Gospel Center Vandalized in Kerala in India
by Michael Ireland
March 13, 2007
KOTTAYAM, INDIA (ANS) -- Hindu extremists vandalized a Gospel Center in Kottayam, India, run by the Indian Pentecostal Church, on February 6. About 50 people attend the Carmel Gospel Center which was started three months ago in the village named Kooroppada in Pampady, 10 miles east of Kottayam. The center was attacked on Tuesday just before midnight.
"The glass of the front side windows were totally destroyed because of stoning and the pieces were scattered in and out side of the building," Pastor Baby Paul (30), the minister of the Gospel Center told the SVM News Service.
"After a prayer meeting, I and my wife were having our lunch in the dining room. Our 5-year-old son Barose and 2-year-old daughter Basia were sleeping in the front room. Suddenly we heard the sound of stoning at the front room where our children were sleeping. We cried aloud and rushed to the room to protect the children. When the attackers heard our voices, they stop stoning and left," Pastor Baby Paul said.
"They were a group of people who came by motorbikes and attacked us," Anu Baby, Pastor Baby Paul's wife said. "Our Lord Himself protected our children under His wings without having any harm."
Later the pastor and his wife saw that the attackers had been written some Hindu symbols on the public road at the front of the Gospel Center, Anu Baby added.
Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) visited the vandalized Gospel Center. He condemned the incident and asked the State Government to quickly find the attackers.
Pastor Baby Paul along with the Church Secretary Alex made a formal complaint to the Pampady Police Station. Police are investigating the case and also patrolling the surrounding area.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
