Press Release 09-05-2008
Center and State Governments unconcerned about continuing violence
Federation of Indian Christian Organizations in North America is shocked to note that the inhuman events taking place against Christians in Orissa is continuing in spite of assurances from the Centre and the State Governments. The Orissa Government has been reduced to a position of being a mute spectator. The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh has assured that the violence will stop; however, no signs of its abatement are evident enough to warrant his well-meaning intentions.
Although CRPF, police, and the paramilitary have been deployed, yet the anti-Christian pogrom does not stop. The Orissa Government has declared the situation is "under control". It is astonishing that in an "under control" situation, six more churches have been attacked, set on fire, and completely razed to ground. Hundreds of Christian-owned houses have met a similar fate. The number of missing people and refugees is rising. More than 60,000 Christians are hiding in the forests without food and water. Hindu radicals are making plans to cleanse Orissa of its Christian population. The brutal mob goes on raping nuns and beating up priests. Thereafter nuns and priests are stripped semi-naked and paraded on the streets and ordered to have sex with each other for the devilish enjoyment of the satanic mob or die. The priests and nuns obviously refuse and so the mob pours kerosene, petrol, and other country made fuels on their heads, and torches them alive. All this happens in broad daylight. There have been more than 3,000 forcible "re-conversions" to Hinduism, where the re-converted Hindus are ordered to attack the same churches where they once prayed. Christians are mercilessly persecuted, pregnant women are cut to pieces, thousands are rendered homeless, orphanages are burnt, churches are razed, and yet the Orissa Government labels the situation as "under control".
The Union Home Minister's statement of not naming the VHP as the culprit shows his weakness and his inability to rein the anti-society, anti-democracy, and anti-national activities of the VHP. It was more or less a Congress affair and no word against the BJD-BJP Government has been spoken by him, which has left the Orissa Congress leaders speechless. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil commented, "I am not here to indulge in blame game", displays his total lack of interest in resolving the volatile situation. His visit was meaningless and has in fact encouraged more violence. Home Minister should play control game and control the violence. Dr. Victor Joseph, Chairman Governmental Relations said “The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has failed miserably in sending an investigation team to the riot-hit areas of Orissa.” The NHRC has come to mean wastage of national resources, as it is unable to pull up the Orissa state authorities for their acts of commissions and omissions on human rights. The NHRC has even failed to issue a public statement either to condemn the killings or visit the strife-torn areas to improve the situation of the victims. It only issued a perfunctory notice to the State Government of Orissa where it suppressed the actual status of the grave situation, which in itself is scandalous, considering the scale of violence against Christians. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has also taken no action on the Orissa violence against Christians. There is a global outcry against these barbaric atrocities being perpetrated towards Christians, which may result in a possible backlash in reduction in foreign investments in Orissa. The violence has not completely subsided and this continuous violence tarnishes the image of India, which is no longer viewed as a non-violent, and a peace-loving country.
FIACONA condemns the barbaric acts of violence that are still taking place in Orissa against Christians in the strongest possible terms. The attitude of the current government in Orissa and at the Centre towards these types of macabre acts against the Christian minority is unacceptable. Government should intervene to protect the rights of the minorities and the freedom of religion. Heinous crimes of this magnitude cannot be ignored. All these ghoulish incidents highlight the trauma, the pain, and the helplessness of the Christians.
FIACONA demands an immediate investigation into this matter by the respective authorities. The Union Government must authorize the Army to move its troops into affected districts where the local police and RAF have failed miserably. The NHRC should send an investigation team and see that human rights are not violated. The Ministry of Minority Affairs should ensure the security of the minorities. The Centre must dismiss the Orissa Government as it has totally failed to protect its citizens. Urgent compensation to the kin of the dead and the injured must be provided. Relief and rehabilitation must be provided so that the tens of thousands of Christians now hiding in the forests can return home. The Government must rebuild every single home, every single orphanage, and every single church that has been attacked and burnt. The Government must book the culprits and prosecute them. “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should immediately resign, said Bernard Malik President of FIACONA “if not on the grounds of complete failure of law and order, then certainly on the grounds of lack of initiative to curb the ongoing violence.”
For the favor of publication
Rev. Bernard Malik
302-354-5452
www.fiacona.org
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 9-5-08
Dear Fiends
Praise the Lord for this new day, a gift from the Lord. It was on this day Mother Teresa of Calcutta died 11 years ago. It was on this day, in 1974 I came to the USA . I was "very young and very restless". My how the years have gone by. The Lord good. He is faithful. He is merciful and kind.
We read in Greek mythologies that the Greek gods had ethos and they had no pathos. The Greek gods were morally perfect and stainless they had nothing to do with the imperfect world like ours. They were distant and very much detached from the sorrows and the sufferings of this world. As Beth Midler sang" God is watching us from a distance". On the contrary, the Lord of the Bible has both Ethos and Pathos. He is pure and perfect, yet He is involved in our sorrows and in our sufferings. He is both transcendent and immanent. Praise the Lord we know we have the Lord revealed to us in Christ, who has both ethos and pathos. He is the Lord whose heart is disclosed in the Bible. We see the heart of God revealed in the Book of Micah, one of the minor prophets.
Micah was around in a time of great fear and confusion for Israel. Assyria, the powerhouse nation of the time was attempting to conquer them, not only that but the age old problem of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer was obvious and destroying the city from the inside. And it was during this critical time that the Lord sent Micah to them with a message that denounced injustice and false faith, and if they didn’t get their act together Israel would suffer destruction and exile. Perhaps the best known verse of Micah is found in chapter 6 verse 8, ’He has showed you O mortal what is good. And what does the lord require of you? But to do justice and to love kindness And to walk humbly with your God.’ You see the Israelites were asking how they could make it up to God, they wanted to know how to make him happy again. And so they turned to their rituals, their empty rituals. Micah had to explain to them that rituals themselves did not appease, or satisfy God; appeasement wasn’t the issue. The issue was how they were living their lives. They were acting unjustly. They didn’t care for what God expected of them until they needed him. They were a proud and arrogant people. Does any of this sound familiar? Injustice in the world. The gap between rich and poor growing. The powerful taking advantage of the weak! What’s our role here on earth? What’s the job that needs to get done while we are here? Hebrews chapter 13 tells us what it is: ’Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured as though you yourselves were being tortured.’ Do we see the need? God’s heart is clear on this! And if that’s the case, then what’s the problem? Is something holding us back from acting justly and loving kindness? Could it be that for a lot of us selfishness is holding us back? Life is a struggle, life is a challenge, life is a distraction. Getting up every day, having breakfast, lunch, dinner. Taking care of the kids, taking them to school, studying, going to work, meeting demands, fulfilling responsibilities. Having time off, relaxing. For a lot of us living out our lives, fulfilling all the things that make you, you and me, me, distract us from the bigger issues And sometimes allowing ourselves to be immersed in them has taken all our attention. Do you think that God’s major goal for your life is for you to be happy? Because it’s only once we accept that it actually isn’t the goal that we’ll be able to let it go and start putting others before ourselves. God’s major goal isn’t to make us happy but to be holy and to use us to spread his love to the entire world. Matthew 25:31-45 says, how is the king replying to you today? Is this passage warning to us, or are we encouraged deep in our hearts by it? Can I suggest that this should be the mission of every person who confesses to being a Christian, of every person who stands up and says ’I follow Jesus.’ Our mission is to follow our lord and savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the kingdom of God. How do we start living lives of compassion, living lives that spread the love of God to the entire world? Mother Teresa suggested we try offering small acts of love to others, and we will find our hearts will open, and once our hearts are open God’s love and compassion will pour through out into the world around us. What acts of love can we offer? We can give to the poor generously. We can think of our neighbors- how can we help them? Most importantly, we can pray. We have complete access to a mighty God 24/7. Our job here on earth is clear, God’s heart is obvious. His heart is for the poor and the oppressed, for the sick and imprisoned. His heart is for those that the world wants to be able to ignore. But Jesus reached out and touched the untouchable and he asks us to do the same and we can if only we open our eyes see past our own lives and all the things that distract us.
In Christ,
Brown
We’ll not allow VHP rally,
Delhi, September 05, 2008
First Published: 00:40 IST(5/9/2008)
Last Updated: 00:44 IST(5/9/2008)
Print
The Orissa government on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it would take “all possible steps to prevent” the proposed yatra of VHP leader Praveen Togadia carrying the ashes of slain Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
The government, however, demanded four more battalions of the CRPF from the Centre to deal with the situation. “We will stop the yatra at the state border and will utilise the force to prevent it from coming into Kandhamal district,” senior counsel KK Venugopal told a bench headed by CJI K.G. Balakrishnan.
The bench was hearing a petition of Cuttack archbishop Raphael Cheenath's seeking a CBI probe into the communal clashes in Kandhamal.
The court expressed hope that “the state police along with CRPF and other paramilitary forces would ensure the law and order situation and people's life and property will be protected to best of their ability.”
It also directed the state government to take urgent steps to see that those in relief camps were protected and miscreants were not allowed to create any problem.
Patil briefs Cabinet
With concern over the communal situation in Orissa mounting at the Centre, Union home minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday briefed the Union Cabinet on the situation.
Patil is also reported to have detailed his yesterday's visit to the state where deserted streets, locked up homes and burnt churches greeted him. Sources indicated that there was a sense at the meeting that the Orissa government could have handled the communal situation better if it had moved swiftly, and sternly.
Left meets President
The Left parties on Thursday met President Pratiba Patil requesting her to ban saffron outfits, VHP and Bajrang Dal, for their “terrorist-like” activities in Orissa. A delegation led by senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat told the President that if the government could not ban these outfits, at least it should put them under “serious monitoring”.
With inputs from HTC/PTI
Praise the Lord for this new day, a gift from the Lord. It was on this day Mother Teresa of Calcutta died 11 years ago. It was on this day, in 1974 I came to the USA . I was "very young and very restless". My how the years have gone by. The Lord good. He is faithful. He is merciful and kind.
We read in Greek mythologies that the Greek gods had ethos and they had no pathos. The Greek gods were morally perfect and stainless they had nothing to do with the imperfect world like ours. They were distant and very much detached from the sorrows and the sufferings of this world. As Beth Midler sang" God is watching us from a distance". On the contrary, the Lord of the Bible has both Ethos and Pathos. He is pure and perfect, yet He is involved in our sorrows and in our sufferings. He is both transcendent and immanent. Praise the Lord we know we have the Lord revealed to us in Christ, who has both ethos and pathos. He is the Lord whose heart is disclosed in the Bible. We see the heart of God revealed in the Book of Micah, one of the minor prophets.
Micah was around in a time of great fear and confusion for Israel. Assyria, the powerhouse nation of the time was attempting to conquer them, not only that but the age old problem of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer was obvious and destroying the city from the inside. And it was during this critical time that the Lord sent Micah to them with a message that denounced injustice and false faith, and if they didn’t get their act together Israel would suffer destruction and exile. Perhaps the best known verse of Micah is found in chapter 6 verse 8, ’He has showed you O mortal what is good. And what does the lord require of you? But to do justice and to love kindness And to walk humbly with your God.’ You see the Israelites were asking how they could make it up to God, they wanted to know how to make him happy again. And so they turned to their rituals, their empty rituals. Micah had to explain to them that rituals themselves did not appease, or satisfy God; appeasement wasn’t the issue. The issue was how they were living their lives. They were acting unjustly. They didn’t care for what God expected of them until they needed him. They were a proud and arrogant people. Does any of this sound familiar? Injustice in the world. The gap between rich and poor growing. The powerful taking advantage of the weak! What’s our role here on earth? What’s the job that needs to get done while we are here? Hebrews chapter 13 tells us what it is: ’Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured as though you yourselves were being tortured.’ Do we see the need? God’s heart is clear on this! And if that’s the case, then what’s the problem? Is something holding us back from acting justly and loving kindness? Could it be that for a lot of us selfishness is holding us back? Life is a struggle, life is a challenge, life is a distraction. Getting up every day, having breakfast, lunch, dinner. Taking care of the kids, taking them to school, studying, going to work, meeting demands, fulfilling responsibilities. Having time off, relaxing. For a lot of us living out our lives, fulfilling all the things that make you, you and me, me, distract us from the bigger issues And sometimes allowing ourselves to be immersed in them has taken all our attention. Do you think that God’s major goal for your life is for you to be happy? Because it’s only once we accept that it actually isn’t the goal that we’ll be able to let it go and start putting others before ourselves. God’s major goal isn’t to make us happy but to be holy and to use us to spread his love to the entire world. Matthew 25:31-45 says, how is the king replying to you today? Is this passage warning to us, or are we encouraged deep in our hearts by it? Can I suggest that this should be the mission of every person who confesses to being a Christian, of every person who stands up and says ’I follow Jesus.’ Our mission is to follow our lord and savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the kingdom of God. How do we start living lives of compassion, living lives that spread the love of God to the entire world? Mother Teresa suggested we try offering small acts of love to others, and we will find our hearts will open, and once our hearts are open God’s love and compassion will pour through out into the world around us. What acts of love can we offer? We can give to the poor generously. We can think of our neighbors- how can we help them? Most importantly, we can pray. We have complete access to a mighty God 24/7. Our job here on earth is clear, God’s heart is obvious. His heart is for the poor and the oppressed, for the sick and imprisoned. His heart is for those that the world wants to be able to ignore. But Jesus reached out and touched the untouchable and he asks us to do the same and we can if only we open our eyes see past our own lives and all the things that distract us.
In Christ,
Brown
We’ll not allow VHP rally,
Delhi, September 05, 2008
First Published: 00:40 IST(5/9/2008)
Last Updated: 00:44 IST(5/9/2008)
The Orissa government on Thursday assured the Supreme Court that it would take “all possible steps to prevent” the proposed yatra of VHP leader Praveen Togadia carrying the ashes of slain Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
The government, however, demanded four more battalions of the CRPF from the Centre to deal with the situation. “We will stop the yatra at the state border and will utilise the force to prevent it from coming into Kandhamal district,” senior counsel KK Venugopal told a bench headed by CJI K.G. Balakrishnan.
The bench was hearing a petition of Cuttack archbishop Raphael Cheenath's seeking a CBI probe into the communal clashes in Kandhamal.
The court expressed hope that “the state police along with CRPF and other paramilitary forces would ensure the law and order situation and people's life and property will be protected to best of their ability.”
It also directed the state government to take urgent steps to see that those in relief camps were protected and miscreants were not allowed to create any problem.
Patil briefs Cabinet
With concern over the communal situation in Orissa mounting at the Centre, Union home minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday briefed the Union Cabinet on the situation.
Patil is also reported to have detailed his yesterday's visit to the state where deserted streets, locked up homes and burnt churches greeted him. Sources indicated that there was a sense at the meeting that the Orissa government could have handled the communal situation better if it had moved swiftly, and sternly.
Left meets President
The Left parties on Thursday met President Pratiba Patil requesting her to ban saffron outfits, VHP and Bajrang Dal, for their “terrorist-like” activities in Orissa. A delegation led by senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat told the President that if the government could not ban these outfits, at least it should put them under “serious monitoring”.
With inputs from HTC/PTI
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 9-4-08
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord that for another day He has granted us, as a gift, grace to live under His authority and in the grip of His grace. Praise the Lord for the Church of Jesus Christ that is militant and triumphant. We have the Word of Jesus our Lord, the head of the Church, and Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, who declared that " Upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell can not prevail against it". He further declared triumphant "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me".
We serve the Risen Saviour and the conquering King. He has triumphed over the grave. He has defeated the enemy. We are called and commissioned to be His ambassadors.
May the Lord make us His instruments of His peace. I'd like to share the following song "Lord, Make Us Instruments of Your Peace".
Song Lyrics
Lord make us instruments of Your peaceWhere there is hatred let Your love increaseLord make us instruments of Your peaceWalls of pride and prejudice shall ceaseWhen we are Your instruments of peaceWhere there is hatredWe will show His loveWhere there is injuryWe will never judgeWhere there is strivingWe will speak His peaceTo the people crying for releaseWe will be His instruments of peace
Where there is blindnessWe will pray for sightWhere there is darknessWe will shine His lightWhere there is sadnessWe will bear their griefTo the millions crying for releaseWe will be His instruments of peace
One of the saints of Jesus and martyrs for Christ, who stood against the oppression of darkness, dared to die for Christ. He said: “First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”SILENCE IS GOLDEN?
There are many times when the old saying is true. Silence is, indeed, golden. There are many times when it is best to remain silent rather than say something that will cause discord or strife or something that you will later be sorry that you said it.
But there are other times when silence is not golden. There are times when we are wrong if we remain silent. If we know someone is innocent and remain silent we are wrong. If we know someone is being misrepresented and remain silent we are wrong. If we know that someone needs to hear what God has to say on a subject and remain silent we are wrong.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 7 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted… A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
When is it wrong for a Christian to remain silent?
When is it necessary for a Christian to speak?
I believe we find the answer tucked away in Psalm 40:10
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
We sent some funds to assist some of the victims of the violence in Phulbani. I had a call from one of the families today, the mother of a young man who was tortured and burned to death. She is going through massive grief. Her son left a wife and two young girls behind, ages 12 and 8.
May the Lord continue to bless us as we remain faithful to Him. I'm including some of the news briefs about Orissa, India. Thank you for taking time to pray and care. Please pray for Sunita today as she meets with some people in the State Department in Washington to share about the situation in India. Also, she leaves for South Africa tomorrow.
In Christ
Brown
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / VHP activists try to poison drinking water in the relief camps
Cases of poisoning of Drinking Water was reported by two relief camps
• The Relief Camp at Vijoy High School Raikia block, Kandhamal reported that drinking water was poisoned on 3rd September 2008.Fortunately, the poisoning of water was detected in time and confirmed by a doctor just before food was served to the Christians taking refuge in the camp, resulting in their going hungry till 4pm, when alternate arrangements were made to provide potable water.
An attempt to poison the drinking water source of the relief camp in Habaq High School, Relief Camp at G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal was foiled by an alert security guard. Hindutva under VHP extremists climbed on the drinking water tank 9 pm on 2nd September and were caught by the Security guard, even as they were trying to open the lid with a bag containing a poisonous substance to be mixed into the water, to cause a massive killing of Christians together.
Hindutva extremists from VHP are objecting to the Christians "eating at government expense". On Sept 4th a group of nearly 2500 Hindutva extremists barged into the Relief Camp at Tikabali Govt. High School shouted at the Christian refugees and took away supplies meant for the Christian refugees, while police were silent spectators to the event. A group of women instigated by VHP attempted to set afire a relief camp when its inmates were demonstrating near the block office demanding sufficient aid at Tikabali in Kandhamal district.Meanwhile, the Orissa government assured the supreme court of India that no toward incidents would happen in the strife torn Kandhamal and safety of Christians
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Supreme Court tells Orissa govt to protect people
4 Sep 2008, 0147 hrs IST, Dhananjay Mahapatra ,TNNNEW DELHI: The Orissa government’s bland denials of raging communal riots on Wednesday made an angrySupreme Court seek its commitment on oath to provide protection to people and their property in the affected areas. The Centre, meanwhile, said that the BJD-BJP government was under the constitutional scanner.
Acting on Cuttack archbishop’s charge that police was hand-in-glove with the perpetrators and that the state government was a mute spectator, the court asked the chief secretary to file an affidavit on Thursday stating that the administration “will take all steps to protect life and property”.
If the state was asked by the court to file an affidavit to do its primary constitutional duty — protect the life and property of citizens — the Centre issued a veiled warning saying the Naveen Patnaik government was being watched “whether it was discharging its constitutional duties or not”. This assumes significance in the wake of home minister Shivaraj Patil’s inspection of riot affected areas on Wednesday.
If the court sought commitment from the state, it asked the Centre to take proactive steps. “Do not keep a watch only. See if some steps could be taken to bring back normalcy,” it said.
Faced with this observation, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said, “The home minister is visiting the riot affected areas to see whether the state government is doing enough to protect the people. We are finding out whether the state is carrying out its constitutional duty or not.”
What enraged a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal was the bland denial from state counsel Jana Ranjan Das that “allegations about continuing communal violence are false”.
This met with a strong counter. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath’s counsel Colin Gonsalves told the court that on Tuesday night, a church was destroyed at Daringbadi and nearly 100 houses were torched. Apprehending fresh communal riots, Gonsalves also sought a direction to the state to ban VHP leader Praveen Togadia’s proposed rally on Friday with the ashes of slain religious leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Praise the Lord that for another day He has granted us, as a gift, grace to live under His authority and in the grip of His grace. Praise the Lord for the Church of Jesus Christ that is militant and triumphant. We have the Word of Jesus our Lord, the head of the Church, and Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, who declared that " Upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell can not prevail against it". He further declared triumphant "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me".
We serve the Risen Saviour and the conquering King. He has triumphed over the grave. He has defeated the enemy. We are called and commissioned to be His ambassadors.
May the Lord make us His instruments of His peace. I'd like to share the following song "Lord, Make Us Instruments of Your Peace".
Song Lyrics
Lord make us instruments of Your peaceWhere there is hatred let Your love increaseLord make us instruments of Your peaceWalls of pride and prejudice shall ceaseWhen we are Your instruments of peaceWhere there is hatredWe will show His loveWhere there is injuryWe will never judgeWhere there is strivingWe will speak His peaceTo the people crying for releaseWe will be His instruments of peace
Where there is blindnessWe will pray for sightWhere there is darknessWe will shine His lightWhere there is sadnessWe will bear their griefTo the millions crying for releaseWe will be His instruments of peace
One of the saints of Jesus and martyrs for Christ, who stood against the oppression of darkness, dared to die for Christ. He said: “First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”SILENCE IS GOLDEN?
There are many times when the old saying is true. Silence is, indeed, golden. There are many times when it is best to remain silent rather than say something that will cause discord or strife or something that you will later be sorry that you said it.
But there are other times when silence is not golden. There are times when we are wrong if we remain silent. If we know someone is innocent and remain silent we are wrong. If we know someone is being misrepresented and remain silent we are wrong. If we know that someone needs to hear what God has to say on a subject and remain silent we are wrong.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 7 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted… A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
When is it wrong for a Christian to remain silent?
When is it necessary for a Christian to speak?
I believe we find the answer tucked away in Psalm 40:10
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
We sent some funds to assist some of the victims of the violence in Phulbani. I had a call from one of the families today, the mother of a young man who was tortured and burned to death. She is going through massive grief. Her son left a wife and two young girls behind, ages 12 and 8.
May the Lord continue to bless us as we remain faithful to Him. I'm including some of the news briefs about Orissa, India. Thank you for taking time to pray and care. Please pray for Sunita today as she meets with some people in the State Department in Washington to share about the situation in India. Also, she leaves for South Africa tomorrow.
In Christ
Brown
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / VHP activists try to poison drinking water in the relief camps
Cases of poisoning of Drinking Water was reported by two relief camps
• The Relief Camp at Vijoy High School Raikia block, Kandhamal reported that drinking water was poisoned on 3rd September 2008.Fortunately, the poisoning of water was detected in time and confirmed by a doctor just before food was served to the Christians taking refuge in the camp, resulting in their going hungry till 4pm, when alternate arrangements were made to provide potable water.
An attempt to poison the drinking water source of the relief camp in Habaq High School, Relief Camp at G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal was foiled by an alert security guard. Hindutva under VHP extremists climbed on the drinking water tank 9 pm on 2nd September and were caught by the Security guard, even as they were trying to open the lid with a bag containing a poisonous substance to be mixed into the water, to cause a massive killing of Christians together.
Hindutva extremists from VHP are objecting to the Christians "eating at government expense". On Sept 4th a group of nearly 2500 Hindutva extremists barged into the Relief Camp at Tikabali Govt. High School shouted at the Christian refugees and took away supplies meant for the Christian refugees, while police were silent spectators to the event. A group of women instigated by VHP attempted to set afire a relief camp when its inmates were demonstrating near the block office demanding sufficient aid at Tikabali in Kandhamal district.Meanwhile, the Orissa government assured the supreme court of India that no toward incidents would happen in the strife torn Kandhamal and safety of Christians
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Supreme Court tells Orissa govt to protect people
4 Sep 2008, 0147 hrs IST, Dhananjay Mahapatra ,TNNNEW DELHI: The Orissa government’s bland denials of raging communal riots on Wednesday made an angrySupreme Court seek its commitment on oath to provide protection to people and their property in the affected areas. The Centre, meanwhile, said that the BJD-BJP government was under the constitutional scanner.
Acting on Cuttack archbishop’s charge that police was hand-in-glove with the perpetrators and that the state government was a mute spectator, the court asked the chief secretary to file an affidavit on Thursday stating that the administration “will take all steps to protect life and property”.
If the state was asked by the court to file an affidavit to do its primary constitutional duty — protect the life and property of citizens — the Centre issued a veiled warning saying the Naveen Patnaik government was being watched “whether it was discharging its constitutional duties or not”. This assumes significance in the wake of home minister Shivaraj Patil’s inspection of riot affected areas on Wednesday.
If the court sought commitment from the state, it asked the Centre to take proactive steps. “Do not keep a watch only. See if some steps could be taken to bring back normalcy,” it said.
Faced with this observation, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said, “The home minister is visiting the riot affected areas to see whether the state government is doing enough to protect the people. We are finding out whether the state is carrying out its constitutional duty or not.”
What enraged a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal was the bland denial from state counsel Jana Ranjan Das that “allegations about continuing communal violence are false”.
This met with a strong counter. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath’s counsel Colin Gonsalves told the court that on Tuesday night, a church was destroyed at Daringbadi and nearly 100 houses were torched. Apprehending fresh communal riots, Gonsalves also sought a direction to the state to ban VHP leader Praveen Togadia’s proposed rally on Friday with the ashes of slain religious leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 9-3-08
Dear Friends,
Praise the Lord for this new day. Today is the first day of school for the all the schools in New York State. It is going to be one of the ten best days. It is going to be bright and brilliant. It was a wonderful day yesterday. Janice and Simeon are coming today; Micah will be joining us tomorrow. Jeremy will be coming down Saturday. Our friend Linda is visiting us. Laureen is home. She had flown to Columbia, SC to visit her friend Meredith for a few days. Laureen will be starting her new job next Monday. Alice started school yesterday (teachers only) and meets her new students today. Sunita and Andy celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Monday, September 1. Rev. Sushant Naik, a Christian leader from Orissa, is coming down to be with us for few days. He will be going back to Orissa, India on the tenth of September.
I am forwarding a news article From "Times of India". The Central Government of India is now taking some action to intervene in the devastating and deplorable condition of Orissa. I have spoken to some of my family members and some Christian leaders. The Union Home Minister, Shivaraj Patil, met with the Chief Minister of Orissa. He also visited the refugee center-- Relief Center in premises of the Hubback High School yesterday, taking stock of the situation.
The first foreign Government to condemn the violence against Christians in Orissa was the government of Italy. The Vatican also condemned the atrocities committed against defenseless Christians. The Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India is in the forefront of bringing the attention of the Central (Federal) Government of India to the dire situation of Orissa.
Thank you for praying and caring. Many of you have contacted the media on behalf of the suffering Christians of Orissa. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution carried an article highlighting the plight of Christians in Orissa. The British Baptist Journal carried a front page article highlighting the situation in India, thanks to our friend Sue Clyde. Our daughter Sunita is meeting with an official from the US State Department in Washington this Thursday.
Praise the Lord for all of you who have been sending the monetary gifts for those who are suffering. As the Lord lays in your heart a burden for the victims of the persecution, you can send checks payable to the Union Center United Methodist church, Memo - India Project. The checks can be sent to Union Center United Methodist Church, 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, New York, 13760. All the gifts received will be used100% for the suffering and the needy Christians in G.Udayagiri, Phulbani area.
Some of you have inquired about the children in the children's homes of Dugudi and Nanda. The Buildings are intact. Praise the Lord. The children are currently staying in the Relief Center in G. Udayagiri. All schools and colleges are closed, and shops and stores are closed most of the time. Transportation has been completely disrupted. The violence against Christians continues . Many Christians have been fleeing to cities like Bhubaneswar and Berampore.
Revelation 12: 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. "
In Jesus,
Brown
From " THE TIMES OF INDIA"
SC directs Orissa to submit report on Kandhamal by Thursday3 Sep 2008, 1132 hrs IST,AGENCIES
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Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil meets Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. (PTI Photo)
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The ASG said that a senior government official from the state should assure the court that the state government will fully assist the para-military forces in protecting lives of people in riot-hit areas. However, counsel for the Orissa government contended that the allegations of Archbishop were not correct. He further said that he was not aware of any yatra to be taken out by Togadia as he was hearing it for the first time in the court. He claimed the situation in the riot-hit areas was under control and a similar PIL has been filed in the Orissa High Court. He said that the Crime Branch has been entrusted the probe of the incidents. However, the Bench said at this stage the court was not concerned with the investigations but with controlling the violence. The Orissa government counsel said that the Home Minister has gone to the state to find out whether these allegations were correct or not. However, this submission was opposed by the ASG who said that the Minister has gone to see whether people were provided protection or not. He said, it was the duty of state government to assist the para-military forces so that no life was lost. In a petition filed on Tuesday, the Archbishop claimed that the attack on churches and other properties belonging to the community was a well orchestrated conspiracy and pleaded that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence. Giving details of the damage and loss of property, the petition alleged the Orissa government had failed to protect the life and property of the community and the measures taken by it, including the compensation announced for the affected families, were not enough. The petition also sought a compensation of Rs five lakh for the families of those killed in the violence, Rs four lakh for those whose houses were destroyed, Rs two lakh for those whose houses were damaged partially and Rs one lakh for those injured. The petition also sought Rs three crore as compensation for the damage caused to churches.
Note: 1 lakh = 100,000, about $2,500
1 crore = 10,000,000
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Fed ready to take steps in riot-hit Orissa, SupremeCourt told
Centre ready to take steps in riot-hit Orissa, SC told They (supporters of Laxmananda) VHP are saying that since you (missionaries) have killed our head we will kill your head," Gonsalvess claimed( All primary investigations clearly suggest the killing was the hand work of Left Maoists).
New Delhi : The Centre on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that it will fulfil its responsibilities and take necessary steps in the riot-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa.
"The Centre will fulfil its responsibilities," Additional Solicitor Gopal Subramanium told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan when a petition seeking a CBI probe into incidents of violence against Christians in the state was mentioned before it.
The Bench, which at first wanted petitioner and Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath to approach the Orissa High Court, agreed to grant urgent hearing tomorrow after the ASG intervened and conveyed instructions received from the Centre.
"Necessary steps will be taken," Subramanium said and asked the Bench to hear the matter tomorrow.
The ASG said he would personally interact with the Home Secretary and discuss the issues raised in the petition.
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / 2400 homes and Prayer houses torched-Orissa state
As per the latest Orissa government assessment, at least 2,400 buildings, including prayer houses and schools, have been either damaged or burnt," Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar said. This is hotly contested by GCICand numbers are played down in a major cover upHe said sporadic incidents of violence had been reported from some villages under Tikabali police station despite the imposition night curfew in the entire district.
Curfew was also clamped in Jaypore town in Koraput district after clashes between Christians and VHP , a police official said.
The communal violence erupted on the evening of Aug 23, when Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) central advisory committee, and four others were killed by suspected Maoist guerrillas at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal.
The death toll in the violence has gone up to 51 even as the government deployed police and paramilitary forces in 12 of the state's 30 districts and imposed curfew in Kandhamal.
Due to the violence, thousands of villagers in Kandhamal district fled to nearby forests. Some of them are now returning and taking shelter in the relief camps set up by the administration.
"The district administration has set up at least 10 relief centers and 14,500 people are being sheltered there. They are being provided food and medicines," Krishan Kumar said.
"Fifty percent of the people were brought by us, while the others came on their own. Today (Tuesday) we rescued 20 children from a Christian home at Phulbani since they were feeling unsafe.
Praise the Lord for this new day. Today is the first day of school for the all the schools in New York State. It is going to be one of the ten best days. It is going to be bright and brilliant. It was a wonderful day yesterday. Janice and Simeon are coming today; Micah will be joining us tomorrow. Jeremy will be coming down Saturday. Our friend Linda is visiting us. Laureen is home. She had flown to Columbia, SC to visit her friend Meredith for a few days. Laureen will be starting her new job next Monday. Alice started school yesterday (teachers only) and meets her new students today. Sunita and Andy celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Monday, September 1. Rev. Sushant Naik, a Christian leader from Orissa, is coming down to be with us for few days. He will be going back to Orissa, India on the tenth of September.
I am forwarding a news article From "Times of India". The Central Government of India is now taking some action to intervene in the devastating and deplorable condition of Orissa. I have spoken to some of my family members and some Christian leaders. The Union Home Minister, Shivaraj Patil, met with the Chief Minister of Orissa. He also visited the refugee center-- Relief Center in premises of the Hubback High School yesterday, taking stock of the situation.
The first foreign Government to condemn the violence against Christians in Orissa was the government of Italy. The Vatican also condemned the atrocities committed against defenseless Christians. The Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India is in the forefront of bringing the attention of the Central (Federal) Government of India to the dire situation of Orissa.
Thank you for praying and caring. Many of you have contacted the media on behalf of the suffering Christians of Orissa. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution carried an article highlighting the plight of Christians in Orissa. The British Baptist Journal carried a front page article highlighting the situation in India, thanks to our friend Sue Clyde. Our daughter Sunita is meeting with an official from the US State Department in Washington this Thursday.
Praise the Lord for all of you who have been sending the monetary gifts for those who are suffering. As the Lord lays in your heart a burden for the victims of the persecution, you can send checks payable to the Union Center United Methodist church, Memo - India Project. The checks can be sent to Union Center United Methodist Church, 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, New York, 13760. All the gifts received will be used100% for the suffering and the needy Christians in G.Udayagiri, Phulbani area.
Some of you have inquired about the children in the children's homes of Dugudi and Nanda. The Buildings are intact. Praise the Lord. The children are currently staying in the Relief Center in G. Udayagiri. All schools and colleges are closed, and shops and stores are closed most of the time. Transportation has been completely disrupted. The violence against Christians continues . Many Christians have been fleeing to cities like Bhubaneswar and Berampore.
Revelation 12: 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. "
In Jesus,
Brown
From " THE TIMES OF INDIA"
SC directs Orissa to submit report on Kandhamal by Thursday3 Sep 2008, 1132 hrs IST,AGENCIES
Discuss New
Bookmark/Share
Save
Write to Editor
Single page view
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil meets Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. (PTI Photo)
More Pictures
The ASG said that a senior government official from the state should assure the court that the state government will fully assist the para-military forces in protecting lives of people in riot-hit areas. However, counsel for the Orissa government contended that the allegations of Archbishop were not correct. He further said that he was not aware of any yatra to be taken out by Togadia as he was hearing it for the first time in the court. He claimed the situation in the riot-hit areas was under control and a similar PIL has been filed in the Orissa High Court. He said that the Crime Branch has been entrusted the probe of the incidents. However, the Bench said at this stage the court was not concerned with the investigations but with controlling the violence. The Orissa government counsel said that the Home Minister has gone to the state to find out whether these allegations were correct or not. However, this submission was opposed by the ASG who said that the Minister has gone to see whether people were provided protection or not. He said, it was the duty of state government to assist the para-military forces so that no life was lost. In a petition filed on Tuesday, the Archbishop claimed that the attack on churches and other properties belonging to the community was a well orchestrated conspiracy and pleaded that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence. Giving details of the damage and loss of property, the petition alleged the Orissa government had failed to protect the life and property of the community and the measures taken by it, including the compensation announced for the affected families, were not enough. The petition also sought a compensation of Rs five lakh for the families of those killed in the violence, Rs four lakh for those whose houses were destroyed, Rs two lakh for those whose houses were damaged partially and Rs one lakh for those injured. The petition also sought Rs three crore as compensation for the damage caused to churches.
Note: 1 lakh = 100,000, about $2,500
1 crore = 10,000,000
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Fed ready to take steps in riot-hit Orissa, SupremeCourt told
Centre ready to take steps in riot-hit Orissa, SC told They (supporters of Laxmananda) VHP are saying that since you (missionaries) have killed our head we will kill your head," Gonsalvess claimed( All primary investigations clearly suggest the killing was the hand work of Left Maoists).
New Delhi : The Centre on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that it will fulfil its responsibilities and take necessary steps in the riot-hit Kandhamal district of Orissa.
"The Centre will fulfil its responsibilities," Additional Solicitor Gopal Subramanium told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan when a petition seeking a CBI probe into incidents of violence against Christians in the state was mentioned before it.
The Bench, which at first wanted petitioner and Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath to approach the Orissa High Court, agreed to grant urgent hearing tomorrow after the ASG intervened and conveyed instructions received from the Centre.
"Necessary steps will be taken," Subramanium said and asked the Bench to hear the matter tomorrow.
The ASG said he would personally interact with the Home Secretary and discuss the issues raised in the petition.
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / 2400 homes and Prayer houses torched-Orissa state
As per the latest Orissa government assessment, at least 2,400 buildings, including prayer houses and schools, have been either damaged or burnt," Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar said. This is hotly contested by GCICand numbers are played down in a major cover upHe said sporadic incidents of violence had been reported from some villages under Tikabali police station despite the imposition night curfew in the entire district.
Curfew was also clamped in Jaypore town in Koraput district after clashes between Christians and VHP , a police official said.
The communal violence erupted on the evening of Aug 23, when Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) central advisory committee, and four others were killed by suspected Maoist guerrillas at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal.
The death toll in the violence has gone up to 51 even as the government deployed police and paramilitary forces in 12 of the state's 30 districts and imposed curfew in Kandhamal.
Due to the violence, thousands of villagers in Kandhamal district fled to nearby forests. Some of them are now returning and taking shelter in the relief camps set up by the administration.
"The district administration has set up at least 10 relief centers and 14,500 people are being sheltered there. They are being provided food and medicines," Krishan Kumar said.
"Fifty percent of the people were brought by us, while the others came on their own. Today (Tuesday) we rescued 20 children from a Christian home at Phulbani since they were feeling unsafe.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 9-2-08
Good Morning,
I am reading this morning from Exodus 3. It occurs about the time when Moses was around 80 years old. Do you remember how his life started? We have all heard of rags to riches stories. Well, Moses’ is kind of a rags to riches and from riches to rags. Moses was given the best education and the most lavish life you could imagine; he lived in the palace while his fellow Jews where slaving away in the brick yards. Some say he was being groomed to be the next Pharaoh -- king of Egypt. From rags to riches. But then back to rags after he killed an Egyptian and fled for his own life. When Moses was about 80, he had been in Midian for about 40 years, working for his father-in-law Jethro, tending his flocks, probably looking forward to retirement. Perhaps he had a sign on his staff "rather be fishing". One day, a day just like any other day, he was tending sheep, going about his business. He took them to the far side of the desert to a mountain, Mt. Horeb--which meant ’wasteland’. At that place, a place just like any other until now, Moses met the Lord in the Burning Bush. There are many things today which act as burning bushes--things which draw people to God, things out of which God speaks to people and gets our attention. But more often than not, God has to use tragedy to get our attention. God doesn’t usually send the tragedy, but he uses it to get our attention. After Moses had been chased out of Egypt and had lived in the desert, chasing sheep around, he was open to God. He went from being an Egyptian hot shot to a nothing shepherd, and at 80 years old finds himself at a mountain called "wasteland". In the desert, God had him right where he wanted him -- totally broken, humbled, and open.It takes deserts in our lives sometimes to awaken us to our need for God. There was not anything special about that bush in and of itself, but God wanted to use it. And if God wants to get your attention, if he wants you to wake up to reality, if he wants you to quit whatever destructive or apathetic path you’re on, any old bush will do. Moses went to the bush. Probably the hardest step we take toward God is the first one. God had to remind Moses to take his sandals off, a very common, usual thing to do in holy places. He calls to all of us "take off your shoes, you are in my presence and it is holy." No more games, lay your life bare before me, confess all the sin you’ve been walking through. Confess to all the dirt on your shoes -- the sin and ungodly way you’ve been living or thinking. I can’t have any dirty shoes, or dirty lives in my presence. We all know how dirty shoes can get. They pick up everything we walk through. Everywhere we have been and everything we have done can be found on the bottom of our shoes. It sticks.
God knows every sin we’ve ever walked through, and He tells us that if we want to come to Him, we've got to admit it to Him and confess it. Take off your sandals, I don't care what’s on the bottom of them, just be honest and do it, for I am God."It’s all about humility and reverence. In Jesus Christ, because of His finished work at the cross we are forgiven and cleansed. We are called and commissioned to be His servants, to be His instruments, to be His ambassadors in the world of violence and in the world bondage and pain.
Orissa Update:
I am enclosing the latest report from Orissa. My mom is staying with my aunt's family in Kanabageri, G. Udayagiri. Lisa and Kenny are staying in the refugee center in G. Udayagiri. The children from the Children's Homes are staying in the shelter. The refugee center is located on the soccer field at Hubback High school. It is the same high school I graduated from in 1964. My brother Patel is still in jail. Not only my mom's house, but all of the houses belonging to Christians in the village of Muklingia have been burned. All but 5 or 6 of the Christians from the village have fled - they are too old and weak to flee. These houses are not counted among those destroyed in the following list.
Thank you for your fervent prayers and thank you for caring passionately on behalf of the suffering Christians in Orissa, India.
Brown
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa violence: Archbishop approaches Supreme court of India
New Delhi : The Archbishop of Bhubaneswar today approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the violence against Christians in Orissa.
The Archbishop's petition has also sought that the NHRC be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence.
Senior Advocate Collin Gonsalves informed about the filing of the petition to a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which agreed to hear the matter later in the day.
The petitioner claimed that the Rapid Action Force has been deployed only in the cities and it has to be moved to the rural areas which have borne the maximum brunt of the unrest.
The petition also sought a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for those whose property and houses were destroyed in the violence.
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa updates death toll rises to 46 in the violence against Christians
Sl. No. Incident Place149 Many churches, namely JEL Church on the main road, Parabeda Church, Bamuniput Church were burnt on 30-08-08. 2 Christians Public schools were ransacked. The SP and the Sub Collector were attacked and stoned. Few Trucks and public vehicles were burnt on the road by the Hindu radicals150 30-08-08 2 Churches in Baipariguda, Koraput Dist were burnt by the radicals Koraput151 30-08-08 54 Christian Houses at Raigada of R. Udayagiri of Gajapati Dist. have been burnt. The victims demand the district Administration to for provide protection. Gajapati dist152 In Ziranga village of Gajapati dist. Baptist Church and 130 Christian houses were burnt by the radicals during last few days Gajapati dist153 In Mukundipur of Gajapati Dist. one Pastor called Mukunda Bardhan was burnt alive by the Sangh Parivar when refused to deny Christ and embrace Hinduism. Gajapati dist154 In KK Singh village of Gajapati Dist. around 200 Christian houses, 1 Baptist Church and 1 Christian (name still unknown) were burnt by the Hindu radicals. Gajapati dist155 In Marlova village, A Baptist Church and 15 Christian houses and 6 Churches of Soura Tribe have been burnt by the Hindu fanatics Marlova village156 Kandha Leader Lambodhar Kanhar has been threatened by the unknown people to be killed.157 10 Churches and around 30+ Christian houses burnt in Kundra village, Jeypore burnt (DATE). Curfew imposed. Jeypore158 N/H No.43 is still closed.159 Inter religious Peace Committee Meet organized by Police and Dist. Admn boycotted by VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal leaders. VHP radicals attempted to disrupt the Peace Meet but police lathi charged the activists.160 In Jeypore villages of Fufu gaon, Chandrasundi pada, and Nara kunduluguda under Dangerpaunsi Panchayat all the Churches and prayer houses are burnt and ransacked Jeypore161 (31st Aug) one father (priest?) was also severely beaten by the extremists162 In Udaliaguda, Mundariguda, Disariguda, and NaraKenduguda under Banuaguda Panchayat, and PandaKimari, Pandaripani, Bada Gunthal Udaliaguda163 Barikguda under Lima Panchayat villages all the churches and prayer houses were burnt and destroyed Barikguda164 Pentecostal Churches burnt in Borigumma, or Biriguda (31-8-08) night. Rajesh Fancy a shop Pastor Esau Suna's son was ransacked, goods worth Biriguda165 Lakhs were looted by the fundamentalists, after which Rajesh Fancy Shop was burnt down166 In Kantamal block of Boudh Dist. 40 Christians were forced to embrace Hinduism 01-09-08. Boudh dist167 Emergency Medical Treatment in Relief Camps, several hundreds Christians suffering from Diarrhoea in the relief camp at Hubback HighSchool at G. Udayagiri. Among them children Srija Nayak (6 Months), Sablun Nayak (10 Months), Nibedita Nayak (2 & 1/2 years)Lack of basic amenities and poor sanitation at relief camps. G Udayagiri168 One person was murdered at Oladi village of Kendra Para Yesterday (31-08-08) (name unknown). Oladi village169 In Bolangir 4 Churches are burnt on 31-08-08 Bolangir170 In Madinato village Christian houses burnt Madinato171 In Bhagamunda village Christian houses burnt Bhagamunda172 World Hindu Council (VHP) planning to take out a mass procession of slained Swamiji's wooden sandal and his photo throughout Kandhamal Dist. under the code name of 'Trishul”. We have learned from reliable sources that this procession is aimed at carrying out large scale violence against Christians and their properties. Rein of terror will be unleashed by VHP to carry out forced mass conversion of Christians to Hinduism which is going on now. Kandhamal173 On 1st September, around 9.00 a.m. to the evening, the VHP extremists have burnt all Christian houses in Beheragaon, Bastingia, Murgiguda, Balagaon and Kaijhargaon under Tikabali Block, Dalagaon, Musuguda, Jigina gaon, Gandagaon, Beredi Sahi, under Chakapa Block and at Gochhapada of Phringia Block where 3+ Churches and around 53+ Christian houses have been burnt. Kandhamal174 On 1st September while it was raining all over, the district administration ordered in the evening that the riot victims and refugees to vacate the Habaq school for re-opening the school for students. This has created more tension and agony among the campus who have taken shelter many small children, pregnant ladies and sick persons. GCIC immediately intervened and the district admin has extended for two more days during which they will find some other safe arrangements for the refugees. Kandhamal175 September 1st around 8.30 p.m. the extremists also went to Mandakia village of Raikia and destroyed the left out Christian houses. Raikia176 VHP extremists have also ransacked and burnt many houses in Batriguda, Pumpudidei, Pradhan pada, Muningia, Katimaha, Dabapadar, Budugaon, Beladanki, Budaguda and Rutingia villages (01-09-08)177 Today also VHP burnt down houses of dalits and adivasis belonged to Christian Communities at villages Pimpudidei, Dagapada, Jigna and Katimaha villages, Talagaon village, Bastingia and few other villages even if the Govt. has been claming that the situation is under control.178 Orissa Missionary Movement Church in Ambaguda, Jeypore, and Koraput burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008. Koraput179 One Bible Mission Church was also burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008 Koraput180 A Blessing Youth Mission (BYM) Pastor was beaten up and his bike was torched in Ramgiri, 50 km from Jeypore. BYM missionaries are hiding in the jungle. No improvement of the law and order situation in Jeypore and Koraput Jeypore181 According to Director general of police Gopal Chandar Nanda, fresh violence against Christians erupted in some villages in Tikabali area of Kandhamal stetting fire to Christian homes Kandhamal Tikabali182 Rioters setting fire to homes and prayer houses in Tudmudibandh and Raikia Raikia Tudmudibandh183 Prayer halls burnt in Kundra area of Koraput Koraput184 Report from Orissa vernacular media indicated that 3 more dead bodies were found in Kandhamal Kandhamal
I am reading this morning from Exodus 3. It occurs about the time when Moses was around 80 years old. Do you remember how his life started? We have all heard of rags to riches stories. Well, Moses’ is kind of a rags to riches and from riches to rags. Moses was given the best education and the most lavish life you could imagine; he lived in the palace while his fellow Jews where slaving away in the brick yards. Some say he was being groomed to be the next Pharaoh -- king of Egypt. From rags to riches. But then back to rags after he killed an Egyptian and fled for his own life. When Moses was about 80, he had been in Midian for about 40 years, working for his father-in-law Jethro, tending his flocks, probably looking forward to retirement. Perhaps he had a sign on his staff "rather be fishing". One day, a day just like any other day, he was tending sheep, going about his business. He took them to the far side of the desert to a mountain, Mt. Horeb--which meant ’wasteland’. At that place, a place just like any other until now, Moses met the Lord in the Burning Bush. There are many things today which act as burning bushes--things which draw people to God, things out of which God speaks to people and gets our attention. But more often than not, God has to use tragedy to get our attention. God doesn’t usually send the tragedy, but he uses it to get our attention. After Moses had been chased out of Egypt and had lived in the desert, chasing sheep around, he was open to God. He went from being an Egyptian hot shot to a nothing shepherd, and at 80 years old finds himself at a mountain called "wasteland". In the desert, God had him right where he wanted him -- totally broken, humbled, and open.It takes deserts in our lives sometimes to awaken us to our need for God. There was not anything special about that bush in and of itself, but God wanted to use it. And if God wants to get your attention, if he wants you to wake up to reality, if he wants you to quit whatever destructive or apathetic path you’re on, any old bush will do. Moses went to the bush. Probably the hardest step we take toward God is the first one. God had to remind Moses to take his sandals off, a very common, usual thing to do in holy places. He calls to all of us "take off your shoes, you are in my presence and it is holy." No more games, lay your life bare before me, confess all the sin you’ve been walking through. Confess to all the dirt on your shoes -- the sin and ungodly way you’ve been living or thinking. I can’t have any dirty shoes, or dirty lives in my presence. We all know how dirty shoes can get. They pick up everything we walk through. Everywhere we have been and everything we have done can be found on the bottom of our shoes. It sticks.
God knows every sin we’ve ever walked through, and He tells us that if we want to come to Him, we've got to admit it to Him and confess it. Take off your sandals, I don't care what’s on the bottom of them, just be honest and do it, for I am God."It’s all about humility and reverence. In Jesus Christ, because of His finished work at the cross we are forgiven and cleansed. We are called and commissioned to be His servants, to be His instruments, to be His ambassadors in the world of violence and in the world bondage and pain.
Orissa Update:
I am enclosing the latest report from Orissa. My mom is staying with my aunt's family in Kanabageri, G. Udayagiri. Lisa and Kenny are staying in the refugee center in G. Udayagiri. The children from the Children's Homes are staying in the shelter. The refugee center is located on the soccer field at Hubback High school. It is the same high school I graduated from in 1964. My brother Patel is still in jail. Not only my mom's house, but all of the houses belonging to Christians in the village of Muklingia have been burned. All but 5 or 6 of the Christians from the village have fled - they are too old and weak to flee. These houses are not counted among those destroyed in the following list.
Thank you for your fervent prayers and thank you for caring passionately on behalf of the suffering Christians in Orissa, India.
Brown
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa violence: Archbishop approaches Supreme court of India
New Delhi : The Archbishop of Bhubaneswar today approached the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the violence against Christians in Orissa.
The Archbishop's petition has also sought that the NHRC be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence.
Senior Advocate Collin Gonsalves informed about the filing of the petition to a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which agreed to hear the matter later in the day.
The petitioner claimed that the Rapid Action Force has been deployed only in the cities and it has to be moved to the rural areas which have borne the maximum brunt of the unrest.
The petition also sought a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for those whose property and houses were destroyed in the violence.
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa updates death toll rises to 46 in the violence against Christians
Sl. No. Incident Place149 Many churches, namely JEL Church on the main road, Parabeda Church, Bamuniput Church were burnt on 30-08-08. 2 Christians Public schools were ransacked. The SP and the Sub Collector were attacked and stoned. Few Trucks and public vehicles were burnt on the road by the Hindu radicals150 30-08-08 2 Churches in Baipariguda, Koraput Dist were burnt by the radicals Koraput151 30-08-08 54 Christian Houses at Raigada of R. Udayagiri of Gajapati Dist. have been burnt. The victims demand the district Administration to for provide protection. Gajapati dist152 In Ziranga village of Gajapati dist. Baptist Church and 130 Christian houses were burnt by the radicals during last few days Gajapati dist153 In Mukundipur of Gajapati Dist. one Pastor called Mukunda Bardhan was burnt alive by the Sangh Parivar when refused to deny Christ and embrace Hinduism. Gajapati dist154 In KK Singh village of Gajapati Dist. around 200 Christian houses, 1 Baptist Church and 1 Christian (name still unknown) were burnt by the Hindu radicals. Gajapati dist155 In Marlova village, A Baptist Church and 15 Christian houses and 6 Churches of Soura Tribe have been burnt by the Hindu fanatics Marlova village156 Kandha Leader Lambodhar Kanhar has been threatened by the unknown people to be killed.157 10 Churches and around 30+ Christian houses burnt in Kundra village, Jeypore burnt (DATE). Curfew imposed. Jeypore158 N/H No.43 is still closed.159 Inter religious Peace Committee Meet organized by Police and Dist. Admn boycotted by VHP, RSS, Bajrang Dal leaders. VHP radicals attempted to disrupt the Peace Meet but police lathi charged the activists.160 In Jeypore villages of Fufu gaon, Chandrasundi pada, and Nara kunduluguda under Dangerpaunsi Panchayat all the Churches and prayer houses are burnt and ransacked Jeypore161 (31st Aug) one father (priest?) was also severely beaten by the extremists162 In Udaliaguda, Mundariguda, Disariguda, and NaraKenduguda under Banuaguda Panchayat, and PandaKimari, Pandaripani, Bada Gunthal Udaliaguda163 Barikguda under Lima Panchayat villages all the churches and prayer houses were burnt and destroyed Barikguda164 Pentecostal Churches burnt in Borigumma, or Biriguda (31-8-08) night. Rajesh Fancy a shop Pastor Esau Suna's son was ransacked, goods worth Biriguda165 Lakhs were looted by the fundamentalists, after which Rajesh Fancy Shop was burnt down166 In Kantamal block of Boudh Dist. 40 Christians were forced to embrace Hinduism 01-09-08. Boudh dist167 Emergency Medical Treatment in Relief Camps, several hundreds Christians suffering from Diarrhoea in the relief camp at Hubback HighSchool at G. Udayagiri. Among them children Srija Nayak (6 Months), Sablun Nayak (10 Months), Nibedita Nayak (2 & 1/2 years)Lack of basic amenities and poor sanitation at relief camps. G Udayagiri168 One person was murdered at Oladi village of Kendra Para Yesterday (31-08-08) (name unknown). Oladi village169 In Bolangir 4 Churches are burnt on 31-08-08 Bolangir170 In Madinato village Christian houses burnt Madinato171 In Bhagamunda village Christian houses burnt Bhagamunda172 World Hindu Council (VHP) planning to take out a mass procession of slained Swamiji's wooden sandal and his photo throughout Kandhamal Dist. under the code name of 'Trishul”. We have learned from reliable sources that this procession is aimed at carrying out large scale violence against Christians and their properties. Rein of terror will be unleashed by VHP to carry out forced mass conversion of Christians to Hinduism which is going on now. Kandhamal173 On 1st September, around 9.00 a.m. to the evening, the VHP extremists have burnt all Christian houses in Beheragaon, Bastingia, Murgiguda, Balagaon and Kaijhargaon under Tikabali Block, Dalagaon, Musuguda, Jigina gaon, Gandagaon, Beredi Sahi, under Chakapa Block and at Gochhapada of Phringia Block where 3+ Churches and around 53+ Christian houses have been burnt. Kandhamal174 On 1st September while it was raining all over, the district administration ordered in the evening that the riot victims and refugees to vacate the Habaq school for re-opening the school for students. This has created more tension and agony among the campus who have taken shelter many small children, pregnant ladies and sick persons. GCIC immediately intervened and the district admin has extended for two more days during which they will find some other safe arrangements for the refugees. Kandhamal175 September 1st around 8.30 p.m. the extremists also went to Mandakia village of Raikia and destroyed the left out Christian houses. Raikia176 VHP extremists have also ransacked and burnt many houses in Batriguda, Pumpudidei, Pradhan pada, Muningia, Katimaha, Dabapadar, Budugaon, Beladanki, Budaguda and Rutingia villages (01-09-08)177 Today also VHP burnt down houses of dalits and adivasis belonged to Christian Communities at villages Pimpudidei, Dagapada, Jigna and Katimaha villages, Talagaon village, Bastingia and few other villages even if the Govt. has been claming that the situation is under control.178 Orissa Missionary Movement Church in Ambaguda, Jeypore, and Koraput burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008. Koraput179 One Bible Mission Church was also burnt down completely between 2:00 to 3:00 am on September 1, 2008 Koraput180 A Blessing Youth Mission (BYM) Pastor was beaten up and his bike was torched in Ramgiri, 50 km from Jeypore. BYM missionaries are hiding in the jungle. No improvement of the law and order situation in Jeypore and Koraput Jeypore181 According to Director general of police Gopal Chandar Nanda, fresh violence against Christians erupted in some villages in Tikabali area of Kandhamal stetting fire to Christian homes Kandhamal Tikabali182 Rioters setting fire to homes and prayer houses in Tudmudibandh and Raikia Raikia Tudmudibandh183 Prayer halls burnt in Kundra area of Koraput Koraput184 Report from Orissa vernacular media indicated that 3 more dead bodies were found in Kandhamal Kandhamal
Monday, September 1, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 9-1-08
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord. He is upon His throne. All honor, glory, and praises belong to Him. The Lord blessed us with a glorious day yesterday. It was a great blessing to be in the House of the Lord with His people, praising and worship. We are strengthened, cleansed, and renewed by worshipping Him.
The people of the Lord in Phulbani, Orissa, the epicenter of the violence and persecution, could not gather in the Church buildings yesterday as many of them have been gutted, burned down, and destroyed. They gathered at the shelters for worship and prayer.
The Old Testament reading for yesterday was taken from Exodus 3. It is the account of Moses as he encountered the Lord at the burning bush. Moses was tending the sheep belonging to his father-in-law. It was a desert experience near Mt. Horeb. We see how the Lord came to him amidst the ordinary and the mundane. Suddenly the bush was aflame, but not consumed. The Lord got Moses' attention!
Often the Lord comes to us as we attend to our daily tasks, the daily grind. In Luke 5 the Lord Jesus came to the disciples as they were doing the same old, same old - fishing. It is entirely possible for the workplace to become holy ground as the Lord shows up there.
For 40 years Moses had lived in Pharaoh's palace. One day, as he was surveying the land, he took matters into his own hands. He blew it, and ran away to the land of Midian. For 40 years he was a fugitive, a pauper, and a laborer, tending his father-in-law's sheep. It is interesting that Moses was (here) surrounded by the desert, as everyone goes through desert experiences in their lives.
Desert experiences can become life-changing experiences, when they are sanctified and beautified by the presence of the Lord. Often, when we are in the desert, we learn the deep things of the Lord. The Lord uses ordinary settings and ordinary people to demonstrate his extraordinary power.
As the drama in the desert unfolded, the Lord showed Moses that He had heard the cry of His people in Egypt, seen their affliction, and knew their sorrows. He had come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
As we are praying for the suffering Christians of Orissa, we are comforted to know that our Lord sees their affliction, hears their cry, and knows their sorrows. He calls each Moses of today to partner with Him in the mission of deliverance. I have been in touch with friends and family in Orissa every day. The situation is still precarious, dangerous, and out-of-control. The violence is spreading toward other parts of Orissa. Thousands of houses belonging to Christians have been burned down and their property destroyed.
I spoke to my Mom this morning. She gathered her courage and went out to see the house and survey the damage. She is crushed and broken. As I have previously said, the house was a center for ministry and sharing Christ's love. I am enclosing a note from a couple who stayed there years ago as they went on a short-term mission to Orissa. While there the Lord spoke to their hearts, revealing to them that He wanted them to go into full-time missions. When Grant and Gail went to India they were newlyweds. Grant was then a financial officer with GM, and now he is a financial officer with Operation Mobilization - living and working in Atlanta.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and love. The morning on which I heard about the destruction of our home, I was both sad and angry. That morning someone who had read about the loss, came bearing an envelope. Its contents, he said, were for seed money to help rebuild the house. It contained $1000 cash. I had not seen this man or heard from him for the last two years, but the Lord touched his heart. Praise the Lord for the way He comes to us with His miracles and His mercies time after time. "His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness."
Last evening I conducted a funeral service for a 98-year-old woman. She had requested that I do her service. It was a blessing to be a part of the celebration of her life. She had celebrated 80 Mother's Days, and had seen her grandchildren become grandparents.
Please continue to share the needs of Orissa Christians with your circle of friends and your pastors. May Jesus be praised.
Brown
"Dear Brother Brown,
I am so saddened to hear more bad news about what the radicals have done to your family's home. It is so senseless. Somehow, trust that God is still on the throne. We are praying and asking the Lord for a stop to this senselessness. Also, praying that He will continue to protect your family from physical harm. That place has been such a refuge of light in the darkness that surrounds for so many of us who have had the privilege of staying with your family. May you all sense God's presence in powerful ways today. Your steadfastness is such an encouragement to me.
Blessings as you trust Him,
Grant"
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Maoist warn of more attacks-GCIC calls for peace
Maoists warn of more attacks
New Delhi, PTI:
Claiming responsibility for the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati in Orissa, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Monday warned the saffron oufit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country".
The CPI (Maoist) has decided to punish "anti-people, fanatical leaders like Saraswati" in the wake of "endless persecution" of religious minorities in the country, a party release said here.
The statement alleged that Saraswati was a "rabid anti-Christian ideologue and persecutor of innocent Christians and was responsible for the burning down of over 400 churches in Khandamal district alone".
It warned the saffron outfit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country".
"The Sangh Parivar leaders like Pravin Togadia have been trying to divert people's attention by uttering lies that it is not Maoists but Christian organisations that had carried out the attack on the VHP leader," the CPI (Maoist) said.
Appealing to secular and democratic forces to condemn the Sangh Parivar, it said "it is not SIMI that is to be outlawed but Hindu fanatical groups like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, BJP, Hindu Munnani and so on."
Slamming the Congress leadership, the release said it was strange that it did not see any threat from "overtly communal, criminal acts of the VHP and the Sangh Parivar".
Publication Date 1/9/2008 8:02:41 PM(IST)
Bhubaneswar: A face that will haunt her -- and India -- for a long time. Namrata was attacked by alleged VHP men at Raikia in Orissa''s Kandhamal district. She, along with her family, fled to the village to seek refuge from the ramapaging miscreants.
Scars of violence in Orissa: Namrata returns to a relief camp from nearby jungles
TODAY'S TOP STORIES
Orissa: Normalcy returns, but scars remain
The man who would be the next RBI Governor
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Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns
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FROM THE SECTION
No relaxation in curfew in Srinagar, other towns
Five injured in Kashmir blast
Bihar's Pain, Orissa's Agony: Anarchy and Chaos in East India
Orissa: Normalcy returns, but scars remain
Haneef to seek compensation from Australia
VHP expresses grief on Birla's death
CESU Planning to fracchise SHG
Woman among two injured in south Kashmir blast
OSDMA to install 21 Ham radios in Orissa
Orissa to adopt new drugs procurement policies
Meanwhile, normalcy has gradually returned to Kandhamal with no major violent incidents being reported so far.
Many people, who fled to forests fearing attacks, have been returning to relief camps, sources said.
Christian villagers take shelter at a relief camp at Naugaon, a village in Kandhamal
1000 houses and 100 places of worship burnt
Claiming that the situation in Kandhamal was well under control, the Orissa government on Monday said at least 1000 houses and 100 places of worship were burnt in the communal riots after Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's killing on August 23.
'Situation under control'
While 1000 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district, 15 houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district, said Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
185 people arrested in Kandhamal
All the torching of places of worship were reported from Kandhamal district, where over 185 people were arrested on charges of rioting and arson. A total of 210 people were injured in the riot in Kandhamal, Tripathy said.
Though Tripathy did not mention how may were killed during the riot, official sources put the figure at 100 on Monday, with the recovery of two bodies in Kandhamal district. Besides Kandhamal, Tripathy said, people were provided with food in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.
Survivors flock to relief camps
While 12,539 people were fed in 10 relief camps, 783 people got the facilities in two relief camps in Rayagada district.
Tripathy said relief camps were located at Chakapada, Raikia, Baliguda, K Nuagaon, Tikabali, Phiringia, Phlbani, Tumudibandha and Daringbadi blocks in Kandhamal district.
Praise the Lord. He is upon His throne. All honor, glory, and praises belong to Him. The Lord blessed us with a glorious day yesterday. It was a great blessing to be in the House of the Lord with His people, praising and worship. We are strengthened, cleansed, and renewed by worshipping Him.
The people of the Lord in Phulbani, Orissa, the epicenter of the violence and persecution, could not gather in the Church buildings yesterday as many of them have been gutted, burned down, and destroyed. They gathered at the shelters for worship and prayer.
The Old Testament reading for yesterday was taken from Exodus 3. It is the account of Moses as he encountered the Lord at the burning bush. Moses was tending the sheep belonging to his father-in-law. It was a desert experience near Mt. Horeb. We see how the Lord came to him amidst the ordinary and the mundane. Suddenly the bush was aflame, but not consumed. The Lord got Moses' attention!
Often the Lord comes to us as we attend to our daily tasks, the daily grind. In Luke 5 the Lord Jesus came to the disciples as they were doing the same old, same old - fishing. It is entirely possible for the workplace to become holy ground as the Lord shows up there.
For 40 years Moses had lived in Pharaoh's palace. One day, as he was surveying the land, he took matters into his own hands. He blew it, and ran away to the land of Midian. For 40 years he was a fugitive, a pauper, and a laborer, tending his father-in-law's sheep. It is interesting that Moses was (here) surrounded by the desert, as everyone goes through desert experiences in their lives.
Desert experiences can become life-changing experiences, when they are sanctified and beautified by the presence of the Lord. Often, when we are in the desert, we learn the deep things of the Lord. The Lord uses ordinary settings and ordinary people to demonstrate his extraordinary power.
As the drama in the desert unfolded, the Lord showed Moses that He had heard the cry of His people in Egypt, seen their affliction, and knew their sorrows. He had come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
As we are praying for the suffering Christians of Orissa, we are comforted to know that our Lord sees their affliction, hears their cry, and knows their sorrows. He calls each Moses of today to partner with Him in the mission of deliverance. I have been in touch with friends and family in Orissa every day. The situation is still precarious, dangerous, and out-of-control. The violence is spreading toward other parts of Orissa. Thousands of houses belonging to Christians have been burned down and their property destroyed.
I spoke to my Mom this morning. She gathered her courage and went out to see the house and survey the damage. She is crushed and broken. As I have previously said, the house was a center for ministry and sharing Christ's love. I am enclosing a note from a couple who stayed there years ago as they went on a short-term mission to Orissa. While there the Lord spoke to their hearts, revealing to them that He wanted them to go into full-time missions. When Grant and Gail went to India they were newlyweds. Grant was then a financial officer with GM, and now he is a financial officer with Operation Mobilization - living and working in Atlanta.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and love. The morning on which I heard about the destruction of our home, I was both sad and angry. That morning someone who had read about the loss, came bearing an envelope. Its contents, he said, were for seed money to help rebuild the house. It contained $1000 cash. I had not seen this man or heard from him for the last two years, but the Lord touched his heart. Praise the Lord for the way He comes to us with His miracles and His mercies time after time. "His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness."
Last evening I conducted a funeral service for a 98-year-old woman. She had requested that I do her service. It was a blessing to be a part of the celebration of her life. She had celebrated 80 Mother's Days, and had seen her grandchildren become grandparents.
Please continue to share the needs of Orissa Christians with your circle of friends and your pastors. May Jesus be praised.
Brown
"Dear Brother Brown,
I am so saddened to hear more bad news about what the radicals have done to your family's home. It is so senseless. Somehow, trust that God is still on the throne. We are praying and asking the Lord for a stop to this senselessness. Also, praying that He will continue to protect your family from physical harm. That place has been such a refuge of light in the darkness that surrounds for so many of us who have had the privilege of staying with your family. May you all sense God's presence in powerful ways today. Your steadfastness is such an encouragement to me.
Blessings as you trust Him,
Grant"
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Maoist warn of more attacks-GCIC calls for peace
Maoists warn of more attacks
New Delhi, PTI:
Claiming responsibility for the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati in Orissa, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Monday warned the saffron oufit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country".
The CPI (Maoist) has decided to punish "anti-people, fanatical leaders like Saraswati" in the wake of "endless persecution" of religious minorities in the country, a party release said here.
The statement alleged that Saraswati was a "rabid anti-Christian ideologue and persecutor of innocent Christians and was responsible for the burning down of over 400 churches in Khandamal district alone".
It warned the saffron outfit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country".
"The Sangh Parivar leaders like Pravin Togadia have been trying to divert people's attention by uttering lies that it is not Maoists but Christian organisations that had carried out the attack on the VHP leader," the CPI (Maoist) said.
Appealing to secular and democratic forces to condemn the Sangh Parivar, it said "it is not SIMI that is to be outlawed but Hindu fanatical groups like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, BJP, Hindu Munnani and so on."
Slamming the Congress leadership, the release said it was strange that it did not see any threat from "overtly communal, criminal acts of the VHP and the Sangh Parivar".
Publication Date 1/9/2008 8:02:41 PM(IST)
Bhubaneswar: A face that will haunt her -- and India -- for a long time. Namrata was attacked by alleged VHP men at Raikia in Orissa''s Kandhamal district. She, along with her family, fled to the village to seek refuge from the ramapaging miscreants.
Scars of violence in Orissa: Namrata returns to a relief camp from nearby jungles
TODAY'S TOP STORIES
Orissa: Normalcy returns, but scars remain
The man who would be the next RBI Governor
Seven injured in fire at Hyundai car factory
Chennai: Fire service personnel fear possibility of casualty in fire
Tumour removed successfully from one-month-old baby
Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns
Bihar's Pain, Orissa's Agony: Anarchy and Chaos in East India
No relaxation in curfew in Srinagar, other towns
Believe the athletes, Bindra to Sports Ministry
Five injured in Kashmir blast
FROM THE SECTION
No relaxation in curfew in Srinagar, other towns
Five injured in Kashmir blast
Bihar's Pain, Orissa's Agony: Anarchy and Chaos in East India
Orissa: Normalcy returns, but scars remain
Haneef to seek compensation from Australia
VHP expresses grief on Birla's death
CESU Planning to fracchise SHG
Woman among two injured in south Kashmir blast
OSDMA to install 21 Ham radios in Orissa
Orissa to adopt new drugs procurement policies
Meanwhile, normalcy has gradually returned to Kandhamal with no major violent incidents being reported so far.
Many people, who fled to forests fearing attacks, have been returning to relief camps, sources said.
Christian villagers take shelter at a relief camp at Naugaon, a village in Kandhamal
1000 houses and 100 places of worship burnt
Claiming that the situation in Kandhamal was well under control, the Orissa government on Monday said at least 1000 houses and 100 places of worship were burnt in the communal riots after Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's killing on August 23.
'Situation under control'
While 1000 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district, 15 houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district, said Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
185 people arrested in Kandhamal
All the torching of places of worship were reported from Kandhamal district, where over 185 people were arrested on charges of rioting and arson. A total of 210 people were injured in the riot in Kandhamal, Tripathy said.
Though Tripathy did not mention how may were killed during the riot, official sources put the figure at 100 on Monday, with the recovery of two bodies in Kandhamal district. Besides Kandhamal, Tripathy said, people were provided with food in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.
Survivors flock to relief camps
While 12,539 people were fed in 10 relief camps, 783 people got the facilities in two relief camps in Rayagada district.
Tripathy said relief camps were located at Chakapada, Raikia, Baliguda, K Nuagaon, Tikabali, Phiringia, Phlbani, Tumudibandha and Daringbadi blocks in Kandhamal district.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Brown's Daily Word 8-31-08
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Riot is getting out of control in new areas in Orissa. Latest Update
B D College Jepore, Orissa was vandalized today afternoon by Hindu Radicals led by VHP activists. The group also marched towards Jepore Methodist Church, one of the oldest churches in Jepore and damaged part of the church.
The VHP activists are bringing attackers from other places to create destruction and damage to other parts of Orissa.The sub-collector of Jepore was injured while trying to prevent rioters from attacking Christians. The Aim of the Hindu radicals is to create situation like Kandhamal in other parts of Orissa. It is evident that the situation is getting out of controle and the district administration is not able to controle the anti social elements.2 more churches were destroyed today in Baipariguda.
Dr. Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christains submitted a memorandum to the Hon. Governor of Orissa and also updated him about the developing situation in Jepore and Khoraput. The Governor gave a patient hearing and promised immediate action to protect the life and properties of Christians in the state.
We encourage you to please pray for the safety of Christians in India and especially in Orissa and also please petition the Hon. Prime minister, Home minister of India.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
Dr. Sajan's blog email this page
Sat, 30/08/2008 - 8:11pm
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa: Thousands of refugees and new victims, massacre of Christians continues
by Nirmala CarvalhoAt least 10,000 people are asking for help at the shelters, while justas many are seeking refuge in the forests to escape the violence ofthe Hindu fundamentalists. According to "reliable sources" presentedby a Christian activist, there are "at least 100 dead".
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - One week after the beginning of the violencein Orissa, thousands of people, most of them Christian, are stillhiding in the forests or have found refuge in the shelter camps set upby the government.
According to the latest figures, there are at least 6,000 people inthe refugee camps, and 5,000 hiding in the forests around Kandhamal,but the number of refugees could soon reach 10,000. Today, inBhubaneswar, a protest demonstration is planned in front of the stategovernment headquarters in Orissa, organized by the activists of theGlobal Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), following the closing ofCatholic schools yesterday all over India. About 25,000 institutesclosed their doors, while the students and teachers marched peacefullythrough the streets of the country calling for an end to the violenceagainst Christians.
Meanwhile, the number of victims of the violence continues toincrease: "We have received authentic information that the death tollis 100", says Dr Sajan George, national president of the GCIC, "andmore butchered bodies and burnt corpes are being found". The Christianactivist is also calling for the resignation of the entire governmentof Orissa, which is incapable of stopping the massacres against theChristian community. He provides an example: "In Bakingia, twofamilies of seven Christians - Daniel Naik and Michael Naik and theirfamilies - were tortured and killed, their bodies were found withtheir heads pulped and smashed, they were recognised by their clothes.Bakingia is about 8 kilometers from Raikia police station".
The decision to close all of the Catholic schools yesterday and callfor demonstrations - although peaceful - has raised attention, withserious new accusations being issued by the Hindu side. The BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), the leading opposition party in India, heavilyinfluenced by the fundamentalists, has condemned yesterday's schoolstrike and accused the Catholics of "forcing non-Christian students toparticipate in the protest marches". Some institutes used "coercivemeans" - according to the BJP - against the "non-Christians, who wereobliged to march with their classmates".
Meanwhile, raids continue outside of Orissa as well. Yesterday, inMadhya Pradesh, fanatics attacked five schools and a church, inretaliation against the closing of the buildings. The attacks tookplace in the districts of Gwaliar (three schools and a church) andBarwani (two schools), and only the swift intervention of the policewas able to prevent serious damage to the buildings, or new victims.Security forces have, on the other hand, blocked a peacefuldemonstration of the students from the school of St. Francis, forunspecified reasons of "public safety", although they were informedabout the demonstration beforehand.
The Indian bishop of Vasai, Thomas Dabre, a member of the pontificalcouncil for interreligious dialogue, confirms instead the "totalparalysis" in the activity of the schools of his diocese. "Thousandsof young people", the prelate emphasizes, "ended their march in frontof the buildings of the bishop's residence. I told them to promoteinterreligious dialogue, and to and trust themselves completely to theprotection of the Virgin Mary".
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / GCIC to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
The GCIC has staged a day-long dharna in front of the Orissa stateassembly in state capital Bhubaneswar Saturday August 30th.
Fr. Kalathil, Vicar General Ach Diocese Bhuvaneswar Participated andother Christian leaders participated along with several to protest theAnti-Christian Violence
Many prominent Christian leaders have pledged support to GCIC to seekjustice for Kandhmal Christians and are participating in GCICPrayer-Fasting Dharna
Dr Sajan K George, president GCIC stated that the Orissa Assembly isin session and the Government must give an answer for the 145 casesdocumented by GCIC of the attacks on the Christian community.
B D College Jepore, Orissa was vandalized today afternoon by Hindu Radicals led by VHP activists. The group also marched towards Jepore Methodist Church, one of the oldest churches in Jepore and damaged part of the church.
The VHP activists are bringing attackers from other places to create destruction and damage to other parts of Orissa.The sub-collector of Jepore was injured while trying to prevent rioters from attacking Christians. The Aim of the Hindu radicals is to create situation like Kandhamal in other parts of Orissa. It is evident that the situation is getting out of controle and the district administration is not able to controle the anti social elements.2 more churches were destroyed today in Baipariguda.
Dr. Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christains submitted a memorandum to the Hon. Governor of Orissa and also updated him about the developing situation in Jepore and Khoraput. The Governor gave a patient hearing and promised immediate action to protect the life and properties of Christians in the state.
We encourage you to please pray for the safety of Christians in India and especially in Orissa and also please petition the Hon. Prime minister, Home minister of India.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
Dr. Sajan's blog email this page
Sat, 30/08/2008 - 8:11pm
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa: Thousands of refugees and new victims, massacre of Christians continues
by Nirmala CarvalhoAt least 10,000 people are asking for help at the shelters, while justas many are seeking refuge in the forests to escape the violence ofthe Hindu fundamentalists. According to "reliable sources" presentedby a Christian activist, there are "at least 100 dead".
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - One week after the beginning of the violencein Orissa, thousands of people, most of them Christian, are stillhiding in the forests or have found refuge in the shelter camps set upby the government.
According to the latest figures, there are at least 6,000 people inthe refugee camps, and 5,000 hiding in the forests around Kandhamal,but the number of refugees could soon reach 10,000. Today, inBhubaneswar, a protest demonstration is planned in front of the stategovernment headquarters in Orissa, organized by the activists of theGlobal Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), following the closing ofCatholic schools yesterday all over India. About 25,000 institutesclosed their doors, while the students and teachers marched peacefullythrough the streets of the country calling for an end to the violenceagainst Christians.
Meanwhile, the number of victims of the violence continues toincrease: "We have received authentic information that the death tollis 100", says Dr Sajan George, national president of the GCIC, "andmore butchered bodies and burnt corpes are being found". The Christianactivist is also calling for the resignation of the entire governmentof Orissa, which is incapable of stopping the massacres against theChristian community. He provides an example: "In Bakingia, twofamilies of seven Christians - Daniel Naik and Michael Naik and theirfamilies - were tortured and killed, their bodies were found withtheir heads pulped and smashed, they were recognised by their clothes.Bakingia is about 8 kilometers from Raikia police station".
The decision to close all of the Catholic schools yesterday and callfor demonstrations - although peaceful - has raised attention, withserious new accusations being issued by the Hindu side. The BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), the leading opposition party in India, heavilyinfluenced by the fundamentalists, has condemned yesterday's schoolstrike and accused the Catholics of "forcing non-Christian students toparticipate in the protest marches". Some institutes used "coercivemeans" - according to the BJP - against the "non-Christians, who wereobliged to march with their classmates".
Meanwhile, raids continue outside of Orissa as well. Yesterday, inMadhya Pradesh, fanatics attacked five schools and a church, inretaliation against the closing of the buildings. The attacks tookplace in the districts of Gwaliar (three schools and a church) andBarwani (two schools), and only the swift intervention of the policewas able to prevent serious damage to the buildings, or new victims.Security forces have, on the other hand, blocked a peacefuldemonstration of the students from the school of St. Francis, forunspecified reasons of "public safety", although they were informedabout the demonstration beforehand.
The Indian bishop of Vasai, Thomas Dabre, a member of the pontificalcouncil for interreligious dialogue, confirms instead the "totalparalysis" in the activity of the schools of his diocese. "Thousandsof young people", the prelate emphasizes, "ended their march in frontof the buildings of the bishop's residence. I told them to promoteinterreligious dialogue, and to and trust themselves completely to theprotection of the Virgin Mary".
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / GCIC to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
The GCIC has staged a day-long dharna in front of the Orissa stateassembly in state capital Bhubaneswar Saturday August 30th.
Fr. Kalathil, Vicar General Ach Diocese Bhuvaneswar Participated andother Christian leaders participated along with several to protest theAnti-Christian Violence
Many prominent Christian leaders have pledged support to GCIC to seekjustice for Kandhmal Christians and are participating in GCICPrayer-Fasting Dharna
Dr Sajan K George, president GCIC stated that the Orissa Assembly isin session and the Government must give an answer for the 145 casesdocumented by GCIC of the attacks on the Christian community.
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