Recordings of the Bible from Audio Scripture Ministries are encouraging many persecuted Christians in India. (Photo courtesy of ASM)
India (MNN) ― The rise of Hindu militancy is restricting traditional Christmas celebrations in Bangalore, India, said Tom Dudenhofer, executive director of Audio Scripture Ministries.
Normally, "Christians in Bangalore would go around in ox carts singing Christmas carols," he said. "And the businesses love them to come around and sing. This year, they're not allowing that."
Bangalore is the capital of India's Karnataka state, and some of the persecution in Orissa has been spreading to Karnataka. Discontentment has been rising among the Hindu militants, and police officers have visited many churches in the city.
"All of the watch-night services of the Bible-believing churches in Bangalore have been canceled this year for fear of a reaction from the Hindu militants," Dudenhofer said.
Dudenhofer encouraged Christians around the world to pray for Christians in India.
"People need to pray that the Christians will be wise, that they will hold true to their faith in Jesus Christ; actually many of them have considered giving up," said Dudenhofer. He also asks the church to pray that God will protect Christians in India.
"Ask God to give them protection, and if He chooses to remove that protection, let's ask God to use the difficult situations that they go through to attract others' attention to a Savior who would create such a level of dedication in people that they would be willing to give up what we would call the comforts of home in order to follow Jesus."
