HYDERABAD, India — Hard-line Hindus in southern India, upset that members of their caste-based group have become Christians, burned down a church building and the pastor’s home in May, according to Morning Star News.
Assailants set fire to Pastor John Muller’s house and church May 3 after he and his pregnant wife left for the store. Three days before, five young hard-line Hindus had threatened him, he said.
“They said, ‘Don’t stay here — get out of this area or we will see your end,’” Muller said. “Recently some villagers belonging to Vanniyar, a caste-based Hindu sect, came to Christ. The same caste group opposes conversions in the village because they treat Christianity as a religion of lower castes. They don’t want anyone from Vanniyar to convert to Christianity.”
The couple lost everything in the blaze and are staying with a church member, he said.
India ranked 15th on Open Doors’ 2017 World Watch List of countries where Christians experience persecution. (MS)
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