Indian Christian Killed, Sacrificed for Hindu 'Goddess'

Today is the International Day of Prayer For the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

Who is the most persecuted group in the world? Christians. The official IDOP web site states: "As a human rights issue, the persecution of Christians dwarfs all other forms of religious injustice. It is beneficial to take advocacy for fellow believers who suffer for their faith as a starting point, as Christians living in free societies have been largely unaware of or silent to this increasing tragedy."

I was just browsing the internet and came across this news story dated Nov. 8th.

"An evangelist in the North Indian state of Madhya Pradesh was killed by Hindu priests suspected of seeking human sacrifices for a Hindu "goddess" in the latest in a series of attacks against Christians in the country.

According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, Vipin Mandloli, 27, was shot dead near Aamkut village in the Jhabua District, Madhya Pradesh.

Mandloi, who works as a shepherd in his spare time, left his home on Oct. 14 to a nearby mountain to graze his sheep near a Hindu temple."

Read the complete story on the Christian Post web site.

Today I also read about an arson attack on an Israeli church, with ultra right-wing Jews being the prime suspects. Yes, Jews are persecuting Christians.

Compass Direct reports on the Christians living in Swat in Northwest Pakistan:

Islamic militants threatened to bomb a Christian family for refusing to convert to Islam as fighting between militants and government troops resumed in northwestern Pakistan yesterday.

"Become Muslim -- otherwise, we are going to destroy your house with bombs," an anonymous caller told a Swat Christian family last night.

A tiny Christian community in North West Frontier Province has reported increasing pressure to conform to Islamic law in recent months. Since July, followers of Muslim cleric Maulana Fazlullah have worked to enforce Islamic law (sharia) in much of Swat Valley, prompting clashes with government troops this week.

The valley’s Christian minority of approximately 70 families has been especially hard hit by the enforcement of sharia.

"Christians in Swat are very vulnerable because they don’t live together in a group," Ashar Dean said. "They are individually living among the majority community in various villages."

Please remember persecuted Christians in your prayers.