Volume 6 Issue 04

Warfare prayer of the soldiers of the Army of Jesus to bind and destroy the works of the devil

Let us bind and destroy the works of the devil in the name of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin, satan, curse and death on the cross

Pro 17:19 The spirit which loves quarrel and  sin

Message for Reflections – Sis. Angelica

Sojourned many days

I was meditating on Gen 21:34.

And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines”

Abraham lived as a foreigner and sojourner without any rights or claims in the land of Philistines.  But his descendants, we know, occupied  lot of lands and acquired the same.  

I remember one incident in our life.  We were holding prominent positions in an institution. But when the Lord called us,  we came out bare handed. When we went to a bank to open an  account in order  to  collect a meager amount of pension due to one of us, the bank authorities asked for the names of two persons as  references who can vouch for us. We did not have any, since we were new to that village and even the few who knew us did not favour us since our institution had circulated a letter against us. We felt very low.

After three years when we left that village, we had many  friends there. Even the same bank employee became a good friend of us since they used to attend our prayers.

Now I understand how Abraham’s descendants could inherit the whole land  and subdue it.

Brethren, don’t hesitate to go to the place where you are called to. You may be a sojourner there. But the one who called you is faithful. If you remain faithful to your calling, your descendants will surely multiply and  inherit the land.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Gen 1:28 

Upcoming BFF

Batch 183 - January 24 to 31 - Uttar Pradesh - Hindi

Batch 184 - January 25 to 1 Feb - Mumbai - Hindi - 9930804564 (Sol.Jagdish)

Batch 185 - January 25 to 1 Feb - Chennai - Tamil - 9944741410 (Sol.Patrick)

Be Formed and Form (BFF)

Be Formed and Form is a 5 day short term course. This training is a challenge to the present Church. Because our Lord Jesus Christ (Head of the Church) wants the Church to be transformed according to Ephe 5:26,27. To make her holy, (cleansing her by the washing with water through the word), and to present her himself as a radiant Church. Today the Church is ignorant about the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. By this BFF training , the Church awakes and arises to shine in the world.

The educated as well as the uneducated can apply . Send your Resume, Recent Passport size Photograph (3 Copies), ID Proof and reference letters to

Email ID : heavenlyhostofjesus@gmail.com

Ph : 044-65453245, 9952040052

Please pray, attend and send participants for this course.

Please confirm your registration as early as possible.It's a unique Christ designed course, transforms souls, delivers people from bondage, enlightens people on true knowledge of Christ and the word of God, Anointing of the Holy Spirit is abundant all through the programme.

Come and be blessed and bless others.

National Worship Centre (NWC )

Father’s House,

Brotherhood Missions,

4/364 E, Anna Salai 1st Cross Street,

ECR, Palavakkam, Chennai 600041.

 Tamil Nadu, India.

National Worship Centre is a centre where the Lord of hosts, the Lord God Almighty is worshipped in His majesty all the 24 hours. Per day 12 worship teams come to worship from different parts of the Nation. One slot consists of 2 hours. The opening of NWC also turns to be the trumpet sign to start the fatal war against satan to this Nation for Christ! Do you want to join this praising Army?

Book your slots

Tel : 7708505152

Email ID: worshipcentreindia@gmail.com

This Month in NWC we are worshipping for “Chennai”. Book your slot for worship. No doubt the nation is going to be shaken during our worship. Be ready and prepare for that.

Praise God for the successful completion of 16434 slots in National Worship Centre with a Non Stop Worship (24/7)

BFF Mumbai – Batch 11 Report

1

Total students 10

Male - 6 / Female - 4 / Baptism taken 4

Testimonies

  1. One lady an unbeliever attended.She had a very difficult and bitter past. She was hurt by her own family, relatives, neighbours etc. Due to this she was unable to enjoy life, be happy, even express her feelings. But when the Lord touched her, she forgave everyone and broke out in front of God and received his mercy and grace.
  2. One sister from RC, was very happy to receive so much knowledge about Bible which she never received earlier. She had full faith that she is healed from her hormonal imbalance issue which she was suffering since some time.
  3. One man could not open his mouth on the first day testimony time as he had fear, confusion, and lack of confidence but God completely changed him and he was talking so much glorifying God from the third day. He was so happy since God delivered him.
  4. Another brother stated that he had been to many trainings but in this training he experienced the presence of the Lord and also saw many visions and received confirmation through the word of God.
  5. Another brother was healed from tumour and tonsils.
  6. One brother whose wife passed away recently had attended. He had lots of questions in his mind before coming and was very sad and unhappy. However he received answers to his questions and also God's comfort and love.

Many started seeing visions, started speaking in Tongues and delivered from various bondages.

They have taken a decision to start Troop Church.

All glory to God alone.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Programme

FRP – Hyderabad for Children

Praise the Lord.FRP was conducted on Jan 14th in an orphanage  at Hyderabad.Children were transformed.They forgave the parents who rejected them.Praise God for the opportunity.

23

Know your Bible (Cont..)

Duty of the soldiers of AOJ

"Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River to the land of Canaan, 

they are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their idols and their molten images. You are to demolish all their high places,  take possession of the land, and live in it, because I've given you the land to inherit. ‘You are to divide the land among yourselves by lot according to your families. The larger the families are in number, the larger their inheritance is to be. The lesser the families are in number, the lesser their inheritance is to be. To whomever the lot falls, that inheritance goes to him. Divide it according to your ancestral tribes. (Num 33:51-54)

Num 33:55  "But if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, their survivors will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, to prick your sides and afflict you in the very land in which you'll be living. 

Num 33:56  Then, what I had planned to do to them, I'll start to do to you." 

Time given to them to drive out the enemies 

Sl No

Verse

Interpretation

15

“But if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land

If you are not able to drive out the powers of darkness from the whole zone of your inhabitation/ given zone within the prescribed time.

16

land before you

That particular area of the land which is given to you for habitation or for ministry (Zones are your ministry areas)

17

their survivors

Those spirits which are left out in the land which you are occupying or ministering.

Check what all spirits are dominating your area

Poverty, unemployment, Debt, laziness,

Alchoholism

Extravagance/unnecessary expenditure

Adultery, Idolatry, lifelong dependency on others, relationship problems,

Slavery, mental block, stinginess, argumentalism,

 Name out and list out the spirits. You may identify them from the type of destruction they have caused to the nation/area/State, from the idols they are worshipping- eg. Kali- murder, Elephant – Natural Calamity, Monkey – Corruption & Political disorder, Mother & child- strong traditional bondages &  pride, etc.

18

will become irritants

These spirits will cause you, your family, your people great damage and harm

19

Irritation in your eyes

Whatever you see with your eyes, in your family, workplace, in your children, neighbours, friends, in persons, places,  whatever you touch, you eat, you read with your eyes,  will cause  nuisance, annoyance, pain, confusion, irritation and vexation.

20

and thorns in your sides

Those who are supposed to help you on your right and left - wife, family, workers, co workers, friends, those who are on your left and right sides – neighbours living next doors, office workers who is sitting left or right to you, passengers who are sitting and travelling left or right to you, will be like thorns.

21

to prick your sides and afflict you

They will  ever trouble you and  take away the peace God has granted you. They will torment you night and day, will not allow you to rest. Even their sorrows, sicknesses, troubles, debts, pains will afflict you because you will be bonded with them.

22

Num 33:56  Then, what I had planned to do to them,

What the Lord has planned doing to them – His punishments

1.      Vomit the land by tsunami, earthquake, war, pestilence etc. Lev 18:28 

2.      Detest the people - Lev 20:23,

3.      Delight to  destroy  from the land  they possess Deu 28:63 

4.      Uprooting from the land & deporting to another land Deu 29:28

5.      Bringing all the threats until destroyed from the good land given to inherit

 Jos 23:15

6.      Anger of the Lord blazing upon and perishing quickly  Jos 23:16

7.      Instigating the enemy to intrude, loot, rob and kill

Sis. Angelica AJ

Prophecy NEWS Updates

Congress Quietly Pushing Bill To Require National Biometric ID

Earlier this month,  Rep. Bob Goodlatte [R-VA] introduced H.R.4760 - Securing America's Future Act of 2018, a sweeping bill that entails everything from Education and the Workforce to Homeland Security to the military. Also, tucked away in this 400-page behemoth of a bill are the details of a new biometric National ID card that could soon be required for everyone. Not surprisingly, there is almost no media coverage on this legislation.

H.R. 4760 establishes a mandatory National Identification system that requires all Americans to carry a government-approved ID containing "biometric features." Without this card, according to the legislation, you will not be able to work in this country. The legislation was drafted under the auspices of providing a legislative solution for the current beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. However, as Ron Paul points out, "this bill would give DACA recipients a 3-year renewable legal status while forcing a biometric National ID card on virtually everyone else."

Naturally, this bill is wholeheartedly supported by the anti-immigration sect and has gained 70 co-sponsors already in only a few days. As with most police state-promoting legislation, fear of illegal immigration is being pushed to garner such support. However, as Ron Paul points out, the bill won't just target illegals--it targets everyone--and it will use your most private information to track you. "Under the statists' National ID scheme, you'd be forced to carry around your National ID card, tied to this massive database, chockfull of biometric identifiers like fingerprints and retina scans," Paul noted. "Without this ID, you won't be able to legally hold a job -- or likely even open a bank account or even board a plane!"

Paul said there is a very good chance this bill will become law as the support for it seems overwhelming. He laid out three key factors that are detrimental to the freedom of all Americans.Allow federal bureaucrats to include biometric identification information on the card, potentially even including fingerprints, retinal scans, or scans of veins on the back of hands, which could easily be used as a tracking device; Be required for all U.S. workers regardless of place of birth, making it illegal for anyone to hold a job in the United States who doesn't obtain an ID card; Require all employers to purchase an "ID scanner" to verify the ID cards with the federal government.

Every time any citizen applies for a job, the government would know -- and you can bet its only a matter of time until "ID scans" will be required to make even routine purchases, as well. The control freaks in the US government have been trying for years to pass a National ID card law and it has been successfully resisted every time. This time, however, it appears that the Republicans--who used to be vocally opposed to such measures--are now fully on-board likely because of the bill's anti-immigration language.

As Paul points out, For years now, statists in BOTH parties have been fighting to RAM their radical National ID-database scheme into law. In fact, this scheme was a key portion of the infamous failed "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" bills BOTH parties tried to ram through during the Obama administration. Now, using the momentum behind Trump's tough talk on immigration and border security, I'm afraid the statists believe the best way to finally enact their National ID scheme is by promoting their bill on Capitol Hill as a "DACA fix" while they sell it to the GOP base as a border "security" measure. Of course, that's nothing more than a buzzword meant to trick Americans from all over the country into thinking that Congress is going to seal our southern border.

But in reality, it means something far different. The "security" members of BOTH parties in the U.S. House want doesn't target any U.S. border. Instead, it's meant to create an all-out police state within them. The truth is, this is exactly the type of battle that often decides whether a country remains free or continues sliding toward tyranny.

- By PNW Staff

Christian NEWS

Creeping fear: Not just Muslims, India is also failing its Christian minority

Christians protest against attacks on churches in Delhi in 2015 | AFP

On the bare floor of a police lock-up in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, 32 priests and seminarians were forced to sit through a winter night last month, like criminals. They were detained after a Bajrang Dal mob attacked them, apparently for singing Christmas carols, burnt their car and thrashed them even at the police station. After their sleepless night, the police arrested one of the priests, charging him with “forced conversions”. The attackers were barely touched, in what has become the norm in such hate crimes. Around the same time, the Hindu Jagran Manch threatened the managements of Christian schools in Aligarh that if they celebrated Christmas with their students, they would do so at their “own risk”. Similar threats have been reported from other towns in Uttar Pradesh.

Like many Indians, my family has always celebrated Christmas for its message of cheer, goodwill and compassion with mistletoe and plum cake. But in these troubled times, even wishing Merry Christmas has become an intimation of protest. In a fast-mutating India where hatred and fear are being rapidly normalised, even singing carols and celebrating Christmas have become high-risk undertakings. So in December, I attended Christmas Mass as a token of both protest and solidarity.

India is becoming increasingly unsafe for its Muslim and Christian minorities. The World Watch List 2017 ranked India as the 15th most dangerous place to practise one’s minority faith, a sharp fall from the 31st place four years earlier. Muslims are facing vigilante attacks and targeted killings by the police. The even smaller Christian minority is enduring attacks on its places of worship, shrines, prayer services, priests and nuns. The United Christian Forum has recorded 216 such attacks in 2017, but the police have registered complaints in less than a quarter of the cases; the attackers have been arrested in even fewer. The four states of Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh account for over half of these cases. There have also been reports of social and economic boycott of Christian communities, and of them being denied work and access to water and electricity.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and other affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, in India and around the world, have long propagated the noxious canard of a powerful foreign-funded evangelist campaign to convert low caste and impoverished Hindus and Adivasis to Christianity. This is used to manufacture popular resentment, even hatred, against this small, peaceable and progressive community, which erupts in hate attacks on missionaries, priests, nuns and shrines. By way of example, here is an extract from a pamphlet published by the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation in Texas, US, in 2015:

“In India, not only Christians celebrate, but many Hindus also participate or celebrate the Christmas without knowing what Christianity is all about, what the Christians think about Hindus, what the Bible says about the ‘idol worship’, how they destroyed so many civilizations, how they are converting Hindus and making them enemies of their own religion, how the money is flowing from foreign countries, how the Hindus were mercilessly tortured in Goa…They believe that Jesus gave them the right to deceive, convert, subjugate, conquer, and proselytize any nation or religion, by any and all possible means. They are entitled to such methods as allurement, fraud, coercion and violence in converting but they criticize Hindus even if they to talk about their atrocities of conversion…This is more evident in Southern States and especially in the Andhra Pradesh are. They convert the Hindus and make them their foot soldiers to destroy Hindu deities, step on them, and also tear up the pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. According to unofficial statistics, as many as 30 percent of Hindus in villages have got converted…” 

Cultivating hatred

Hate propaganda, of course, has nothing to do with facts. India’s Christian population has not risen beyond 2.5% in the past several decades. How could this be the case if there was a concerted evangelist campaign to convert Hindus? It is instructive that Christians constitute such a tiny minority despite the fact that Christianity came to India nearly a thousand years before it spread in Europe and the country lived through two hundred years of British colonial rule.

In the words of the senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, the “entire conversion debate is dominated by the Hindu right whose political agenda is: (a) to declare the country and Indian civilisation as primarily, if not solely, a Hindu civilisation, (b) to insist that all past conversions over the centuries were induced by fear, fraud and opportunism, (c) to regard all past conversion as essentially suspect and (d) to pursue an intimidating policy to try and ensure that future conversions from Hinduism should not take place, and in any event, be minimised”.

Dhavan argues that the controversy over conversion is inextricably linked to the rise of political Hindutva, which he describes as “belligerent, apprehensive, uncompromising and vicious in its attitude…with plans, policies and programmes to attack and discipline all other faiths”.

He cites the destruction of the Babri Masjid, the murder of the Australian missionary Graham Staines and his young children, and the intimidation and killings of Christians and Muslims as part of the “policy of disciplining other faiths”, which includes “both a programme to impose fear on others as well as a legal policy to intimidate non-Hindu minorities through the processes of the law”. Thirty two priests and seminarians were detained in Satna after they were attacked by a Bajrang Dal mob, apparently for singing Christmas carols. The attackers were barely touched. Photo credit: HT

In the bitter discussions about religious conversion, it is often forgotten that the Constitution took care to guarantee the rights of every individual to not just practise but also propagate their faith. As Dhavan points out, “Historically, India is a country of converts. There were conversions from Hinduism to Jainism, to Buddhism and to Islam and Christianity. Over time, all this had added a richness and uniqueness to India. Today, a Muslim or a Christian is a Muslim or a Christian, not a past Hindu. If people want to convert, they have the right to do so – without requiring the permission of the state or setting up a system whereby police officials and magistrates will be watching conversions under a system of conversion by surveillance.”

Denying freedom

The Constitution guards our right to follow any faith, including the right to abjure the faith. In the Constituent Assembly, M Rathnaswamy had suggested adding the word “propagate” to Article 25, which guarantees the right to practise and propagate religion. KM Munshi declared unambiguously that “under freedom of speech which the Constitution guarantees, it will be open to any religious community to persuade other people to join their faith”.

However, the Sangh Parivar never acquiesced to this Constitution guarantee. In their imagination, Hindus were being stolen from their community through money, fraud and coercion. Therefore, they and the devious missionaries who misled them needed to be continuously policed by a hawk-eyed state. Accordingly, anti-conversion laws were legislated in many states even though they run counter to the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. It is interesting that anti-conversion laws have mostly been passed by non-Congress governments. (Laws banning cow slaughter, in contrast, have been legislated mostly by Congress-ruled states despite the opposition of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to such laws.) Odisha passed an anti-conversion law under the Swatantra Party government in 1967; Madhya Pradesh under the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal coalition, which included the BJP’s forerunner Jan Sangh, in 1968; Gujarat and Chhattisgarh under the BJP in 2003 and 2006, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, the J Jayalalithaa government passed an anti-conversion law in 2002 but repealed it two years later. The only Congress government to pass such a law was in Himachal Pradesh in 2006. Rajasthan passed an anti-conversion law in 2006, again under the BJP, but the governor refused to sign it. Arunachal Pradesh passed such a law in 1978 under the People’s Party of Arunachal, but it was never enforced. Most recently, the BJP government in Jharkhand passed a stringent anti-conversion law in 2017.

Although anti-conversion laws exist in many states, they are more actively used in states ruled by the BJP. Even though there have been few convictions under these laws, cases are registered almost every month. Clearly, the purpose is to punish by process. In today’s shrill anti-minority climate, these laws are used mainly to intimidate, stigmatise and, in some cases, criminalise the local Christian communities and clergy. In August last year, the Jharkhand government published full-page newspaper advertisements, with pictures of the chief minister and a misquote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, attacking religious conversion. On three occasions in 2017, Christian children travelling by train to Christian camps were taken into custody by the Railway Police in Madhya Pradesh on the grounds that they were being “kidnapped to be converted”. On May 22 and 23, at least 71 children travelling to a summer Bible camp in Nagpur were detained with their adult caretakers; on June 3, a Catholic nun and four girls were detained at Satna railway station; on October 21, two adults and seven children going for Bible studies were detained, and not even allowed to meet their parents.

The Sangh considers Islam and Christianity to be foreign religions and their practitioners wanting in loyalty to both Hinduism and India, which for them are one. But as Gandhi pointed out, Islam and Christianity are as much Indian faiths as Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. In the homes for former street girls and boys that my colleagues run, our children look forward to Christmas as they do to every festival, with equal fervour and anticipation. We tell them that Jesus was born a homeless child, yet grew to spread the message of compassion and love around the world. I am not a person of faith. But even so, Christmas and Eid are as much my festivals as Diwali, Holi and Gurpurab. I won’t allow anyone to take this away from me. I will fight for my right.

Over 80 Killed in Benue State, Nigeria in January

International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that more than 80 Christians have been killed in Benue State, Nigeria by Fulani militants since January 1. These attacks have mainly taken place in two locations within the state, Logo and Guma Counties. Logo saw more than 50 deaths in just the first week of the new year by Fulani attacks, while Guma suffered more than 30.

These attacks took place less than two months after the state of Benue enacted an anti-open grazing bill, which prevents the Fulani from nomadically moving their cattle throughout all of Nigeria. Benue passed this law in an attempt to end the violence that has been plaguing its people, but it has failed thus far. In an interview with the Punch, the Secretary-General of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Usman Ngelzerma, said that the new bill is the reason for these attacks. "We don't wish for the crisis to continue but let us give it (the law) another look. We don't like the killings; we will never condone the killing of people. Give the farmers their rights, but consider the pastoralists too."

However, even those who were not from the area, but who were just trying to help others escape, were at the mercy of the Fulani attackers. A local from Makurdi, named Vershima, stated that he "had been called upon by some of the people fleeing Guma to come help convey them to Makurdi on Wednesday, January 3. I obliged. On our way out of Guma at about 7:00 p.m., we were ambushed by a company of armed Fulani herdsmen who opened fire on us, killing three of the people I was conveying and injuring me." Vershima was shot in the chest and left for dead by the Fulani, who accosted him and his vehicle.

Many of these people even know each other. Peter, a local cattle guard, said, "[The people who attacked me] were people I had interfaced with in that community. I got up and called them by their names and tried to wrestle the machete they had out of their hands, but to no avail. I was overpowered and they began to cut me." However, this relationship did him no good. He has been in the hospital recovering from his wounds ever since.

ICC's Regional Manager, Nathan Johnson, stated, "This ongoing crisis is devastating the Christian communities of Nigeria. They are unfairly being targeted for their land and faith. The government must do more to ensure the community's safety, property, and welfare. They must put an end to the Fulani scourge and hold those in charge of these attacks accountable."

Pastor Found Dead in Tamil Nadu, India

The body of a pastor in southern India was found hung from the thatched roof of his house early Saturday morning (Jan. 20), a week after he complained to police about opposition from Hindu extremists, sources said.

Congregation members said they found the body of pastor Gideon Periyaswamy of Maknayeem Church hanging from a rope in his one-room house beside the church building in Adayachery village, Kanchipuram District, but that his knees were bent stiff, as if others had placed him in the noose after his death. He was 43.

A convert from Hinduism 25 years ago, Pastor Periyaswamy was single and served as pastor in Adayachery for more than 12 years, his close friend, pastor Azariah Reuben, told Morning Star News.

“The local Hindus were not happy with growing Christianity,” Pastor Reuben said. “They had several times tried to stop the ministry.”

At pastors’ meetings and on other occasions, Pastor Periyaswamy spoke of Hindu hostilities to his church services and requested prayer, he said. Pastor Reuben said that Pastor Periyaswamy once remarked, “I have no problem – if needed, if the Lord permits it, I would die as martyr for Christ, but the ministry should not stop.” A deputy superintendent of police identified only as Rajendiran told Morning Star News that a week before his death, Pastor Periyaswamy had filed a complaint with police “on some village people troubling him.” “Our investigation was underway, and now we found him dead,” Rajendiran said. A congregation member identified only as Indira said that the previous Sunday (Jan. 14), Hindu extremists were upset about a car sitting outside the area designated for church parking.

“They pelted stones at the car, and the pastor made an announcement requesting the church members to park their vehicles within the church premises only,” she said. For the past six months, the local hard-line Hindus have harassed the pastor every Sunday, Indira said.

“When they see the pastor, they laugh, giggle and crack humiliating jokes at him,” she said. “They would always look for something to pick a fight over. But pastor told us, ‘We should be at peace with our neighbors – let’s not give them a reason to fight.” Last year local Hindu extremists kicked and beat him, Regina said. She and Indira found the pastor’s body. “On Friday night [Jan. 19], our pastor visited the church families,” Regina said. “He told me and other sisters that there will be a fasting prayer on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., so please come early and clean the church hall.” When they arrived on Saturday morning at 5 a.m. to clean the church building, they were surprised to find the pastor’s room bolted shut.

“We opened the door and were shocked to find Pastor Gideon Periyaswamy hanged,” Regina said. “A rope was fastened to the roof and tied to pastor’s neck, but his knees were slumped towards the ground. When the police came to unhang the pastor’s body, we saw a cut in his neck area. There was blood clotted.” Police initially refused to file a complaint from congregation members, sources said. After church members and pastors from neighboring villages blocked a road in protest, his body was transported to Chengalpattu Government Hospital, where it has been placed in the hospital mortuary, Pastor Reuben told Morning Star News. The Vanniyar community and other upper castes in Adayachery hate the lower caste of the pastor and his congregation, said pastor Immanuel Prabhakaran, who worked with the deceased leader of the church, which belongs to the Synod of Pentecostal Churches. “They threatened the pastor, ‘How dare you set up a church in our locality? This area is of upper castes. Stop running church here. Stop inviting schedule castes to our area. You leave this village else we will make life difficult for you,’” Pastor Prabhakaran told Morning Star News.

Church members suspect Vanniyar and village leaders were behind the killing of the pastor. “These people had cut the church’s water supply by disconnecting the pipeline,” said one church member. Originally Pastor Periyaswamy had led the congregation as a house church, and before the current structure was built, they met in a shed. In 2016, area Hindu nationalists demolished the shed, church members told Morning Star News. “We filed a complaint at Kalapakkam police station, but no action was taken,” one member said.

Pastor Periyaswamy’s cousin, Shiv Shankar, told Morning Star News that Pastor Periyaswamy was involved in many charity activities and led a simple life. “We come from a Hindu family, and he was the first to convert to Christianity at the age of 18,” Shankar said. “He boldly professed his faith. I can never think my cousin would commit suicide. He was murdered.”

Two weeks ago, he invited all relatives to the church’s anniversary celebrations, he said. “He was elated. My other cousin and her husband, Gideon’s sister and brother-in-law, gifted him a gold ring,” Shankar said. “He refused, but they forced him to accept. He did. Even that ring is missing.” Nehemiah Christie, director of legislations and regulations for the Synod of Pentecostal Churches, urged police officials and government to conduct a fair investigation.“There is urgent need for an autopsy in the presence of a judicial magistrate,” Christie told Morning Star News. “Pastor Gideon Periyaswamy’s death can’t be ruled out as suicide.”

The deputy inspector general of police of Kanchipuram Range, identified only as Thenmozhi, told Morning Star News that officers would carry out a fair investigation. “There is no doubt in that – we will ensure a fair investigation,” Thenmozhi said. “If there is any troublemaker involved, we are looking at all angles regarding this. We ensure fair investigation. The post-mortem begins once the enquiry starts. Let the family and relatives come out with the facts they have; once we are given the witnesses statements and some supportive material, we will ensure post-mortem.”

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, the hostile tone of his National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians, religious rights advocates say. India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2018 World Watch List of countries where Christians experience the most persecution, up from 15th the previous year, and ahead of Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Egypt.