Rest Interrupted
Recent Bible college graduate Raheem Chauhan returned to the place where he had completed his one-year internship. He hadn't encountered any hostility then, but as the church where he served continued to grow, the anti-Christians in the village took notice.
On August 15, after Sunday's service, Raheem decided he would relax in his room, but his afternoon would be anything but restful.
While he was enjoying his quiet time, two men entered his room and started harassing him. They wanted Raheem to go with them to the police station because allegedly someone had lodged a complaint against him saying he was forcibly converting people to Christianity.
Raheem refused to go because he knew he was innocent. But the men were stronger than him and dragged him out of the house and to the police station. They beat and verbally slandered him. They slapped his face and smashed his head on the walls and trees they spotted along the way.
Half way to the station, Raheem's persecutors stopped. It was India's Independence Day and the men assumed the police would be at the celebrations.
They threatened Raheem, saying, "Hereafter, if you remain in the village, we will certainly kill you." They then left, leaving him lying on the road.
Raheem gathered enough strength to walk back to his house, and he told his leaders and the believers in his church about what happened.
The next day, Raheem was unexpectedly summoned by police to appear at the station to answer the allegations filed against him. As it turns out, the two men who had beaten him ended up going to the police to complain that Raheem was forcefully converting people.
On August 17, Raheem and a few local pastors are set to appear before the police and explain that they are not breaking any laws.
Many prayers are needed for this situation. They ask people to pray for God to deliver them from the false accusations, for changed hearts among the anti-Christians and for healing for Raheem who suffered ear and head injuries from the abuse.
Missionary's Life Spared, Injuries Remain
Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Tahir Jayaraman was headed to an unreached village to spread the Good News when a hunter took aim at him and fired. The bullet landed on Tahir's left hand, embedding itself in his bone marrow.
The missionary ran to the nearest field where people were working. When they saw his condition and the pain he was in, the laborers immediately took him to the district hospital.
The extent of his injury was so severe the hospital sent him to a more apt hospital where surgery was performed. Doctors recommended Tahir have another operation to remove the bullet and restore some of the bones that were shattered, but the cost for further treatment is expensive.
Read more: http://www.gospelforasia.org.au/news/2010/news_170810b.php