The Persecuted Church

Beatings For the Cause of Christ

Adam* is a young Christian in rural India. In his Hindu village, people were antagonistic to the gospel. One day, Adam’s older brother and wife became the first believers in the village. Although Adam was not willing to follow, he observed the changed lives of his brother and sister-in-law. They began to share the gospel with other villagers, but no one would listen to them. Then the beatings began.

Every time the Hindus beat Adam’s brother, someone in the crowd became a believer. Eventually, Adam himself believed in Christ and began suffering the same persecution as his brother. One day the villagers surrounded Adam, his brother and the small group of new Christians. In rage they had prepared a huge pot of boiling water and were preparing to cook the Christians alive. Then one of the Hindus calmed the mob and said, “If we do this even more will become Christians,” so they agreed to just beat the believers.

As a result, others were added to the family of Christ. They now have a church of more than 35 families in that village.

*Not his real name.