Missionary Beaten by Radicals

South Asia: November 14, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Gospel for Asia-supported Missionary Sandeep Gupta was brutally beaten while on his way home after leading a worship service Sunday, November 9.

Sandeep was waiting for his bus at about 3:30 p.m. when six men from a well-known anti-Christian radical group surrounded him and without saying a word, began beating him. When the attack drew a crowd, the radicals finally spoke.

"This fellow is converting our people to a foreign religion," they announced.

Fueled by the attention they were attracting, the radicals tore off Sandeep's shirt, slammed him to the ground and kicked him. As their anger intensified, they threatened to kill him.

Sandeep tried to get away, but he was outnumbered.

The radicals began to taunt Sandeep, telling him to recite a chant used in the worship of a local god, but Sandeep refused.

"Even if you take my life, I won't say that," Sandeep said.

The radicals finally backed down and fled, leaving the severely injured Sandeep at the bus stop. No one came forward to help him.

When he returned to his home, he was able to contact his ministry leaders, who helped him get medical treatment. He also shared the following prayer requests with them:

- Sandeep suffered multiple blows to the head and is no longer able to hear out of his right ear. Please pray that his body would fully recover from the attack.

- Please pray for the 15 Christians who attend the new church Sandeep is leading. Pray that they would not be scared away by this incident.

- Pray for Sandeep that God would grant him peace and comfort so that he can stand firm in this situation with boldness to work mightily for the expansion of God's Kingdom.

News source: http://www.assistnews.net/