Dozens of believers kidnapped in India

India (MNN) — The amount of persecution against Christians in India continues to increase, and there’s no sign of improvement. Gospel for Asia is reporting that nearly 40 Christians were kidnapped last week. The kidnappers reportedly have taken them to a religious temple to try to force them to renounce their faith and turn to the country’s dominant faith. Gospel for Asia Daniel Yahannan says, “They do this to try to scare people from following Christ. It’s kind of like, ‘If you follow Christ, this is what’s going to happen to you.’ But it always seems to backfire because more people get saved after the persecution.” Yohannan says the large number of conversions to Christianity affects the two sides differently. “I think for the persecutors, it confuses them because people co not stop following Christ. For the believers and others who are sharing the Gospel, I think it just gives them so much boldness.” The large number of new Christians means GFA needs more trained leaders to help with discipleship. Your support can help expand the work. Go our Web site to help.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10962

A high-profile kidnapping could hurt the Iraqi church

Iraq (MNN) — Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has issued an all-out effort to secure the release of Chaldean Catholic archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho who was kidnapped last Friday. The abduction could cause even more Christians to leave Iraq. Open Doors’ Carl Moeller says that while persecution against Christians generally sees the church grow, it’s mixed for the church in Iraq. “The historic Christian church in Iraq has decreased from roughly one-million around the time of the first Gulf War to less than half a million. However, thousands of Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in Iraq today, and that is a reality throughout the North and even in the South.” Moeller says they’re doing all they can to help the indigenous church. “Our role as Open Doors is to come alongside the church where they are persecuted and to strengthen them so that they can remain there and that they can remain a vital Gospel witness for the sake of the souls of the Iraqi people.” Your financial support can help them do that.

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10971