8/1/2025 India (International Christian Concern) — Pastor Rakesh and his family of six live in a small village in northern India, where he leads a church of only a few believers.

He and his family fully depend on God for their survival. Although their daily lives are challenging, they remain in the village because of the burden Pastor Rakesh feels for the Hindus living nearby.

In addition to the Hindus living in his village, Rakesh daily shares the gospel with Hindus living in the nearly 10 nearby villages.

One day, a Hindu woman who lived in a village more than a mile away came to his worship service at his home. She had been suffering from an illness for some time and asked the pastor to pray for her. Soon, she experienced healing. She decided to give her life to Christ.

When her Hindu family members — some of whom are priests in the local Hindu temple — learned of her conversion, they grew angry.

After the woman entered the pastor’s home for a worship service on June 2, 2024, a mob gathered outside the pastor’s home. They chanted Hindu slogans and told Pastor Rakesh to stop the service. As the worship continued, a few Hindu leaders entered the church with large knives in their hands and forced all the Christians out. Some of the men then brutally beat Pastor Rakesh.

The mob also vandalized the church and the pastor’s home. When the Christians reported the attack to the police, they were told to stop their evangelism.

The attack took its toll on the church body as some worshippers stopped attending out of fear. Pastor Rakesh’s meager income suffered even more. The burden to provide for his family grew immensely.

Around this time, an International Christian Concern (ICC) staff member learned of Pastor Rakesh’s family’s needs. ICC provided the pastor with several items to start a small general store in his village, including rice, oil, sugar, salt, soap, snacks, and other necessities. The goal was to empower the pastor to support his family independently.

“A few years back, we were really suffering for basic needs, and today we live very happily because ICC set us free,” Pastor Rakesh said. “They delivered us from our struggles by providing us with the general store. We are grateful to ICC.”

Pastor Rakesh’s shop is not only successful, but it has also experienced significant growth. Rakesh moved the store from the village to a more central location between the neighboring villages. The store attracted many more customers and earned a good reputation throughout the area.

“Today we have a shop in the center of the main town, and it is a great thing for us,” the pastor said. “ICC blessed us so much, and we rejoice in the Lord. We are so thankful to the ministry of ICC for giving us hope and helping us to live freely without any burdens now.”

With the general store thriving, Pastor Rakesh has renovated his family’s home and the church. He’s also able to meet his family’s needs and provide his children with food, clothes, and cover their school fees.

“All of our needs are met through the shop income, and we are filled with so much peace and joy in our lives,” he said. “Thank you, ICC.”

Most importantly, God has helped grow Pastor Rakesh’s ministry. Rakesh has led 10 more Hindus to Christ through his store. They now regularly worship at his still small but growing church. Person by person, God’s kingdom is spreading in northern India thanks to Pastor Rakesh’s faithfulness.

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