Banapur- Khurd Dt.(Orissa): Pastor Paul Behera,45, converted from Alekh Dharma since 3 years, but baptized in 2010, has been serving the Lord. His mission field is Banapur which comes under the Khurda District in Orissa, 115 kms from Bubaneswar to Lathipada village, where he stays in a rented house at Lathipada village, Banapur with his family consisting of his wife and 3 children. He earns his livelihood as a tailor. He carefully went on sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all his customer villagers and they were also very receptive to him in the beginning. 3 Hindu families came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and joined with him in the prayer and Sunday worship services in the said village. Mr. Satyaban Nayak, Mr. Rankanath Nayak and Mr.Bijay Nayak and their families were his first converts in Lathipada. The Lathipada village consists of 365 voters, among whom 100 are SC Panas, staunch Hindus. They are all farmers and some also go out of Orissa for daily wage jobs.

The real opposition started for these families in that village during the last 10 days, when they began growing in the riches of the Word of God and miraculous healing prayers. Mr. Satyaban Nayak,43, his wife Mrs. Sarojini Dei,40, and their 2 children experienced the divine healing touch of Jesus Christ first when his son Ajay,19 got healed from a terrible stomachache through prayers. His parents are old, his father, Mr. Prafulla Nayak, 60, who is ailing, has no problem with his son, Satyaban, embracing Christianity. But his mother, Mrs. Bangu Dei,50, is very much opposed to it and has been instigating some Hindu radicals in the village. She strongly objects to his son and daughter-in law practicing Christianity in their house. She has also threatened Satyaban either to forsake Christianity or to face the consequences of being deprived of his birth right, or that she may even commit suicide if he did not deny Christ and quit Christianity along with his family. But Satyaban continues to pray and practice Christianity along with his family.

When she did not succeed in any of her strategies to make her son abandon his faith in Christ, she plotted against her son and daughter-in-law by conniving with a few Hindu radicals in the village. She went to the extent of depositing the necessary amount to defray the cost of conducting the Village Panchayat meeting. Accordingly the Village Panchayat meeting was held on 08.07.2011evening to which her son Satyaban and his wife Sarojini were also summoned. The meeting, we understand, was also attended by 60 radical Hindus. The Sarpanch of the Panchayat questioned Satyaban and his wife about their faith in Jesus Christ and found them not guilty, and some supported the believer couple, but others shouted and demanded their excommunication from the village. The supporters cited the constitutional provisions for any man to embrace any religion of his choice.

But Satyaban’s mother would have none of it, and she simply took a thick firewood log from the burning furnace and began beating her daughter-in-law in front of the entire crowd, cursing and abusing her using filthiest language and knocked her down to the ground. However, Sarojini, without reacting but patiently bearing the pain, loudly continued to pray and praise the Lord. As her mother-in-law continued to deal painful blows upon her, she prayed still louder praising God with “Halleluiah” and seeking forgiveness for her mother-in-law, throughout that torture. Then, we understand, her husband also joined her, praying without reacting to his mother’s violent behavior. Their humility and tolerance brought them results, and the village leaders took their side and charged Satyaban’s mother and blamed her as a culprit for beating and torturing her daughter-in-law so cruelly in that open meeting.

But the tormentors wouldn’t accept defeat and so they turned their attention upon the evangelist, Pastor Paul Behera, and got him ex-communicated and his family members along with the members of the families of his co-believers. They have ordered them all to leave the village immediately. They have also forced his landlord to evict them at the earliest, as they cannot bear to see them around the village anymore. The landlord has given Pastor Paul only 10 days time before which he should positively vacate his house. The tormentors were not satisfied even with that. They went to the schools where their children are studying and tried to spread hate against these innocent children, ordering others, not even to touch them.

Pastor David Digal, who is working as a missionary in Rambha, about 30 Kms from Banapur, is also experiencing similar situation facing threats from the Hindu fanatics in that village. He is ministering to about 6 believer families consisting of 30 new believers who worship in a house church. Pastor David's 3 Year old only daughter suddenly died on the spot, in a suspicious manner, while she was playing outside of their house church during the worship time, a child who was quite hale and hearty.

These believers, we understand, are not even allowed to celebrate their Christmas and New Year Days in that village. GCIC is actively in touch with them and has assured to extend all possible organizational assistance to them. Please pray for them.