Story number 1 for 20 Jan 2003

(India)–We begin today in India where two Mission India associates were recently arrested, beaten and driven from their ministry area by Indian army personnel. The incident occurred in northeastern India, in an area plagued by political instability. Mission India’s John DeVries. “They were falsely charged with political insurgency, whatever that means, I don’t know. But, they were harassed by the army, and this has got us even a little more concerned than if they were harassed by the local police.” DeVries believes this nationalistic mindset may cause further trouble for Christians and their ministries. “Just pray for tremendous courage for our evangelists. Pray specifically that they will have courage, that they will continue to experience joy in the midst of this persecution, and that the Gospel will even go more quickly than it has ever gone before.” Mission India asks prayer for their ongoing work in northeast India as workers face opposition from political and religious extremists, and government officials.