War in Europe: Churches pray across the globe/Indian Pastor beaten to unconsciousness for evangelising

Published: Wed, 03/02/22


I write this email at a time of great uncertainty, images and videos on the attack on Ukraine by Russia have created anxiety across the globe. We find ourselves in the midst of an economic war which will hurt everyone in every nation. As Christians we sit in the gap praying for leaders to make wise decisions, praying for those suffering the terror of air and land strikes in Ukraine, praying for the grieving families of slain soldiers and civilians, praying for Russian and Ukrainian people struggling with a currency in freefall and for hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking asylum in countries bordering Ukraine.  Most of all we pray for peace to be restored and an end to the unnecessary killing of innocent lives.

We share a remarkable story of a missionary couple from Ireland who are choosing to stay in Ukraine to shepherd their congregation.  This is in the midst of churches across the globe praying for peace.  Read more (here).

Sadly we also report on the disdainful behaviour of some officials and people in authority in Ukraine who have been prejudicial in their behaviour towards black and Asian people leaving their country.  Thousands of medical students have been told to wait in cold for 3 days while white Ukrainians were given access to leave the country.  One black woman spoke of a gun being put in her face while she held a 9-month old baby.  A massive operation by international embassies who hired buses and stationed officers at border points, has eliminated the awful treatment.  But this does remind us of the ongoing social injustices that people with darker skin pigmentation can face, even in the midst of war.  Read more (click here).

While most of the world condemned the act of oppression by Russia, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan met with President Putin of Russia.  During the meeting he ostensibly discussed Islamophobia, concerns about the Taliban in Afghanistan and secured a Multi-million dollar gas pipe-line from Karachi to Kasur.  As he exited the plane he made light of the war in Ukraine by saying “What a time I have come – so much excitement.” You can read more (here).

At times like this when anxiety levels will naturally rise, I am grateful that we have a watchful God who protects us. Most churches are now open and Pastors are able to shepherd their congregations more directly now. I would encourage more of you to get back into church so you can revive the fellowship we need as humans and more importantly as God's people. Church allows us to  remove ourselves from the stress of war and to focus on the Word of God - which is the key to salvation.  Our hope in eternal life is what gives us the victory over all the death and destruction we have had to come to terms with recently.  Our lives on this earth will be full of more hurt and pain but God in his mercy will one day take us to a place were there is always peace.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  John 14:27

During times of increasing fuel and grocery prices we have been enamoured with larger gifts than normal from the supporters of our 'Meals for the Homeless' project.  We have been giving away free T-shirts, coats, and reusable bags and with the copious food we share some of our regulars tell us they feel like royalty.  Read more (here).  The increasing fuel prices we are experiencing will affect our ability to give food parcels to the families we support and to various homeless shelters in Redbridge, it will also affect our food collections and collections of other items to be distributed.  This is a worrying concern and we seek your help to purchase an electrically powered vehicle, if you can help please (click here).

Indian Persecution:

Pastor beaten to unconsciousness by Hindu activists for evangelising – now facing sentence under anti-conversion laws.  Read more (here) 

Destruction of statue of Jesus in India highlights growing Hindu Nationalism.  Read more (here)

Pakistan Persecution:

Pitiful court-assessed compensation for deceased sewage workers illustrates low worth of Pak-Christians. Man slaughter charges evaded by paying compensation is a blight on the Pakistani legal system and reminds us of the infamous Qisas and Diyat laws that allow rapists and murderers to evade justice. Read more (here).

We thank you for those emails back from potential new volunteer writers.   We will be sharing more details with all of you this week in preparation for the next newsletter.  If there are others that would also like to join our writing team please email us on admin@britishasianchristians.org.

Blessings

Hannah Chowdhry

We include a list of all the articles mentioned above in date order, feel free to read only those that interest you.  If any of the links above and below do not work you can read all our international articles (here) and all our local UK community news (here). 

Police and military block black and south Asian students and citizens from exiting Ukraine

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Disturbing news of blatant racism faced by black and Asian people seeking a way out of Ukraine while the nation is beset with war, have been confirmed by the United Nations (UN).

Videos shared over social media were already evidencing how officials in the Ukrainian border control, police officers and train and bus conductors were prioritising white Ukrainians even discriminating against black Ukrainians.

Read more (here)

Irish Missionaries choose to stay in Ukraine while global Christians pray for peace 

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27th February 2022 will forever be remembered as the day churches across the globe prayed for an end to conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine has displaced over 500,000 people mainly women and children who have sought asylum in neighbouring countries, of which Poland has the largest percentage.

Though President of Putin of Russia claimed that he would not be attacking civilian sites, increasing evidence illustrates that schools, homes and other non-military sites have been hit by land and air strikes.

Read more (here)

Pastor beaten to unconsciousness by Hindu activists for evangelising – now facing sentence under anti-conversion laws

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Despite the violence and after being hit herself the Pastors wife holds her husband up after he falls unconscious.

We have the name of the Pastor referred to in this article, we know the name of the town in which the attack took place and we are communicating directly with him.  He has for now asked for these personal details not to be shared because he is facing severe death threats. 

A young Indian Pastor suffered a public beating by Hindu fanatics in Madhya Pradesh till the young Pastor was unconscious.

Police initially took the unconscious Pastor to their police station for arrest under anti-conversion laws, but thought better of it when he did not revive.

After spending 12 days in Hospital the Pastor was discharged and immediately imprisoned and interrogated by police.

The Pastor then spent 3 days in a prison cell before being released on bail and is now facing a court case under Madhya Pradesh’s Anti Conversion laws.

Read more (here)

Homeless people ‘feel like royalty’ at our Meals for the Homeless centre

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Pinky a regular visitor to our meal programmes shows off the new cloth bags we have been giving away.

This week we have stepped up our services at our Meals for the Homeless project in Ilford.  Whereas previously we were providing soap powder for washing clothes and bottles of cooking oil, once a month we have decided to increase this to a weekly provision, after a number of our regular visitors asked for help.  These can be collected by local families as well as the temporarily-housed former homeless.

Read more (here)

Pitiful court-assessed compensation for deceased sewage workers illustrates low worth of Pak-Christians

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Praying with the family of Nadeem Masih (RIP) killed saving the life of another sewage worker

We revisited the families of the two sewage workers who were killed in Sargodha when forced to enter a known poisonous sewage tunnel to save the life of Michael Masih another Christian.

Their Muslim bosses sent them in after initially shouting expletives at Michael Masih and berating him when he refused to enter without PPE, due to high toxicity levels.

Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Amjad and Muhammad Rashid sent Nadeem Masih (40 yrs) and Faisal Masih (34yrs) similarly without PPE, to save Michael and correct their earlier error.

Heroes Nadeem and Faisal saved Michael but died in the process, leaving their widows with young families to fend for themselves. Read more (here).

Sarghoda court- assessment rules that deceased Christians were worth 1/2 and 1/8th of the value of a deceased Muslim, ignoring Constitutional equality and price set by Government of Pakistan to settle for a death.

Read more (here)

Pakistan’s PM makes light of Ukraine attack while meeting with President Putin

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Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan visits President Putin only hours later initial ground strikes were made against  Ukraine.

While the world condemns the attack on Ukraine PM Khan makes light of the situation, by saying (sic):

“What a time I have come – so much excitement.”

Read full account and see video (here)