Attack by Night

Hearts pounded. Bodies hit the ground. First one round of shots was fired,
then another. Then another … In all, 40 bullets were fired at the site of
the partially constructed GFA Believers Church in Manipur (India) that
night.

God tenderly watched over His children, and none of the missionaries
staying on the site were injured by the bullets. One believer did hurt
his arm while trying to fall flat on the ground during the shooting.

“Even after this incident, we kept on constructing the church,” Pastor
Prim states.

This pastor does not make this statement lightly—this is not the first
time his church was attacked and likely won’t be the last. Angry mobs
had dismantled the construction four times in the previous six months.
Once, they set ablaze the missionaries’ temporary living quarters and
burned their belongings to ashes.

The most recent attack, May 29, had been forewarned: Around noon
that day, sympathetic villagers warned the believers of a possible attack
that evening and told them to be watching. When Pastor Prim heard the
news, he called and requested police protection. The police chief said he
would send some officers, but none came.

They did come by the next day—to pick up empty shells from the bullets
fired the night before. Local Christian organizations have appealed to the
governor for protection from such attacks.

When completed, this church building will be a haven—a place where
people who have been set free from spiritual bondage through Pastor
Prim’s ministry can come and joyfully sing praise to God. With every
stroke of the hammer, these workers who labor at such peril to their
lives are building His Church in Asia. In view of these recent attacks,
they have battled some discouragement and would be grateful for
your prayers as they continue their labor of love.

“As for me,” Pastor Prim writes, “I am happy that God has counted me
worthy to face such hardships and shameful incidents in His name.”

http://www.gfa.org/gfa/newsupdate061405?motiv=WA56-G1LN

©2005 Gospel For Asia
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www.gfa.org