"Pray for those hearts to be softened. Pray for those who don't know Him, that they would come to know Him," said Erik Morsehead with Mission India, while sharing that the persecutors need our prayers, just as Church Planters and Christians in India need our prayers.
Morsehead shared how God continues to move in India amidst reports of persecution.
Through Mission India's Adult Literacy Classes, Children's Bible Clubs, and Church Planter Training various stories stem up from the field: stories that include hostility towards Christianity and beautiful stories about how God is moving.
India has moved up on the World Watch List's worst 50 countries for Christian persecution. From 2013 to 2017, it has climbed up from 31st place to 15th place.
"In India, over 60 percent of Christians experience direct persecution.... Forty persecution incidents are reported per month on average," said Morsehead.
Persecution can take many forms: for some it may be ex-communication from the family and local community.
A church planter "was cut off from the village's electricity and water supply and was depending on God for where to sleep while his neighbors threw dead animals at his house to show how disgusted they were with him making the decision to follow Christ," said Morsehead, according to MNN.
Some others die for their faith.
"Pastors have been shot. Church members have been beaten.... It's disheartening, but it also means that a lot of things are taking place, that God is moving in mighty ways and people are recognizing that. When people recognize that and they disagree with that, they're going to do everything in their power to stop it," said Morsehead.
Yet, God has not stopped moving. Those who have been persecuted have witnessed the work of the Holy Spirit over time.
"...over time as they interact with these Church Planters, their hearts being to soften and they become followers of Jesus," said Morsehead.
The persecutors need our prayers.
"Pray for those hearts to be softened. Pray for those who don't know Him, that they would come to know Him," he said.
Also, pray "that God would continue to give courage to those who know Him and are leading in India for Him. We just pray that He would give these individuals who are being persecuted the peace and endurance as well to overcome this persecution [for] what they believe," he added.
