According to International Christian Concern, on October 25, around 11 a.m. in the state of Karnataka, believers were meeting in a private, rented
community hall under the name Jesus Lives Assemblies of God.

The congregation, led by Pastor David Raj, was in the midst
of their worship service when "four men entered the hall, started taking
notes and photographs of the congregation, and began to cause a disturbance,"
according to ICC.

The pastor's wife, Radha David, invited the individuals to
come and sit down. However, ICC said they left the room and came back several
minutes later with a group of 20 Hindu extremists from Sri Ram Sena.

According to ICC, the group barged into the room claiming that
the pastor was engaging in "forceful conversion" and then proceeded to drag him
out of the hall.

The group burned Bibles, Christian literature, and the banner
from the front of the church before police arrived and tried to intervene,
according to persecution.in.

Police then took the David, his wife and three other believers
into custody. ICC said inquiry is still underway. However, the Hindu radicals
are insisting the men be jailed.

Pastor David Raj and his wife have two daughters.

Despite all of this as persecution in India spreads rapidly,
the church continues to grow.

Pray for believers in India, for their bold witness in the
face of persecution. Pray that they will continue to meet in house churches to fellowship
as believers.

Also, pray for David Raj, his wife and the other three
believers still being held in police custody.

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