India - Family standing in front of burned out church - Photo: VOMC

India

India is the world's largest democracy and the second most populous country (following China). It is culturally diverse, consisting of many languages, cultures and religions. India's social and political structures are largely determined by religion, caste and language. Despite its increasing presence in the global economy, the vast majority of the country's rural population remains impoverished.

Church tradition maintains that the Apostle Thomas first brought the Gospel to India and was likely martyred near Chennai. Indian believers who refer to themselves as "Thomas Christians" continue this legacy as they share the Gospel in some of the most restricted and unreached regions of the world. However, those who evangelize are at great risk as they may be beaten, murdered, or have their properties/churches ransacked and burned.

In 2018, Christians in India experienced an attack every 24 hours, a dramatic increase from past years. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Hindu nationalist organization has seen a 20-percent increase in membership and an emboldened base aimed at further cementing India's Hindu identity among its great diversity of languages, cultures and religions. Vague policies such as anti-conversion laws (opposing the conversion of Hindus to other religions) have passed in several Indian states, and the push for a similar federal law is gaining support. The state anti-conversion laws have long been used against pastors, church planters and evangelists. Yet, despite greater government restrictions on Christianity, the church is growing.

Life for Christians:

According to Open Doors UK, there are almost 69 million Christians living in India, representing 5 percent of the population. RSS informants live in nearly every village and report on the activities of Christians, resulting in attacks and arrests. Churches have been demolished and burned, worship gatherings disrupted, crosses in graveyards vandalized, Bibles and other Christian literature confiscated and burned, and more pastors beaten and jailed. Christians are often arrested and held for up to three weeks after being falsely accused of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. With assistance, they are usually able to post bail or prove that the charges are unfounded.

India Information

  • Current Ministry Projects

    VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

    Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    1,339,330,514 (July 2021 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), Mongoloid and other (3)

    Religion (%)
    Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

    Leader
    President Ram Nath Kovind (2017)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for India

    Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.

India News

  • Land Dispute Escalates to Violence
    A group of people - including police - is gathered around the hospital beds of people being treated for their injuries.
    Members of the Janwada Methodist
    church receiving treatment in hospital.
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    For several years, villagers in Janwada, which is located within India's Telangana State, have been demanding that a road in their community be widened. On February 13th, workers moved into the area to start construction. However, it was discovered during the building process that the construction had encroached by several feet onto the property belonging to the community's Methodist Church, which had existed there for 50 years.

  • Family Attacked for Refusing to Renounce Christianity
    Three crosses from different locations are accented by a blue sky.
    Photo: Flickr / Nevil Zaver (cc)

    Ayatu Ram Podiyami, a believer who lives in Gufanpal, Chhattisgarh, came to faith in Christ alongside his family in 2020. On February 6th, an opposing group of about 20 people from the village approached the Christian man and asked him if he would convert back to Hinduism. After Ayatu refused to renounce his Christian faith, a larger mob began to gather outside his house, further pressuring him to return to the Hindu religion. Fearing for his safety, the harassed believer fled into the jungle.

  • Christian Couple Beaten and Threatened
    Several people are holding signs protesting violence against Christians.
    Photo: All India Christian Council

    A Christian couple in Uppaladinni, Karnataka, was recently beaten for their faith and threatened with death if they continued to practise Christianity. The attack on Vijayalakshmi Chavhan and her husband Ashok happened on January 10th, the day after Vijayalakshmi was accused by several media organizations of conducting forced religious conversions.

  • 2023 Year in Review
    Christians worshipping together in India.
    A worship service in India.
    Photo: VOMC

    This year started and ended with reports about Christians who were detained in the state of Uttar Pradesh due to its anti-conversion legislation. This is one of the 12 Indian states that has laws regulating religious conversions, with increasing political pressure being placed on the country's government to enact the legislation nationally. While regulations protecting people from religious conversions by force or deception may be beneficial, the regulations are often misused by individuals and officials as a way of stopping any religious activity they personally oppose.