Six GFA Students Beaten by Extremists

Last Saturday, Gospel for Asia (GFA) reported that six students from its Biblical Seminary were abducted by a group of extremists while they were carrying out their mission. They were all severely beaten before they were released.

GFA revealed the name of the six victims involved, they are Jaya, Yogendra, Narendra, Himansu, Kiran and Simon. They were distributing Gospel literature, preaching and praying for the sick as part of their regular weekly outreach, when a small group of men mocked them, "We are going to talk about God."

Suddenly, the crowd of men dragged the students into three-wheeled taxicabs and drove them to a secluded house, where the local headquarters for an extremist anti-Christian organisation is located. Some men trained in martial arts awaited the students there and started beating them as soon as they arrived. The organisation is well-known for martial arts that inflict severe pain and causes internal injury without leaving much external evidence.

"There were no less than five to six people beating each brother," reported a GFA field correspondent. The students were repeatedly kicked, punched and slapped. Three lost consciousness.

GFA said despite of great pain and suffering, these young men kept their focus and remembered their calling. One of them even said, "This is our reward to serve the Lord."

Another student Himansu said, "Let's tell it to the Lord." All the students prayed, trusting God for His strength and grace.

The six students were left alone in a room for about half an hour, later the group returned and dragged the students back into the cabs. They were dropped by a bus station, where the students took a bus to go back to the seminary.

Currently, all the students are suffering from severe headaches and internal pain. GFA President K.P. Yohannan asked for prayers for the students, "(Pray) that they will completely recover from their injuries and remain close to the Lord. I have no doubt that their suffering is not in vain, and He will use their lives to bear much fruit in the days to come."

He added, "My prayer and firm belief is that our brothers' willingness to faithfully represent their Lord Jesus in the face of such hatred and opposition will only serve to give boldness to all our missionaries as they continue to witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ."