India (MNN) — Consequences from the May 2023 ethnic violence in India’s Manipur State continue. A surge of kidnappings, attacks, and killings over the past two months has shaken the region yet again. 

The clashes first came between the chiefly Hindu Meiteis in political power and the primarily Christian Kuki-Zo people groups. But today, a third people group is also entangled: the Nagas. On May 13, for example, three Kuki-Zo church leaders were killed in an ambush. Later in the day, dozens of Nagas and Kukis were kidnapped, though the majority were soon released.

Tragically, some of the recent attacks are occurring between the Kuki-Zo and the Naga, although both are predominantly Christian. (More on Manipur State’s sobering history here.)

Raina Miller with Mission India says attacks like these mean more grief and fear for local families. Nearly 60,000 people remain displaced since May 2023.

Manipur State 2023

Gaman (Photo courtesy of Mission India)

“They’ve kind of adjusted to a new norm. So now to have this new break of violence come up, their lives are being disrupted yet again,” says Miller. 

But there’s another side to the struggles, thankfully. Kids caught in Manipur’s unrest are still receiving hope through Mission India’s year-long children’s Bible clubs. 

One boy named Gaman was in first grade when the 2023 attacks took place. He missed months of school. 

“He was so young that he just forgot everything that he had learned. So, once school picked up again, and it was safe to go back, he was behind,” says Miller.

Then Gaman joined the local children’s Bible club, where a club leader worked with him. 

“Not only was he able to get homework help and catch up academically, he also just got to be a kid again,” says Miller. 

“Our Bible clubs offer games, Christ-centered action songs — just fun activities for kids to get to be kids. And it’s especially great for those who have been through such severe tragedies like Gaman had.”

Find your place in the story

Pray for Mission India partners in Manipur State and across India. 

“India is the 12th most-persecuted nation in the world,” says Miller. “Our partners don’t pray for the persecution to end; they just ask us to pray for the courage to continue doing their ministry, and that the gospel would continue to spread.”

Pray also for peace between the ethnic groups of Manipur State. Find other specific prayer resources from Mission India by visiting missionindia.org/pray. 

“One of those [resources] is a daily prayer prompt that you can opt into, where every day we send just a one- to two-sentence prayer prompt to your inbox,” says Miller. “It’s very simple and quick, and you are able to pray for specific needs taking place in India as they develop.”

Visit missionindia.org/pray to learn more. 

 

Header image courtesy of Mission India.