India (MNN) ― India's Freedom of Religion Acts, or anti-conversion laws, have been implemented in five of India's 28 states.
Christians in Orissa state are especially concerned about the implementation in light of the attacks that came at the end of 2007 and lasted through January 2008. Many believers fled their homes and hid in the jungles, and many churches were destroyed.
Audio Scripture Ministries' Tom Dudenhofer says riots in January separated church bodies, but "when they didn't have any contact with their evangelists or pastors, they were able to listen to God's Word with some of the Scripture players that have been made available to them."
The laws are geared at curbing religious conversions made by "fraud" or "allurement." According to the new rules of implementation, people convicted under the anti-conversion law face up to three years in jail.
Dudenhofer says their work is within the law, but pray. "The anti-conversion law also is open to interpretation. Our specific Scripture Player distributions in India are always accompanied by a small fee that is charged to the people to demonstrate that we were not 'bribing' people to become Christians."
What's more, a new project has been birthed because of the crisis. "The people they talked to asked if it would be possible to get the Old Testament. When believers request the Old Testament, it's a demonstration of their desire to really grow deeper in their walk with God." Recording on the Old Testament begins on May 15th.
Please pray for God's grace and
protection for missionaries and churches in Orissa, that the believers would
stand firm in their faith and work. Click here if you can help.
