INDIA: Family of Deceased Coerced to Re-Convert for Burial

03 September 2024

Source: International Christian Concern

Pastor Manju was an outspoken leader and a voice for Christian rights. He shepherded two churches in different villages. He lived with his wife, two sons and a daughter.

On 28 August, Manju suffered a heart attack and died before his family could take him to the hospital. The next morning, the family wanted to bury him with the help of the church members. Around 10 pastors arrived to offer condolences and conduct the funeral ceremony. However, a huge commotion occurred when the village people objected and said they would not allow the pastor to be buried there.

When Manju’s family pleaded with the villagers, they agreed on a condition that the family must pay a large fine and do the ghar-wapsi (return to original religion) rituals, and only then the burial will be allowed in the village.

When the area police chief arrived, the authorities sided with the villagers. They warned all the pastors who had come to the funeral ceremony to leave if they couldn’t agree to the ghar-wapsi demands of the villagers. The police refused to listen to the pastors arguing their right to religious freedom and to be buried in the same village. The police said that people who live in one village must follow the rules of the village and chased the pastors away.

Since the family of the deceased pastor was left to fend for themselves with no support from the police or other pastors, the pastor’s wife and children were subjected to animistic rituals, and later, the pastor’s body was buried with non-Christian rites.

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    Pray for them

    Pray for God to minister His peace and presence to Pastor Manju’s family as they continue grieving and celebrating his life.

    Pray for believers in India as they continue to face such opposition and trials for their faith in Christ. Ask the Lord to be their comfort and strength.

    Pray that God would soften the hearts of the local villagers who stood against Manju’s family. Ask God to use the family as a faithful witness, so that many would come to know salvation through Christ.

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