India (MNN) — Persecution has skyrocketed in the Indian state of Odisha since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took control in the state government in 2024, yet continued Bible shipments provide hope. Jason Woolford with Mission Cry says the government’s public acceptance of Christianity is not the reality on the ground.
“The law does much to nothing [to stop, or] even promotes, the disruption, the burning, those things, of churches,” Woolford says.
A fact-finding team from People’s Tribunal, a forum of activists and intellectuals, visited 12 districts in Odisha and interviewed more than 300 Christians about the conditions they face. They found there has been a “complete breakdown” of constitutional protections.
Christians report assaults, boycotts, police intimidation, and forced displacement. They tell stories of being beaten half to death while authorities refuse to arrest the culprits. Many are intimidated into signing compromise agreements after being attacked to avoid legal proceedings.
Image courtesy of Ravi Mittal on Pexels
Shipping Bibles to Odisha has become increasingly difficult, yet Woolford remains confident in their mission.
“We continue to focus on God’s Word, God’s law that trumps any man’s law, and we have been able, with Holy Ghost creativity, to continue to send containers filled with Bibles,” Woolford says.
“Nothing’s going to stop the Word of God. It’s the only thing that doesn’t return void.”
Mission Cry recently shipped four containers of repurposed Christian materials.
Mission Cry shipment of Bibles and Christian books to India. (Photo courtesy of Mission Cry)
“That will be about 130,000 Bibles, seminary and Christian books. Those four containers will be put together as offices for the seminary and staff and evangelistic team while they’re building a building there,” Woolford says.
Support the shipments
People in English-speaking countries looking to donate resources should not be intimidated by the language barrier. Woolford says recipients want English-language materials and even prefer them.
“Each one of these containers costs us around $11,000, but that sends half a million dollars’ worth of free Bibles and Christian books,” Woolford says. “And so if those that are listening want to help contribute to this next upcoming container, that would be great.”
Pray that the shipments make it into the country and the Mission Cry team remains safe. The persecution may be intense, but the peaceful, loving response of Christians to hatred has brought many to Christ. Pray that incoming Bibles would encourage believers and bring unbelievers to faith.
Header image courtesy of Parij Photography on Pexels
