A pastor and his cousin charged with attempting to force people to convert to Christianity in eastern India’s Orissa state were released on bail Tuesday, Jan. 24, while five Hindu villagers charged with assault and setting fire to the pastor’s house remain in custody. On Sunday, Jan. 15, Hindu villagers attacked Rabindra Mallick as he returned home from a nearby market. The next morning a group of about 15 villagers armed with sticks stormed the home of his older brother, Pastor Kulamani Mallick, and assaulted him and his family. The pastor and two other family members required hospital treatment for minor injuries. The assailants set fire to their house, and seven adjacent houses also were burned and destroyed. In total, six homes belonging to Christians were gutted. Shortly after the attack, a woman in the village accused the pastor and two of his relatives of forced conversions. (Compass)

RECONVERSIONS TO HINDUISM IN INDIA BECOMING MORE COMMON

Christians in several states in India are concerned after believers were attacked and pressured to return to Hinduism. Recent reports indicate that 136 people in the eastern state of Orissa rejoined Hinduism in what nationalist Hindu groups described as a “homecoming” ceremony. In the northwestern state of Rajasthan, Christians were beaten because of their faith in Christ. “The Hindu extremists are manufacturing these reconversions just to get publicity,” said David Stravers, president of Mission India of Grand Rapids, Mich. “There is a mass movement to Christ among the poorest people of India -- the untouchables (Dalits). And this has the Hindus really worried. One of the things that we do in our programs is make sure that every person who hears the gospel has a relationship with a local Christian. When people have a relationship with local Christians, reconversion does not happen.” Mission India provides assistance with training and materials to help believers with their outreach and discipleship efforts with the goal of planting churches. (Mission Network News)

* Radio programs in 12 languages (English, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, Chattisgarhi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telegu, Marwari, Marathi and Santhali) air to India from HCJB World Radio-Australia’s shortwave station in Kununurra. The programs are produced at the ministry’s studios in New Delhi, India.

CUBAN OFFICIALS ALLOW CHURCH TO REOPEN AFTER DROPPING THREATS

Cuban officials recently threatened to demolish Yamaniguey Baptist Church because of “illegal construction.” However, a report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide Friday, Jan. 20, indicates that he church has received assurances that their building will not be destroyed and will be allowed to reopen. The church members said this change can be “directly attributed to the prayers of God’s people.” (Voice of the Martyrs)

* HCJB World Radio continues to air Spanish programs to Cuba via shortwave from South America. Hundreds of listeners have enrolled in the ministry’s Bible Institute of the Air, a Spanish correspondence program incorporating radio broadcasts. In addition, numerous pastors’ workshops sponsored by Apoyo, a joint training ministry with Leadership Resources International, have been held in Cuba since the mid-1990s.

CHRISTIAN UNION AT BRITISH UNIVERSITY BANNED, ACCOUNTS FROZEN

Birmingham University’s Christian Union is banned from using Student Union Guild rooms and facilities and had its bank accounts frozen by guild authorities after refusing to make “politically correct changes” to its charitable constitution on religious grounds, including who can become a member. “As a Christian union we restrict membership to only those people who profess faith in Jesus Christ,” explained staff worker Andy Weatherley. “It is a fundamental right of any organization to be able to include in its membership only those who abide by the ethos and focus of the organization.” Pod Bhogal, communications director of Universities Christian College Fellowship, added, “In all our years of working with hundreds of higher education establishments, this action by Birmingham’s guild is unique. We support the Birmingham Christian Union 100 percent and will back them in standing up for their rights.” The union has instructed solicitors to issue court proceedings against the guild if its funds aren’t returned. (Assist News Service)

MINISTRY FOCUSES OUTREACH ON HOMELESS PEOPLE IN 17 U.S. CITIES

This week thousands of the estimated 2 million homeless people across the U.S. will get help from volunteers serving with Here’s Life Inner City, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. The volunteers will hand deliver 8,000 “Homeless Care Kits” in 17 cities. “The kits have everything a homeless person would need to survive temporarily out in the elements,” said Here’s Life National Director Ted Gandy. “They include things like hats, gloves, scarves and warm socks as well as toiletry kits. They are being delivered by what we call Christian caregivers -- individuals who are really concerned about the physical and spiritual needs of the homeless. [The kits] are a tangible expression of what we say verbally.” (Mission Network News)

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