|PIC1|Two ethno-religious communities within the Sikh religion have been on the verge of fighting each other over religious doctrines. A few weeks ago, the tension led to violence in Haryana, and one person was killed. Because the Bridge of Hope center in the area has children from both of the communities, it was closed as a safety precaution.
The strife involves a dispute between Sikhs from two different ethnic backgrounds-the Jats and the Deras.
About one third of the Jats living in South Asia follow Sikhism. They are the largest single ethnic group within the Sikh faith.
The Deras follow a controversial sect led by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He leads an organization called Dera Sacha Sauda. He recently caused a stir when he began to copy various Sikh practices and adopted the dress of a Sikh guru, implying that he had the place of a guru. This has led to the unrest in Haryana and Punjab and other areas of North India. In some places, there were even riots between the Deras and the Jats.
This widespread conflict has affected the nearby Bridge of Hope center in Haryana and has the potential to continue to make things difficult for GFA missionaries across the region.
GFA missionaries and Bridge of Hope workers request prayer for a peaceful solution to the conflict. They also ask Christians to pray for specifically for the protection of the children and staff of the Bridge of Hope center in Haryana.
Gospel for Asia is a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in Asia's unreached regions. Currently Gospel for Asia supports more than 16,000 church planters in 10 countries.
Source: ASSIST News Service (ANS)