Kumar Verma in his place with immediate effect.

Mohapatra was directed to join the General Administration Department in Bhubaneswar for further posting.

The government appointed Nitin Bhanudas Jawle, Additional District Magistrate of Rourkela, as District Magistrate of Malkangiri on place of Verma.

The State government had come under severe criticism from various quarters for its failure to contain violence in Kandhamal where the agitation of the Kui tribals had been virtually hijacked by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad following an alleged attack on their leader Swami Lakshmanananda on December 24.

As the tribals observed a 36-hour bandh starting from Christmas morning, taking benefit of the situation the VHP supporters burnt down a number of churches and lit up homes of the members of the Christian community in many areas.

The administration had imposed curfew in four towns of the district on the evening of December 25. The curfew continues to remain in force.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews289.html

Two Christians Killed And 12 Churches Burned in Orissa, India

Kandhamal (Orissa), SVM News, December 26, 2007: Two christians killed and at least 12 churches and several christian institutions, Christian houses and shops were burned by Hindu fundamentalists and hundreds injured on Christmas night in Kandhamal District of Orissa State in India.

Narsingh Bol, a police official told to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the protesters backed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) set fire to eight churches and ransacked another four. Reports say one Christian was killed in Barakhamba village and others were fleeing from villages to the jungle.

At least a dozen of vehicles including two police vehicles were also set on fire. Besides, the protestors attacked house of the elder brother of the state steel and mines minister Padmanav Behera and torched one of his vehicles

Police imposed a curfew in four towns of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, where most of the incidents were reported.

The violence began on December 24, when about 500 men attacked a tent displaying the nativity scene that Christians of various denominations jointly put up in a small town called Bamunigam.

Nine Baptist and Pentecostal Churches and three Catholic Churches were attacked.

In Balliguda block of Phulbani district, five churches were damaged including a Baptist church, Catholic church, Pentecostal church, and a Catholic sisters' convent. Church furniture, the sound systems, and the tents were burnt. An English medium school was attacked and the computer training center was vandalised. A Christmas celebration was stopped during the worship service of Baptist church.

In Nuagam Block of the same district, a church in Kdupakia village, another church in Sirtiguda, Gosukia and Jangungia villages were assaulted and furniture and church properties were destroyed and a cross was broken down.

In Chakapad Block, of Phulbani district, a church was torched while Christians were having a Christmas feast. The food was destroyed and several were almost killed.

In Phringia Block, of Phulbani district, a Catholic church was destroyed by a bomb planted by fundamentalist. Pastor Junas Digal was tonsured and brought to temple and forced to bow down to the deity.

In Raikia of Phulbani district, shops belonging to Christians were reportedly destroyed. The Hindutva fanatics were marching in a procession and holding weapons. The Christians were ordered to stay inside their homes.

In Phulbani headquarters, a Baptist church and a Catholic church were not allowed to conduct Christmas celebrations. An orphanage run by a Catholic priest was attacked and three vehicles were torched.

Carmel Convent School in Phulbani town was attacked and the school buses and vehicles were broken and torched. A delegation of Christian leaders from Phulbani met the District Collector to insist on safety measures for the Christian minority.

Authorities say the church violence came after a Hindu leader called Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, who has campaigned against what he calls the "forced" conversion of low-caste Hindus to Christianity, was attacked on Christmas eve.

Christian missionaries have long found willing converts among India's neglected tribal communities or "untouchable" Hindus -- known as Dalits -- who still face massive discrimination.

In Kandhamal, the majority of Christian converts are Dalits.

Over the past decade in Orissa, Christian houses and churches have been set on fire, tribal Christians have been harassed and boycotted, and pastors and other Christians have been killed.

A Hindu man Dhara Singh is serving a life sentence for burning alive an Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons as well as a Catholic priest in Orissa in 1999.

Graham Staines, who had worked for three decades with lepers, and sons aged eight and 10 died when a Hindu mob torched a jeep in which they were sleeping.

Sectarian clashes break out periodically in the billion-plus country of multiple faiths, where approximately 2.3 percent are practising Christians.

As the communal fire in Orissa continues to spread, senior Christian leaders met the Prime Minister and requested him to intervene to curb the attacks on the minority community by mainly the fundamentalist Hindu groups in the state.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries rged the central and state government authorities to protect the lives and properties of Christians, Dalits and other minority communities in Orissa

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews288.html

Bomb Attack on Christian Educationist in Tamil Nadu

Tirunelveli (Tamil nadu, India), SVM News, December 13, 2007: A popular Christian educationist and philanthropist was injured in a bomb attack alongwith his wife and driver on December 12 at Vadakkangulam in Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr. S.A. Raja, chairman of the Selvam Educational Charitable Trust, and Rajas Educational Charitable Trust was attacked with country bombs on Wednesday morning by a gang of six in an Ambassador car and on a motorbike.

Dr. Raja and his wife Sofia were returning back to home from Valliyoor Malaimatha Church after attending the Holy Mass.

Raja’s car driver Amirthalingam (45) seriously injured in the attack and hospitalised. Raja and Sofia escaped with minor injuries.

Radhapuram police registered a case and started investigation.

A police official said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the police recovered two live bombs from the spot.

One of the accused is said to be around 25 years of age. He had enquired from Amirthalingam whether Raja would be attending the mass.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the bomb attack towards Dr. S.A. Raja and family. He asked the Central and State governments for immediate action to stop Christian persecution.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews287.html

Pastor's six family members killed by accident in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), SVM News, December 10, 2007: A parish priest of Church of South India and five others of his family members were killed when the car in which they were travelling collided with a transport bus near Chavara bridge in National Highway in Kollam District in Kerala, India on December 10.

Rev. Selestine Raj (40), the parish priest of Kattakkada Bethanipuram CSI Church in Thiruvananthapuram District and his wife Lena Selestine (35), daughters Reshma (12) and Roshna (7), relatives Lazur (66) and wife Lissy (60) of Lalbhavan at Mannarkonam were died by accident on Monday at about 4 in the evening.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the pastor's car collided with a Transport bus while they were retuning back after attending a marriage function in Kochy. Bus belongs to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation was going towards Kochy from Thiruvananthapuram.

Lazur and Lissy are the father and mother of Mrs. Lena Selestine.

Church of South India follows the traditions of Anglican low Church.

Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries offers condolences to the bereaved pastor and his family. CMCI prays that God May Grant peace and consolation to the parishoners and relatives of Rev. Selestine Raj.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews286.html

Indian origin NYPD Officer shot dead in New York

New York (USA), SVM News, December 07, 2007: An off-duty New York City Police Officer of USA, who belongs to an Indian Christian family of Kerala, was found shot dead in his house at 60 Whiteman Road in Yonkers on December 5.

Joseph John, 29, found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head on Wednesday at about 11 at night. He was a three-year veteran of the NYPD assigned to the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx.

Joseph John was the son of John George and Thresiamma, who were hailed from Cherukole, near Mavelikkara in Kerala State, India to USA about 33 years ago.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the New York police investigating the circumstances surrounding Joseph's death.

Capt. Fred Hellthaler of Yonkers police said that they had responded to a 911 call from victim's family, which had heard the gunshot. His mother and wife were at home at the time of the shooting. Police added.

Joseph John was active in prayer services and other church activities of Yonkers Marthoma Church as well as social, cultural and charitable works in New York, especially among Indians.

The viewping of the dead body will be having at Yonkers Marthoma Church, 34 Morris Street in between 3.30 to 9.30 pm on December 7. Funeral services also will be held at Yonkers Marthoma Church on December 8 at 8.45 to 10.45 in the morning and will be buried with all of the honourship of the police at Mount Hope cemetery at Jackson Avenue in Yonkers.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews285.html

Missionary pastor of 54-year-old shot dead in Trinidad

Rousillac (Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), SVM News, December 06, 2007: A missionary pastor of a Full Gospel Church shot dead on December 5 at his residence in Rousillac in Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Lenville Regis (54), an evangelist of Rousillac Open Bible Church and also an ordained pastor was shot dead by a gunman at his house on Wednesday morning.

Pastor Regis was also a retired technician of Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

Regis wedded June, a lecturer at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) four months ago and was living at Ibis Circular of Paria Gardens in Rousillac. It was his second marriage with June His children are living abroad.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the gunman stormed the couple's house at about 9.30 in the morning. June was on the phone at that time.

The attacker forced husband and wife into a bedroom where he made them lie on the ground with June Regis being secured with a length of electrical cord. Then he forced the pastor into a nearby bathroom and a gunshot behind his head and murdered at once.

"The gunman ran out of the house while a frantic Mrs June freed herself only to find her husband dead in the bathroom," police officials said.

Nothing was stolen from the house.

The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy was scheduled to have been done. Investigations are continuing.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews284.html

Imam's daughter, a convert to christianity, face death threat in UK

Lancashire (UK), SVM News, December 06, 2007: A 32-year-old woman, converted to Christianity from Islam about 15 years ago still facing death threats from family and relatives and British police compelled to give her protection.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Hannah (using pseudonym to hide her identity), daughter of a Muslim Imam in Lancashire ran away from home in the year 1991 at the age of 16, when her parents arranged a marriage for her which she never liked.

Henceforth she studied christianity, accepted Jesus as her personal saviour, married with a spiritual partner and witnessed Christ to the churches and fellowships. But she was attacked with knives, axes and hammers in 1994 by a group of fundamentalists and was hiding from her home. She had been moved house 45 times to escape detection since she became a Christian.

The threats against her became more serious a month ago, prompting police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life.

The latest threat was a text message from one of her brothers, warning that he could not be responsible for his actions if she did not return to Islam.

"I know the Koran says that anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word. But I do not think every Muslim would actually act on that," Hannah said.

The Times reports that the Muslims in Britain who wish to convert to Christianity are living in fear of their lives because of Islamic apostasy laws, a senior Church of England bishop will warn at the invitaton-only charity event in West London.

Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, will claim that "freedom to believe" is under threat in Britain because of Islamic hostility to conversion. He will call on society to offer greater protection, by increasing understanding of what makes people vulnerable.

Earlier this year, a Policy Exchange study found that 36 per cent of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed those who converted to another religion should be punished by death.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews283.html

Pastor shot dead in Guyana at the end of Crusade

Georgetown (Guyana), SVM News, December 04, 2007: A 41-year-old pastor shot dead at his church right after a Gospel Crusade on December 2 at Hadfield Street in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana.

Pastor Eion David of the Prophecy One Delivery Ministry Church was shot twice by a lone gunman on Sunday late night when he and the church leaders were counting the offering collected from the crusade. Pastor died on Monday morning while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Shaundell Williams, who is the daughter of Pastor Eion David said the gunman entered the church with his face covered with a handkerchief and wearing a cap, and ordered everyone to lie on the floor and she thought it was a church member pulling a prank.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought someone would come into a church and carry out a robbery. It was not until he ordered everyone on the floor the second time that I knew it was serious; and he pulled out a gun," Shaundell said. "The robber made good his escape with an undisclosed sum of cash, a small amount of jewellery and a car key belonging to my husband Alwin Williams, who was also injured during the ordeal," she added.

Officials of the Guyanese Police Criminal Investigation Department said that Pastor Eion David sustained a gunshot wound to the head and another to the chest. The police have recovered two. 32 spent bullets from the scene.

Police authorities have taken statements from the members of the church about murdered pastor. They said they could not think of a motive for the attack since as far as they know the pastor had no grievance with anyone.

Guyana is the third smallest country in South America, lieying between Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west, with Brazil to the south. Below 700,000 is its total population and half of it Christians. Rest of the population, 35% Hindus, 10% Muslims and others 5%. English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi and Urdu are the languages.

Nearly 20,000 people living with with HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews282.html

Gospel Campaigner severely beaten in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), SVM News, December 01. 2007: A mob of Hindu radicals attacked Gospel convention and beaten Gospel campaigner on December 1 at Koliyakkodu, near Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala, India.

Pastor Lazarus, native of Vellarada was severely beaten on Saturday evening and admitted in Medical College hospital with serious injuries.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that around 20 to 30 people shouted Hindu slogans and attacked the pastor while he was preaching the Gospel at Indian Pentacostal Church at Koliyakkodu.

Venjaramoodu police investigating the issue.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards pastor Lazarus.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews281.html