By ICC’s India Correspondent

4/9/2015 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern)- “I QUIT!  I cannot take it anymore, I have decided, that I will give up,” a dejected pastor told an ICC representative. The pastor, from Gandimysamma, in the city of Hyderabad, shared his story of perseverance through the storms of suffering for the choice he made; to preach the Gospel.

Pastor David, a 29-year-old former Rashtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS) activists said, “I have come to faith in a dramatic way; God changed my life. Once I was persecuting Christians as a sincere RSS activist, but now [that I converted and am a Christian] I am being targeted by the leaders of RSS. Now it is I who is being persecuted almost on daily basis”.

After he came to know the Lord, and experienced salvation in 2004, Pastor David took two years of theological training. After this, for his first assignment in 2006, he served as a Church planter in Shammipur, Qutbalapur block. That’s when his marathon of suffering began. Pastor David said, “Knowing my past as an RSS activist the Hindu radicals have threatened to kill me on several times, if I continue to preach about Jesus in the area.”

Persecution Continues to Grow

Since he began in ministry the intensity of persecution grew year after year. Nearly every year there has been a major attack directed to him and his family members. Pastor David recalled a time when the church grew quickly in short span of time. Many non-Christians started attending the fellowship and giving their lives to Jesus. Soon, however, that joy was taken away as the Hindu radicals set ablaze the temporary shed that was built by the Church members in Shammipur and used as their place of worship.

For David, that was a test that helped him to grow stronger in the Lord, David. He did not leave the village as the Hindu radicals were expecting he would in the face of such persecution. Instead he continued his ministry in that place and the Christians united to the face the challenges meted by Hindu radicals. However, the next incident, which was in 2007, shattered Pastor David, his family members and the entire Christian community to the core. In an attempt to intimidate Pastor David and his family and get them to leave the village, RSS activists violently raped his younger sister. The activists thought that this would then eliminate Christianity from their village.

The Hindu radicals not only targeted Pastor David, but also went to every Christian family in the village and threaten them to leave the Christian faith, or face the consequences: being denied water, electricity and daily work. In one instance during a village meeting the pastor recalls, “I was dragged out of the house where over 20-30 RSS activists beat me blue and black using their slippers and boots. The attackers snatched all the Bibles, piled them together, urinated on them and later burnt them.”

“I Thought That Was the Last Day of My Life”

“May 24^th 2009; I thought that was the last day of my life,” said Pastor David. He went on to explain, “My brother and I were wrapping up after having a very successful gospel meeting. At about 9 pm, four strangers came to us on two motor bikes and told us to go with them. Before we could ask them what this was about, they forced us to sit on the bikes, and drove us to a temple where there was a mob of 150 people waiting for us. Without telling us a word, they started pulling us and violently beating us up. They punched us and kicked us all over our bodies. Even people who were passing by were beaten. My brother and I both collapsed, covered in blood. On hearing about the incident, the police took us to the police station.” 

However, when they arrived at the police station, Pastor David and his brother did not find refuge and help. Instead, he and his family found themselves in more trouble at the hands of the police. “My family and I were further assaulted by the police in the police station for organizing Christian meeting,” he said. “I was bedridden for more than a month because of the severe injuries sustained in the attack.”

It was March 23^rd 2013, during the morning hours when someone knocked on the door of Pastor David’s house. To his surprise two police officers were standing at the door. The police told the Pastor that a case had been filed against him and that they were there to arrest him. Pastor David was booked on false charges of collecting money from a family and return promising healing and financial flourish.

A Hindu radical had threatened a woman to testify against the pastor in the police station; framing the charges against him. Pastor David said, “I could not bear the pain, as I was beaten up by the police on bare skin for almost 3 days continuously; forcing me to admit the charges of taking Rs. 50,000/- from the woman. The police even brought chili  power to apply to my private parts, as part of the interrogation”.

At that moment, Pastor David prayed, “Lord, you know that I did not take the money, help me to come out this torture and agony.” Though he knew he was innocent, he says, “God gave me strength to tell the police, ‘Sir, I did not take the money from anybody, but I will pay Rs.50, 000/- back to the woman.’”

Pastor David had to mortgage the house and the Church land, in order to re-pay the false charges. “Even today the land documents are at the money lenders and the interest is paid on monthly basis,” he said.  Pastor David was discouraged and dejected about this, and that’s when he said, “enough is enough, I Quit, I cannot take it anymore.”

Time Heals and He Trusts God

The time has healed him and his scars of torture; Pastor David continued to serve. The persecution however continued. Again, more recently, on Oct 31^st 2014, police arrested him and sent him to jail on false charges. He spent 13 days in the jail and during this time the RSS destroyed his newly built Church. Pastor David’s wife, Mrs. Preethi Krupa, was badly injured during this vandalism and destruction of the Church. ICC assisted to cover her medical expenses.

Although the suffering is enormous and the pain is unbearable, Pastor David continues the journey of suffering for the choices he made

Christian persecution in India is an everyday reality. Pastor David’s journey of endurance is just one of the many instances of intense sufferings that typically go unheard and unnoticed. He is grateful for this small effort of ICC to give a platform for others to hear the voices of the suffering.  Will you commit to pray for him and for others who are persecuted for their faith?