God’s Appointment

In 1999 our pastor, Bill Bryan, had a divinely appointed meeting with a complete stranger from India. One man from Beulah, Alabama and another from Goa, India “just happened” to make acquaintance while in the Los Angeles airport. This meeting led to the founding of AHEAD, a ministry of The Bridge Church that reaches out to the poor and needy across India.

Since this meeting, Dr. Samuel has visited our church several times with information and updates about improvements in India. Recently, however, these updates have taken a horrific turn. The following is a copy of the actual email sent to our church from Dr. Samuel. As an American, it is hard to comprehend that these barbaric crimes still occur throughout parts of the world. The worst thing I have to worry about is having to verbally defend myself at times because of my beliefs. These people are watching their houses destroyed, their children tortured and murdered, and their communities destroyed by Hindu gangs; all because of their belief in God.

Dr. Samuel’s Actual Email

PRAISE THE LORD

On the 25^th of August the main Leader of the Orissa Missions had called to ask me to go there as some of our Missionaries were being intimidated by local religious and communal groups. The missionaries were themselves so isolated that they never knew that similar events were unfolding in several parts of that state. I prayed about the matter and travelled to Orissa on the 29^th, by faith not knowing that the entire state was gripped with anti-Christian violence. It was later that I learnt that the violence was sparked by the brutal killing of a senior leader of a radical Hindu Movement by local Maoist rebels. Since the Maoists are few and far between, the Hindu radicals diverted their vengeance to the minority Christian community. Many Christian schools, orphanages, churches were burnt down and believers were burnt alive and some brutally hacked to death.

On the 31^st morning I reached there in the midst of this fiery violence little knowing of the danger I was exposing myself to. As I disembarked the train, people began staring at me like they knew me and I reckoned that they knew me as I frequented that place often. A local missionary was waiting for me at the station who was surprised that I had heeded that call and actually came. He told me that it was unsafe to leave the station as many people in the locality would recognise me, his family himself had escaped to the jungles for safety. I was asked to take a train back immediately, but there are no trains until 2 days later. I prayed at the station and took to the street and got myself a room at a nearby lodge. I decided to visit nearby villages and not venture too far as I not only posed a grave threat to my life, but to my fellow missionaries as well. I arranged for the Leader to pass the message of my arrival to the other missionaries secretly. The following day a few of the missionaries turned up as the rest of them flew to the jungles for refuge.

The few missionaries who were in attendance narrated the violence and bloodshed they witnessed. One of the incidents which broke my heart most was of a baby who was tied and ripped apart in front of the mother for the simple reason of refusing to deny her Faith. And another of a Pastor who was paraded on the street and whipped and eventually killed by crushing his head with a boulder. I prayed and encouraged them to continue the work and exercising wisdom at the same time.

The official puts the death tool at close to 20, but unofficial reports suggest a death toll exceeding 60. Scores of churches and prayer halls and Christian institutions have been burnt and vandalized. Currently there are 7 refugee camps where 10,000 people are taking refuge under sub-basic conditions. (Today’s News: The refuge camp was attacked by the radical mob). Though curfew and shoot-at-sight is being imposed the violence does not seem to subside. And the Christians continue to live with this grim reality not knowing when they will be attacked. I wished deep down in my heart of providing relief to the affected, but the prevailing situation makes it close to impossible. And we still lack resources to to provide that relief.

The next early morning 2am the lodge owner woke and asked to leave immediately as 2 persons in the same lodge were hacked to death and thrown in a river 30mins ago. So I immediately left the place and rushed to the railway station and left on a 5am train.

The immediate prayer requests from me and the fellow workers in Orissa:

1. To provide quick  and basic relief
2. To  rebuild prayer halls and homes
3. Continuous Prayer and Support

Continually pray for the acquirement of the hospital. Please pray that all needs would be met by the 15^th of September. With the hospital we will be able to carry out relief work and support in times of need like this as well.

Yours in Christ,

Samuel.

Pictures and Video

You can see it for yourself , but be warned that some of these pics are extremely graphic.