Monday, February 14, 2005
EXTREMISTS BRUTALLY BEAT SIX GOSPEL FOR ASIA STUDENTS
By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

CARROLLTON,TX (ANS) -- Six Gospel for Asia Biblical Seminary students were abducted and severely beaten for sharing the Gospel.

According to Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org/pray)  they were taken to a nearby hospital, where they are now recovering from injuries sustained during the attack.

Jaya, Yogendra, Narendra, Himansu, Kiran and Simon were involved in their regular weekly outreach--distributing Gospel literature, preaching and praying for the sick--when they were surrounded by a small group of men that quickly grew into a crowd.

According to a Gospel for Asia (GFA) field correspondent the abductors mocked the students by saying, “We are going to talk about God.” They then began hitting the students.

Several people in the group then dragged the students into three-wheeled taxicabs and drove them to a secluded house that, GFA reported, was the local headquarters for an extremist anti-Christian organization. A crowd of men, some trained in martial arts, awaited them there. They pulled the students out and began beating them.

“There were no less than five to six people beating each brother,” reported a GFA field correspondent on the organization’s web site. The students were repeatedly kicked, punched and slapped. Three lost consciousness.
This particular organization, GFA reported, is known for using martial arts to inflict severe pain and causing internal injury without leaving much external evidence.

At one point, the tormentors left the six students alone in a room for about half an hour, GFA reported. Writhing in pain, they feared what would happen next. But at the same time, these young men kept their focus and remembered their calling.

According to GFA’s field representative Kiran said, “This is our reward to serve the Lord.”

Himansu said, “Let's tell it to the Lord.” All the students prayed, trusting God for His strength and grace.

Soon the group returned and dragged the students back into the cabs, drove them to the bus station, pushed them out and left. The six young men were able to get on a bus and return to the seminary, where they were immediately taken to the hospital.

They suffered from severe headaches and internal pain. Jaya was diagnosed with a broken left eardrum, in addition to bruising on his face.
GFA President K.P. Yohannan asked for prayer for the students. On an article on GFA’s web site (www.gfa.org/pray) he said, “ (Pray) that they will completely recover from their injuries and remain close to the Lord. I have no doubt that their suffering is not in vain, and He will use their lives to bear much fruit in the days to come.
He added, “My prayer and firm belief is that our brothers' willingness to faithfully represent their Lord Jesus in the face of such hatred and opposition will only serve to give boldness to all our missionaries as they continue to witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ.”