Six recently baptised Christians were arrested in northern Orissa State after Hindu activists accused them of converting to Christianity 'illegally'. The six ethnic minority Christians, who had recently joined Good Shepherd Ministries in Mayurbhanj district, appeared in court but were released on bail, according to Release partner All India Christian Council (AICC). Their pastor, Mannuel Mahapatra, was also arrested and accused of forcible conversion. Hindu extremists frequently level accusations of forcible conversion at pastors – but allegations against those who are converted are less common. The state of Orissa has implemented anti-conversion legislation and its Freedom of Religion Act bans religious conversions without the prior permission of local police and a district magistrate. In Karnataka state, nine members of the New India Church of God in Mysore were arrested last Sunday after Hindu extremists stormed the church. Attacks on individual Christians in Karnataka also continue. Four Christians were beaten and charged with 'outraging religious feelings' after distributing pamphlets.

Pray: for the Church in Orissa and the new believers that God will empower them and protect them from the hand of the enemy. (Pr.2:8)

More: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/posts/india-orissa-group-hauled-into-court-for-turning-to-christ-830.php

Towns and roads are underwater throughout most of the state of Assam, where the Brahmaputra river runs. Churches and Christian charities have joined the massive relief effort to an area which recently experienced a devastating flood that claimed over 125 lives and left nearly three million people homeless when torrential monsoon rains inundated thousands of villages in 23 of the 27 districts of Assam. At least 18 churches and several schools have been washed away or damaged. Reaching targeted areas is a major problem, as roads have been damaged and even washed away. 58 Gospel for Asia-supported churches have been affected. Water level is still rising. A local newspaper reported that 900,000 people are affected with at least 80,000 losing their homes. Livestock kept for food have been washed away. Food and drinking water are in short supply and many have lost their personal belongings. One pastor said the Christians are ‘tired, wet and weak’. See:

Pray: for co-ordinated work through the many agencies to swiftly bring relief to the victims. (2Sa.22:17,18)

More: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/c/sliders/article/church-charities-rush-aid-to-flood-damaged-assam-state-in-india-10954//abp/141.html

yclone Phailin hit India last week as a category 4 storm with 130 mph winds. Loss of life was minimal due to large-scale evacuations but flooding has inundated homes and destroyed 1.2 million acres of crops. The local government has set up rescue and relief operations on the campus of a Bible training facility. It will take more than two weeks to restore power, the national highway is still covered by three feet of water, and some areas experienced levels above five feet. 873,000 people in Odisha and 100,000 in Andhra Pradesh sought safety in evacuation centres and will be returning to their communities as soon as flood waters recede. They will find little to salvage, particularly in poor farming villages along the coast where the storm wreaked the most havoc. The government will do what it can, but it doesn't have all the systems in place to offer much help.

Pray: for Christian Aid and other agencies already in the area who are able to respond immediately, pray for uncluttered communication between NGO’s and government bodies, pray also for adequate funds to be released to meet immediate and long term needs.

More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/19104

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery in India and has become one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Homeless girls and boys become victims of violence, deceit and compulsion for sexual exploitation or other forced labour. Every day hundreds of thousands of minors are trafficked, sold and forced into prostitution and bonded labour. Helpless poor people, seeking a better life because of poverty, domestic violence or other pressures they have no control over, are brutally oppressed, often sexually abused, raped, beaten, starved and humiliated by those making a god of power and money. So it is heart-warming when we read, ‘Two minor girls stuck in prostitution ring in a red light area in Pune were rescued by the Christian organization, Indian Rescue Mission, along with the Social Security cell of Pune police on Thursday, October 13, 2011. Acting on a tip they raided the brothel and rescued Roopa (16) and Gowri (17), and the manager of the brothel was arrested.’

Pray: for God to minister healing to the girls and for more traffickers to be found and punished appropriately. (Ps.64:7-10)

More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9440