As faithful servants of Christ, we are called to proclaim the truth of the gospel in all circumstances. But in some places, those circumstances are a matter of life and death.

For Sanjiv*—the pastor of a new church in South Asia—this danger is a daily reality.

After his conversion, Sanjiv was trained to go and make disciples as the leader of a church in his village. Some in his village heard the truth and received Christ, but many others rejected Sanjiv’s new faith … even banding together to persecute him and his family.

Overcoming Dangers Through Christ

First, they went for Sanjiv’s crops, his primary source of provision for food and finances. When he tried to stop one man from tearing them up on the ground, Sanjiv was warned to “shut his loud mouth” to avoid further consequences.

But Sanjiv couldn’t stop speaking about the Lord.

In response, Sanjiv’s neighbors went from attacking his possessions to physically beating him and his family. Head wounds warranted a rush to the local hospital where Sanjiv was denied treatment because of his allegiance to Christ.

Hours later, other believers in the area championed his cause and Sanjiv was reluctantly admitted for care.

Emboldened Through God

Today Sanjiv and his family are on the mend from these brutal attacks, but are forced to relocate to a new community with the help of their South Asian brothers and sisters.

Please join us in praying for Sanjiv and his family’s healing and relocation. Ask God to embolden other believers to follow their example of standing firm in the faith in the face of persecution.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:38-39, ESV

*Name changed for security reasons.