Brutally Beaten Indian Pastor Vows to Continue Sharing Gospel, Requests Prayer

India is ranked 17th on Open Door USA's World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most persecution. AP

A pastor who was severely hit with metal poles and thick wooden sticks during a gospel outreach in Dabli Rathan, a village in Hanumangarh District, Rajasthan, has promised to continue to preach the Gospel and has requested Christians across the globe to pray for a restoration of peace in India.

"As a Christian, I will not take the defeat; my Lord is an ever-victorious King. His gospel will be preached among them," he said. "We are going to share the gospel in that region with the government's permission soon - we are making arrangements for it," said 26-year-old Pr Harjot Sethi.

Pr Sethi and his team from Christ Power Ministry Society were attacked last month by armed men who were identified as Hindu extremist group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The miscreants also slapped his wife Arvinderjot Sethi several times.

The extremist group that was banned several times from the British Raj to the recent times is now enjoying its rebirth under the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Pr Sethi according to Gospel Herald.

"Before BJP Party there was a great peace in our nation, but since the election of President Modi a known member of RSS, intolerance towards non-Hindus has increased significantly," he added.

"Growing Hindu nationalism in India is being ignored and reports of violence against Christians go largely ignored by western media. This worrying trait of unopposed hatred can only serve to espouse global polarization," said Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Asian Christian Association.

"A nation that supports anti-conversion laws that prevent people converting to any faith barring Hinduism is one in contradiction to the human rights conventions it has ratified. Such protectionism for deities makes no sense. Why would a divine being need man-made laws for protection," he added, referring to the recent anti-conversion law that was passed in Jharkhand.

The attackers yelled at Pr Sethi saying that they would stop beating him if he shouted, "Hail, Lord Ram [Jai Sri Ram]!"

"The attack on me was meant to stop me from preaching but nothing can stop me from fulfilling the calling of God. It is not for me to seek vengeance I have my Lord Jesus who will be the lone arbitrator for heaven," said Pr Sethi.

"I will pray these men that undertook this attack repent of their sins and learn the truth about Jesus, only then can they enjoy eternal life and bring peace on this earth too – through Him," he added.

He now wants his church to understand that if is the Lord's will for the church to grow through hardships and persecutions, they must submit to it and not renounce Christ in the face of violence.

"My heart is rejoicing over Psalm 91, my Lord is my fortress, my refuge, my salvation, what more do I want?" said Sethi.

Shikha Arora, a daughter of a schoolteacher, in whose house the attack took place said the attack reminded her of a verse in a Punjabi Christian song. "Prabhu tumhare dard mein humein bhi shaamil karo [Lord, please let me also partake in Your pain], she sang as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Our faith in Christ multiplied, we are ready for anything. Anything for Christ," she said.