in this issue
-- Hindu extremists attack Christians in India
-- Nigerian ministry plans outreach to hostile mission fields
-- Muslims threaten Philippine ministry

A Christian Aid-supported missionary in the state of Maharashtra reports that persecution of Christians by Hindu extremists has recently increased in his area. In December, native missionary S.B. Pateh and his two sons, along with several other believers from his church congregation, rented a jeep to visit other Christians in outlying areas. The group was returning home after visiting with eight families in a mountainous tribal region, when they were surrounded by a mob of 100 people, led by a Hindu priest, from the same region.

The mob assaulted them with sticks and other weapons. The Hindus forced Pateh’s sons to offer sacrifices to their gods, before beating the entire group unconscious. The mob then left, believing the Christians to be dead.

The police arrived two hours later. Instead of prosecuting the violent mob, however, the police reprimanded the believers, telling them that they should have asked permission to enter the village.

One month later, these same police officers were arrested and imprisoned. However, they were soon released on bail. Pateh’s missionary group was summoned to appear before the court and has since been involved in a costly legal battle to defend their actions and prove that they were wrongfully attacked.

Christians working in the region continue to receive threats and low-level persecution from Hindu extremists, who have defaced property and prevented several outreach programs. The ministry asks for the prayers of concerned Christians.

A Nigerian indigenous ministry assisted by Christian Aid is preparing to launch an outreach in northern Nigeria. Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria and the capital of Kano State, is a predominantly Muslim city, but is home to many different groups, including a Christian minority.

In Kano, Muslims are seen as indigenous to the region, whereas Christians are looked upon as outsiders. Violence erupted in 2004, when Muslims attacked and killed 200 Christian residents. According to the ministry leader, “Ministering there is like offering yourself for a sacrifice.” He asks for the prayers and support of overseas believers to help his missionary team set up a headquarters and personal residence ($6,000), as well as transportation (two motorcycles at $1,000 each).

In addition, this ministry is also focused on sharing the gospel with the Fulani, the largest nomadic tribe in the world. Most sources list the population as 17 million; however, Christian Fulani leaders and scholars believe the number to be as large as 70 million.

The Fulani are known as the missionaries of Sunni Islam. Most are nominal Muslims, but the wealthiest and most influential are also the most radical, making them a powerful force because of their sheer numbers.

Because Fulani society is very structured and closed to outsiders, mission work is highly dangerous. Persecution and death are always imminent threats for believers. There are only a few believers among this strongly resistant tribe.

Many of these missionaries join the nomadic life of the targeted group, taking every opportunity to present Christ. Some work among Fulani who have settled in towns and cities, despite their danger to Christians.

One such converted Fulani missionary, Ardo, evangelizes moving groups of nomads and has a discipleship center where converts receive shelter while they are trained. His wife ministers to Fulani women. Through support from Christian Aid, she was able to open a small shop to attract the women as they replenish their supplies. The Nigeria ministry hopes to provide Ardo with a motorcycle ($1,000) and a film projector ($2,500) to increase the effectiveness of his ministry.

A Christian Aid-assisted ministry in the Philippines has started an orphanage for tribal people on an island off the coast of Muslim-dominated Mindanao.

During the past two years, an influx of foreign Muslim missionaries has infiltrated Mindanao with the intention of converting children to Islam. Each child who agrees to enroll in their Islamic training program is offered an attractive monthly living allowance, plus an additional $1,000 for their parents.

Open evangelism will result in death, and therefore the Christian ministry has used other means to open the hearts of the tribal people. They began by providing a free education to kindergarten-age children, gradually expanding their services to include older youth and adults. The ministry held several literacy classes for adults, as well as summer remedial classes in math, science and English.

Later, the ministry opened an orphanage for children who had been abandoned by their parents or orphaned by the holy wars launched by rebel Islamic groups seeking to create a separate Muslim state in the Philippines.

The results were tremendous, as many of the students gave their lives to Christ, attended Bible school, and are now engaged in ministry work. A church was also planted in this strict Islamic region.

Because of the growth of this ministry, however, Islamic authorities have threatened to close the orphanage and the other ministries.

Muslims, who had once ignored these orphaned children, have now begun to pressure them to abandon their Christian faith. Observing the quality education that the children have received at the Christian school, Muslims are promising older children good jobs and a free college education, if they will return to Islam.

The ministry plans to remain on the island and continue its work, despite the enormous opposition. Gospel workers request the prayers of all fellow believers who learn of their plight.

Missions Insider is a free email report from Christian Aid, your link to indigenous missionary ministries based in poorer countries overseas, or where evangelical Christians are a persecuted minority. Christian Aid provides headquarters services and representation in the USA for more than 700 indigenous ministries that have a total of 90,000 missionaries on the field, many in countries where American missionaries are not allowed.

Direct inquiries to insider@christianaid.org. Please pray for these and other indigenous ministries. To assist them financially, mail your gifts to Christian Aid or call them in to 434-977-5650.

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