Christians threatened to be burned alive

NAGPUR, India — About 40 Christians of the New Life Fellowship (NLF) had gathered for worship Feb. 8 at the home of a new believer in Nagpur, in India’s Maharashtra state, when a mob of more than 500 people surrounded them and started pelting them with stones. The mob then threatened to burn them alive.

When the church leaders approached the Kevlary police station, the police inspector refused to register the complaint and threatened the leaders. He then went to the church meeting place and threatened the church members. Local Christians now have no one to turn to for protection.

The NLF, one of the fastest growing churches in Maharashtra and other parts of India, has been the target of militant Hindu groups for its bold evangelistic outreach. A number of Hindus have converted to Christianity through the ministry of NLF, which has incensed Hindu family members and relatives who in turn approach militant Hindu groups to “teach the Christians a lesson.”