Source:         Bishop M. A. Thomas

Date:            February 22, 2008

Graham Stuart Staines was an Australian missionary who was burnt to death while he was sleeping with his two sons Timothy (aged 9) and Philip (aged 7) in his station wagon at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district in Orissa, India in January 1999. Graham Staines had been working in Orissa among the tribal poor and especially with leprosy patients since 1965.

After the martyrdom of Graham Staines and his two sons, their blood became very powerful seed in the good soil of Orissa. The report on church growth shows that the largest church growth in India is registered in Orissa.

Bamuniagum of Kandhamal district, which has been witnessing anti-Christian feelings since the last few years. In this place, out of 650, 000 people 100,000 are Christians, which is 15.38 % of the population. Here alone there are 1000 churches with buildings of mud walls, and thatched/ tin/asbestos roofs. Some have concrete buildings.

Pastor Nahusena Majhi aka Sameer, who is working with Emmanuel in Bamunigam, Gajapati district of Orissa belong to one of the two Lowest caste of Kui, who still live in the deep forest, do not wear clothes despite modern civilization, and use a unique leaf to cover their private parts. Sameer's father is one of the pioneers of Gospel work among them. Outsiders are prohibited to visit this tribe. Sameer's father dedicated Sameer, who was the oldest of four of his sons for the Lord's work. Sameer came to Emmanuel Bible Institute, graduated and is serving the Lord in Bamunigum since 2000. The Lord blessed the work and the ministry expanded. Thus he trained many young people from the tribe. And he had 98 young people to assist him in church planting, with 100 fellowships gathering their own homes. He also takes care of 70 orphans.

As the work was progressing the anti-Christians and Hindu militant tried to destroy the ministry several times. Their churches were destroyed; clothes, blankets and files of orphans were burned. Many a times Sameer had to hide as they tried to kill him. His father was imprisoned for 1½ year in 2006-07 charged as an international smuggler dealing in weapons, drugs etc. At the same time the poor man lives in a hut of thatched roof, with no bed, chair, or a cycle of his own. But they destroyed that, where about a 100 people gather for worship.

24th Dec was the market day at Bamunigam, on that day about 8:00 AM in the morning the militant Hindus went to market place and forcibly stopped the people from having market on that day. Meanwhile the Sub Inspector of Bamunigam Police Station along with 5 Sarpanchs of the locality and majority of the village customers came to the market place and requested the mob to let the market carry on. However, soon after the departure of the police, the militants physically harassed the people who had come to the market. Some were thoroughly beaten with sticks and iron rods. Within a short period of time nearly 200 people came running to the market with guns, spears, axe, and many other tradition weapons. They also completely destroyed a well decorated manger in front of a church. One of the greatest persecution or attacks on Christians in India, since Independence, in the state of Orissa from Dec 24 28, 2007. 

In the vicinity of the market two trucks were standing, which was full of gravel for repairing the road, the angry anti-Christian picked up these stones to hurl at the Christians, the Christian young men also retaliated and picked up the gravel and threw at the militants. Very soon the two trucks were emptied. Along with this they also broke, looted and burnt all the shops of Christian people.

At the same time some people poured petrol and burnt three motor bikes of Christian people. The Angry mob also burnt one generator, the light and sound system and other Christmas decorations of Christians. During this attack one boy of 15 years of age was shot with a gun, while another boy of 12 years of age was very badly attacked and hurt on the head with a sharp-edged sword.

When the parents came to their rescue, they were also beaten with iron rods and tradition weapons and were deeply wounded. The clinic, where these boys were taken for treatment was ransacked and burned. They threatened the other clinics and hospitals saying that they will burn any place where Christians are given any medical aid. Later the militants dispersed and went to their homes.

Seeing this fearful attack, many Christians of the locality and the neighboring village who had come from nearby villages for the market ran for their lives. Taking the advantage of the fear and confusion created among the Christians, they destroyed the shops of Christian people one after another. On 24th December, 2007, instead of celebrating the Midnight Mass, most of the Christians with their small children and babies went to the nearby forest and spent a sleepless, severely cold and dark night full of fear and danger.

On 25th December 2007, many people who took shelter in the forest came to their houses thinking that the atrocity has stopped. But the atrocity continued. At 10:00 am around four to five hundred people from the locality and many other who came from nearby villages marched towards the Christian Street shouting slogans and abuses and burnt most of the houses and looted their properties. The mob also went to Christian colonies and said they will not permit to conduct any meeting. The people came from different parts with weapons, Kerosene oil, etc and started shooting, beating, stabbing and cutting. They also molested ladies and children. 800 houses were burned in 20 villages. Hundreds of churches were burnt in a single day on 25th. Strong churches of concrete and asbestos were bombed, razing it to the ground. Pastors were killed, and their bodies were mutilated and cut in to 3 or 4 pieces. The satanic activity unleashed is unexplained. 400 young ladies were missing. They were caught striped of their clothes and gang raped.

Two ladies serving the Lord were approached that if they would permit themselves to be raped then they will be spared otherwise they would be killed. They resisted, so they were gang raped. They entered Christian homes and looted everything, grain, jewelry, cash and burned everything. Metal shelf, boxes, cupboards, etc were burned. Concrete houses were bombed and then burnt.

Around 200 motor bikes, 12 jeeps were burnt, hundreds of cycles, 150 shops of Christians were burned and destroyed by the time the Central Government interfered. The enemies poured Kerosene oil and poison into the wells of the Christians area. Cycles and other belonging were dumped into the well, so the water cannot be used until the wells are cleaned.

Before the central police came all orphans and Christians was living in the forest. Infants, pregnant ladies, aged were all living there. They ate what they got in the forest like fruits, leaves etc. In the severe cold everyone was shivering. They were afraid to light a fire as enemies were searching for them. The authorities did not interfere or put a stop to these activities. Sameer and others informed police, but were silent. On 26th the riots spread to within a 100 k.m. radius. They continued this kind of attack in other cities and villages of two districts. They were looting grains, cattle, money, jewelry, TV, cloths, etc and burned houses and shops.

God gave grace to some tribal men to face the enemies. They tied a white cloth on their foreheads and came as warriors of peace, saying “Jai Jesu”, “Victory to Jesus”. They lifted up both their hands shouting “Jai Jesu”. About 8000 people participated. Two young men were shot dead. On hearing the loud chant of “Jai Jesu” several police men dropped their guns. The attack continued for 9 hours. That was the time when the authorities brought peace and stop the war. In many places the militants carried out their attack with the police looking on without responding.

One of our Pastors, Majhi, who is the only one son of his father and mother, was killed in Bamunigam. He was serving the Lord with Emmanuel Churches. Another pastor of Emmanuel was also killed on the same day.  One of our preacher's shoulder, back and neck was slashed. They cut off his testicles and left him believing him to be dead. Though he was severely wounded, by God's grace and cold weather the blood froze and he came to conscious 3 hours later. Then the police took him to the district government hospital and admitted. God healed him miraculously. He was pastoring our church in Barokhamba. He is recovering (picture with scar). One of our believers, whose husband went into hiding, was at home. The mob attempted to rape. She resisted. She hid her two children aged 3 and 4 years old in a metal box. The group striped her naked and gang raped (Picture of all) All 70 of our orphans were in the deep forest. Leaders from the orphanage looked after them as Pr. Majhi and father had to hide. When the police came they choose our building as camp. They permitted the Christians to come back, since then the Central Government fed them and take care of them.

Even now there are incidences happening here and there. Though many promises were made, until today nothing has been given. There are over 2000 people still in the forest. Tent is being provided by Govt. and N.G.O. They have only one pair of dress. But they are firm in faith. Not even one Christian denied Christ to escape death. The Christians are growing stronger in faith. Almost in every place where the church was burnt, people come, sit outside and worship God. Several young people dedicated their lives for God's service.

More than 30, 000 to 40, 000 people, who were living in the deep forest, have come back and are living in the refugee camps. Still about 2000 people are in the deep jungles. Though they have been given tents by government and other NGOs, they are not permitted to return to their villages or rebuild their huts. None of their children are going to school. Even now there are sporadic events of beatings and killings in a few places.

Beloved Christians we are not informing you this for your sympathy or to emotionally rouse you, but to inform you that the church might be alerted and for your sincere and earnest prayer on a daily basis. These kinds of incidents are happening in Muslim countries, some communist countries and all over India. But the bible has given us a promise. We are given the strongest and most powerful weapon to pull down all the strongholds. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” (2 Co 10:4) Friends, do you know with this simple weapon how many wars were won? How many walls were broken down? Look at the walls of Jericho! How Haman's greatest power and plan was nullified by the prayer of Esther, Mordecai, and people? How the plans of 122 presidents of the world made to destroy Daniel was wrecked? Because of prayer the 122 presidents and their families were destroyed and Daniel and his God was exalted. Look at King Hezekiah who faced Senacherib, the Assyrian King and his armies of 1, 86, 000, through the same simple weapon of fasting prayer Senacherib and his army were all destroyed. King Jehoshaphat, David and many other used the same weapon. On the Day of Pentecost, one feeble disciples used this weapon. And by AD 70, 50 % of the population of Jerusalem had become Christians and the enemy, Jewish kingdom was destroyed for 2000 years. Look at John Knox, the only Christian who used this weapon against Bloody Mary and made Scotland a powerful Christian nation.

This is what we want for India and the world revival. After seeing this article or CD will you use this great weapon for revival in India and the world? Praying and fasting one time a day at least? Will you make a commitment? We will stand with you. If you want to inform us please write to us or call us. We want to build 80 churches which are burnt to ashes. If we can give them some, the remaining they will collect and they can have their own building with tin sheet roof. If we can give per family, they can build a hut of thatched roof, where they can go and live, cook their own meal and eat. We want to help the widows of these Pastors. If we can give per widow it will be a great help. There are hundreds of children who have been orphaned because of the death of their parents and many have no way to support the children, and they want to keep their children in a safer place because they have no place. We may be able to take 300-400 children. We need a $ 1 per day for feeding and looking after them. We have 70 children already and in the existing orphanage there are no more places, but we have land. You can build a Hope Home for 100 children  We need your help. Pray for a great revival in Orissa and in India. Our weapon given by the Lord is this, when the heathen kings and rulers rage upon you, you ask the Lord for heathens as our inheritance and the utter most part of the earth as our possession. (Ps. 2:8).