Year In Review: GFA Foresees Anti-Conversion Bills Hurting Christian Missionary Efforts in India
December 21, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The recent passage of so-called "religious freedom" bills in two Indian states is bringing swift reaction from the leader of a U.S.-based evangelical ministry to Asia. Under this newly approved legislation, people wanting to change from one religion to another must inform government officials or else face fines and possible imprisonment. The enactment of these regulations was spurred by false accusations by right-wing Hindus, who alleged that Christian missionaries had been converting people through force.
Dr. K.P. Yohannan is president of Gospel for Asia (GFA), a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in parts of Asia unreached by the gospel. He says the Indian states' new conversion notification laws were passed to make it harder for individuals to convert to Christianity.
"The Supreme Court has declared that the local police have the authority to go and investigate on their own if there's a complaint about a missionary trying to convert someone to Christian faith," Yohannan explains, "and that is a devastating blow, [considering] the existing harsh laws they have."
The ministry leader says conversion is a major political issue in India, and many times the Indian officials use their power to intimidate and discriminate against Christians. "Usually, when we get abused and persecuted, the local police and authorities many times don't even look at it," he contends. "They just walk away, because they are part of the gang often doing these kinds of things to the Christian missionaries and workers."
Yohannan points out that this kind of anti-Christian persecution is rampant in certain regions of India. "That is something that is happening in the state of Madhya Pradesh, where we've had traditionally lots of opposition," he asserts. And now, the newly passed bills that he calls "anti-conversion" laws are "making it much more difficult for the Christian workers."
Gospel for Asia trains and equips native missionaries to evangelize and plant churches throughout India and Asia. According to the ministry's sources, one government official in India has admitted that the purpose of the anti-conversion laws was to undermine plans of Christian missionaries.
