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News |
 First
Christmas celebration in the Himalayam Kingdom of Nepal
5.12.08 DG Pathram
The Himalyan kingdom of Nepal is all set to celebrate first ever
Christmas in its long history.Gloria Deo, a world class music
group is performing in the first Christmas celebration. The Hon.
speaker of the Parliament will launch the christmas
programmeThis year Gloria Deo have initiated a Gloria Deo World
tour '08 which began at Berlin on the 15th of November, moving
across Kathmandu on 6th of December and finally having its
finale in the city of New Delhi on the 7th of December. This is
the first of its kind international event in the city of New
Delhi for the Christmas season; bringing ahead a wide range of
musicians, singers, bands, prominent actors, actresses and
sports stars. Gloria Deo World Tour '08 is ready to capture
Delhi by storm.GCIC jointly with Gloria Deo held a concert
during Christmas in the city of Bangalore
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 Church
leaders condemn Mumbai attacks
28.11.08 DG
Pathram
Mumbai : terrorist attacks across Mumbai that have left 119
people dead and 300 injured.Armed men took hundreds of tourists
hostage in the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi Trident hotels late
Wednesday night as part of a coordinated attack on India’s
financial capital. A number of hostages were freed from the Taj
Mahal Palace on Thursday but it is believed that hostages are
still being held at the Oberoi Trident.An official with the
National Council of Churches in India told Christian Today India
that the group “condemns the heinous attacks and requests unity
and peace at this time”.The head of the World Council of
Churches (WCC) has expressed shock and dismay over the terrorist
attacks in Mumbai that have killed more than 130 people. Rev Dr
Samuel Kobia said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, “The World Council of Churches, whose membership
includes most of India’s Christian churches, strongly condemns
such wanton acts of terrorism and violence targeting innocent
human lives.“We believe that there can be no justification
whatsoever for such despicable acts of terrorism and
indiscriminate violence,” he added.Kobia expressed his “sincere
condolences and sympathy to the government and people of India,
especially to the families of those who were killed and
injured”.“We hold all citizens of India in our thoughts and
prayers as you pass through this tragic and critical time,” he
said.Kobia added, “The WCC is committed to working with
governments and people of goodwill to build communities where
peace and security prevails.”Pope Benedict XVI also condemned
the “brutal attacks”, calling for an end to all acts of
terrorism.A message of condolence released by the Vatican on
Thursday said the Pope was “deeply concerned about the outbreak
of violence” in the Indian city. He expressed his “heartfelt
condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives
in these brutal attacks”.In a televised address on Thursday,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said those responsible were not
Indian nationals.“The well-planned and very orchestrated
attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to
create a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets and
indiscriminately killing innocent foreigners,” he said. “It is
evident that the group which carried out these attacks, based
outside the country, had come with single-minded determination
to create havoc in the financial capital of the country.”
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 Gospel
For Asia: prayer for India needed all year
24.11.08 DG
Pathram
Millions of Christians around the world joined together in
prayer Nov. 9 for the International Day of Prayer for the
Persecuted Church. More than 100-million Christians each year
are forced from their jobs, marginalized, beaten and abused, or
even killed, simply because they profess Christ as their Savior,
Founder and President of Gospel for Asia KP Yohannan, speaking
from India, says persecution is being felt firsthand by
Christians in India. "We are right now facing one of the most
severe [campaigns] of persecution the church has experienced in
the history of this country--especially in Orissa, where over
1,000 homes of believers were destroyed."
Yohannan says dozens of people have been killed, and church
buildings have also been destroyed. The attacks by Hindu
nationalists have forced Christians from their homes and into
displacement camps. He wished he could report that things were
getting better. "I got an e-mail saying that seven pastors who
were bringing help to persecuted Christians in camps were
arrested by police, accused of converting people and causing
disturbances."
One example of government-approved persecution against
Christians is an Orissa State law. "There's an anti-conversion
bill enforced in Orissa," says Yohannan. "They use that any way
they can, saying that [Christians] are trying to convert people.
And they end up in trouble, put in jail, or they are beaten up."
He says radical extremists are blocking the roads to the
displacement camps, preventing help from getting in.
Yohannan likens it to Hitler's attempt to exterminate the Jewish
people. "This is a strategy some of these radical
fundamentalists learned from Hitler -- his agenda of isolating
people and hurting them. This is a strategy that continues."
Despite the persecution Gospel for Asia pastors, missionaries
and evangelists continue to share their faith. Yohannan says,
"Several pastors have said, 'You know what, you can kill us, you
can destroy everything we have, but we will have to continue to
tell you Jesus loves you.' It is fulfilling God's call on their
life, and they are paying a high for doing that."
Following IDOP Sunday, many Christians are looking for ways to
specifically help the suffering Church. Yohannan says GFA needs
your help to do just that. "We need to rebuild at least 1,000
homes. These people lost everything. $2,000 to $3,000 can help
rebuild one of these lost houses." |
Threat posters come up in Kandhamal aginst VHP leaders
involved in killing of Christians
11.11.08 DG
PathramERHAMPUR: After the
communal violence the Kandhamal district is now shivering under
Maoists’ ‘hit list’ . Despite the massive presence of police
including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in
the district the Maoists are successful in increasing their
presence through the tactics of psychological terror. On Sunday
posters by suspected Maoists were located at Paburia under
Sarangagada police station of Tikabali block of Kandhamal
district. Through this poster the Maoist elements had threatened
to kill four persons Kabi Bindhani, Sahadev Pradhan, Dilip
Pradhan and Sunil Pradhan for their alleged links with the Sangh
Parivar. As per the posters these persons would be murdered like
the recent killing of Dhanurjaya Pradhani. This poster has come
up five days after the killing of a Sangh Parivar activist
Dhanurjaya Pradhani at Kumbharigaon under Brahmanigaon police
station of the district. Pradhani was in the hit list of
Maoists, which they had posted earlier. Police is in a fix as
Paburia has no past record of Maoist movement in the area.
Either it means that the naxals have started increasing their
base in Kandhamal district despite the heavy presence of police
or miscreants are trying to fan communal tension in the area
through these threats and killings. It may be noted that 14
persons who worked for frontal organisations of the Sangh
Parivar in Kandhamal district were threatened to be killed by
the Maoists after the killing of the VHP leader, Swami
Laxmanananda Saraswati. Pradhani’s name was also in the list. A
person named Bikram Raut of Brahmanigaon was recently advised by
police to leave Kandhamal for some time. Bikram’s name was also
in the hit list. The others in the hit list are also in a state
of panic as they were not sure of police security. With the
murder of Pradhani the Maoists have also gained ground by
proving that they could kill their targeted person despite so
called heavy presence of police.
|
 In
the Streets of New Dehli (Aji
David 9.10.08)
Over 15,000 Protest Anti-Christian Violence"The very
killers of Mahatma Gandhi are the same killers of Christians in
Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the
country." (India)—On Thursday, October 2, more than 15,000
people—Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists—marched
in New Delhi to protest the violence against Christians raging
in India. Called the Peace and Solidarity rally, it coincided
with the 139th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. (Photo: All India
Christian Council) "The very killers of Mahatma Gandhi are the
same killers of Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
and other parts of the country," declared prominent scholar and
peace activist Swami Agnivesh at the rally, according to All
India Christian Council (AICC). According to a Christian Post
report, "The rally was the highlight of a five-day protest that
began on Sunday. The event is known as a dharna and is an Indian
method of seeking justice. Traditionally, those seeking justice
sit at the door of their wrongdoer and fast until they obtain
justice." The chief minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dixit also
showed her support of the protest by publicly condemning the
Hindu fanatics who are responsible for killing dozens of
Christians and burning hundreds of Christian homes, businesses
and churches.
|
,.bmp) A
preacher and disciple strangulated to death in Uttarakhand,
(Sony.
.24. 09,2008) In the fourth incident of violence
against Christians in Uttarakhand, Sadhu Astey (56), a Catholic
preacher and his disciple, Mercy (32), were found strangulated
to death in "Samarpanalaya", an ashram run by them in Chotta
Rampur.In a bizarre incident that led to scare amongst
Christians in Uttarakhand, a Christian Catholic priest and a
women volunteer were found murdered in their 'ashram' in Chotta
Rampur village near Herbertpur in Vikasnagar tehsil of Dehra Dun
district today. According to Harish Verma, circle officer of the
police, Sadhu Astey (56), a Catholic preacher and his disciple,
Mercy (32), were found strangulated to death in "Samarpanalaya",
an ashram run by them. Since it was the fourth incident of
attacks on Christians in Dehra Dun in the past three months, the
Congress has demanded the invocation of Article 355 by the
Central government in giving directions to the Bharatiya Janata
Party-ruled Uttarakhand. Police officials said that since there
was no movement for the past two days in the ashram, the local
residents grew suspicious and informed the police. When the
police entered the ashram, they found Sadhu Astey and Mercy both
strangulated to death. The ashram was found ransacked. "We are
investigating these murders to know whether it was done by
dacoits with an intention to loot or there is something else,"
Harish Verma told mediapersons. Police believe that both were
probably mudered two days ago.
Sadhu Astey, a priest and healer was a respected man in the
entire area and was running a prayer hall. The dead bodies have
been brought to Dehra Dun for postmortem. "We will send the body
of Sadhu Astey to Meerut while Mercy, being a local, would be
buried here," Hari Rao, a prominent Christian told The
Tribune.It was the fourth attack on Christian missionaries in
Dehra Dun district in the past few months. Sangh Parivar
activists had attacked Christian missionaries on August 15 when
they were distributing their leaflets. They were brought to
police station and beaten up there on Independence day.
Interestingly, instead of taking action against the attackers,
the police detained five of the Christian leaders for nine
hours. It was on the intervention of senior Congress leaders who
lodged a strong protest with the Uttarakhand Director General of
Police, Subhash Joshi, on the telephone that they were
released.On June 4, during the Bharat bandh call given by the
BJP, a school run by a Christian was ransacked allegedly by BJP
activists led by local legislator. In another incident, Pastor
Jonathan. A.Singh was attacked by the Sangh parivar activists on
June 22 when he was addressing a prayer meeting being held in a
hotel in Krishnanagar locality of the city. Despite complaints
lodged by the Christian community, no action has been taken by
the police and administration in all the three attacks. |
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