HYDERABAD, India — After Hindu extremists disrupted a prayer service June 1 and beat congregants, future gatherings of the house church are on hold.
About 20 villagers stormed the home of Madia Damor, pastor of the house church, where about 50 church members were meeting in Thuvadara village of Madhya Pradesh state, reports Morning Star News.
Damor said the assailants took Bibles from children and beat other members.
Targeted for his faith
One man was pushed from the house and then pelted with stones as a warning to others about attending future prayer services. He may have been targeted specifically because his whole family had put faith in Jesus Christ, Damor stated. That member spent a month in a hospital.
The extremists also threatened Damor’s life if he conducted more prayer services in the village, the pastor said.
When the attack on the congregation was reported to Ranapur Taluk police, the police questioned church members, Damor said.
Extremists previously attacked the congregants in 2012, 2015 and 2019, Damor told Morning Star. Damor’s daughter-in-law was wounded so badly in the 2019 attack that the church met virtually for a year.
He said this house church is the only place in the village for Christians to gather and worship.
India is No. 11 on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
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