A 52-year-old Christian was shot dead in an attack on a Christian family by radical Hindu nationalists in India’s Rajasthan state.
According to the local sources, three other Christians were seriously injured after they were brutally beaten with a gun, swords, and sickles.
Source: International Christian Concern
During the assault, the radicals pointed the gun at Pastor Bumbariya and attempted to shoot the pastor. The gun, however, failed to fire. Later the assailants pointed the gun at Pastor Bumbariya’s father, Bhima Bumbariya, and shot the 52-year-old Christian. After his father collapsed to the ground, Pastor Bumbariya was knocked unconscious.
Pastor Bumbariya and two other members of his family were transported to the government hospital in Udaipur, but the hospital staff refused to admit the injured Christians due to COVID-19 regulations. Later, the injured Christians were admitted to a nearby private hospital.
“I believe God has a definite purpose in keeping me alive,” Pastor Bumbariya said from his hospital bed. “I will carry on the ministry God has given to me.”
“We gave up so much already for the sake of our faith,” Pastor Bumbariya continued. “They took away our agricultural land, they destroyed our house, now they want our lives. I am worried about my family and children; about what will happen to them when I am not around.”
Pastor Bumbariya has worked as a church planter in the Bansawra District and has started several house churches in different villages. According to local church leaders, Pastor Bumbariya has been attacked by radicals several times in the past and has even had a false forced conversion allegation filed against him.
Let us pray.
- Pray for Pastor Bumbariya’s physical recovery. Ask the Lord to strengthen him emotionally and spiritually as he comes to terms with the tragic loss of his father and resumes his ministry work.
- Ask for God’s protection to be on Pastor Bumbariya and his family. Ask the Lord to shield them from those who wish to bring harm.
- Pray the death of Bhima may not be in vain but that the Lord would use his life’s witness and his tragic death to bring spiritual blessing and renewal to the area.
God over the nations, you rule with justice and always do what is right. You punish the wicked according to their deeds and save your own people by grace. We pray for the great nation of India, its peoples and leaders and particularly Prime Minister Mahdi that your Holy Spirit might sweep across this nation and bring many to Christ and built up faithfully in Him. We particularly pray for Pastor Bumbariya’s life and ministry of church planting and for a strong physical recovery after the attack. We ask you to strengthen him emotionally and spiritually as he comes to terms with the tragic loss of his father and resumes his ministry work. Grant him and his family your protection. we also ask you to shield them from those who wish to bring harm. May the death of Bhima not be in vain but please use his life’s witness and his tragic death to bring spiritual blessing and renewal to the area. Lord have mercy and pour out your grace.
Lord again another killing of a believer, by radicals. Lord protect Pastor Bumbariya’,and strengthen him daily Comfort him in his grief over the killing and loss of his father Bhima. May Bhima’s death not be in vain, and may you use it for your Glory, so that others may come to a saving grace in you as a result. Lord show these Hindu radicals that committed the murder, that you are the one and only True God, and that without coming to you in true repentance, they will spend an eternity in hell, as there is no such thing as reincarnation. Show them you are willing to forgive them, love them and make them your own.
In your loving name we pray Yeshua