6/4/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — To move the needle and drive the stitching process, Pastor Raju peddles the treadle sewing machine all day to provide for his family. Parallel to his boutique business, he also shepherds his congregation in a place known for severely persecuting Christians.

Seventeen years ago, Pastor Raju began his journey in church ministry, fully aware of the many challenges he would face along the way. Since then, he has endured financial struggles as well as physical abuse and death threats from anti-Christian activists, all while devotedly serving in one of the least evangelized areas of India.

“People are dying for various obvious reasons — sickness, accidents, and so on,” Raju said. “If I die for the gospel, it’s worth dying rather than succumbing to sickness or other ordinary reasons. I will have a reward from God.”

The coronavirus pandemic intensified Raju’s struggles. Church attendance significantly decreased, and hostility towards Christians in his region grew, making it even harder for him to provide for his family. Amid these overwhelming challenges, he found himself contemplating the possibility of leaving the ministry, grappling with the weight of it all.

Yet, a glimmer of hope appeared when he received crucial financial support, which allowed him to start a boutique business.
“This would not have been possible without the kindness shown to us during our most difficult times,” Raju said.

Today, he and his wife earn about 15,000 rupees ($175) each month, successfully managing both their business and church responsibilities, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

Remarkably, within just a year of launching the boutique, Raju opened a second location, aspiring to generate additional income to support fellow pastors in his area who are facing similar financial difficulties.

Pastor Raju is grateful for the timely encouragement and financial assistance he received to start his business. In an increasingly hostile environment for Christians in India, hundreds of rural pastors like him are being pushed to their limits. Our prayer is that they would be encouraged by the global Body of Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit as they continue their work for God’s kingdom.

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