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Posted: 22 May, 2007

India (MNN) -- A bomb blast in a 17th century mosque in Hyderabad, India has taken the lives of nearly a dozen Muslim worshipers during afternoon prayers. The bomb, hidden under a bench in the mosque's courtyard, exploded during prayers Friday, killing 11 people and sparking fears of a resurgence of religious violence that has plagued the city of Hyderabad in the past.

Founder and President of Gospel for Asia KP Yohannan says this type of violence in India is increasing. "India never knew terrorism attacks like this until the last three or four years. It seems to be happening more and more."

Yohannan believes he knows why this is happening. "The powers of darkness are trying to create more problems to take more people into eternity without the Lord. And we have to really be more deeply in prayer for nations around the world, especially the Muslims."

Christians in Hyderabad are taking the bombing pretty hard. Yohannan says believers are saying, "We should have been praying more; we should have been more concerned about interceding."

Yohannan says India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world. He says Muslims in India are a bit unique. "The Muslims in India are a little more open to hear the Gospel. Although the work has been very slow and very difficult, people need to really pray for the Muslims to come to know the Lord."

This type of attack could have targeted Christians. "The persecution in India has increased 300 or 400 percent in the last two or three years. It has become a daily event now," he says.

Many believe these types of attacks will only increase as Dalits, the untouchables, turn away from Hinduism. "There is going to be greater number of people turning to Buddhism and a very large number of people turning to the Christian faith. And that is precisely the reason why some of the religious fanatics are attacking Christian works because these untouchable Dalits are turning to Christ in very significant numbers."

Yohannan says targeted prayer for the people of India is essential. But resources are also needed. "We need to get God's Word in the hands of people and increase radio broadcasts in these languages. And I really wish to see at least a copy of the New Testament in every home."

These people are doing some very wonderful work for the Lord. India is a very dangerous area for Christians with Hindu's (80% of the population) violence and oppression and the Mujahideen. The Mujahideen (islamist group) are not only violent towards Christians but also to those islamists that will not join them and/or are friendly towards non-muslims. The Mujahideen in India are growing quite rapidly in the last few years.

India is one region of the world where a large number of just about all of the worlds major religions all collide.  There is Buddhism, Christian, Islam, and Hindu.  It is truly suprising that the country has not ripped itself apart.

Prayers are greatly needed in this region and any other support possible.

Yes, indeed.  Also, most New Testaments only cost around $2 or $3 in these areas.  (I know in Iraq they are $2 to print and hand out.)  This would be a wonderful thing for a church or Sunday school....even if each person only gave $1 or $2 each and sent it in together for New Testaments.

Brothers and Sisters,

My family has friends in India right now, and there's a lot of open hate and violence against Christians right now. It would take someone either very brave or someone in the government that might be able to provide some protection to get this done right now. Folks usually think of India as being very peaceful, but they've been in Voice of the Martyrs quite a bit recently.

I must add that some of the family customs in India when someone even experiments with Christianity can sometimes be fatal. I would be talking about mother, father, brothers, and sisters possibly killing them. At the very least, the person would be disowned and kicked out with just the clothes on their backs. This would be viewed as the ultimate insult to the entire family, so it wouldn't be one of those things where they went to stay with more distant family members. It's much worse than shunning.

I'm not hinting that this should stop us from trying to distribute Bibles - just that it would be very dangerous for everyone involved. They would view the distribution of a Bible by a Christian to be worse than kidnapping and raping their family member in many parts of the country.

Christian Aid helps around 25,000 native missionary/pastors in India....they are already in place and know the language and customs, etc.  Yes, they are in danger but they do evangelize alot...traveling many, many miles on foot or if they are lucky on bicycles (supplied by Christian Aid).  They also plant churches, help the orphans, etc.  It only costs a dollar a day to support one outside of the big cities.

Also, Gospel for Asia has alot of native missionaries already in India, too.  Some of them have been beaten up or killed, but the other native missionaries keep on doing the work of preaching the Gospel.