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Indian Christian leader’s wife arrested and deported from India

Saturday, 18 October 2008, 10:54 (EST)
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Jossy Chacko is the Founder and Director of Empart, an organization that transforms communities in Asia by planting churches among unreached people. Throughout this year there have been constant reports about the increasing persecution in India.

Jossy and his wife Jenni felt that they needed to be close to their leaders and workers in India to encourage and support them in their suffering. On October 4 they arrived in Chennai with their four children. While waiting for immigration clearance a group of immigration officers and armed police blocked the area and said to Jenni, an Australian national, “Sorry you can’t enter India”. The allegations made against her were that she had been ‘involved in missionary and conversion activities’.

After hours of discussion and phone calls it was clear that Jenni was going to be deported again. Jenni and the two youngest children (2 and 3 years old) had their passports confiscated and were kept under guard in a locked resting room. Jossy and the older two children were free to go. Eventually Jenni and the two children were deported to Bangkok where they are waiting eagerly to be re-united with the family.

Attempts to get Jenni back into India have revealed that someone has filed a note in the immigration computer that she is a ‘threat to national security’.

This situation is indicative of the opposition Christians are facing all over India. Even judicial and political leaders in Delhi are at a loss to explain or do anything to stop the current onslaught against Christians. Several political leaders and lawyers have said to Empart leaders that they believe Jenni’s situation is unfair, unreasonable and unconstitutional. The persecution against Christians is not only physical but also emotional, through intimidation and harassment and also through bureaucratic
means. Recently it was reported that one believer was made to watch his sister being raped and a group of church members were made to watch their pastor burn. (Visit
www.empart.org to view photos, video and latest reports about Orissa.)

Most educated Hindus are also appalled by what is happening. Many of them have been educated in Christian schools and helped by Christian hospitals. One minister in the federal parliament commented, “We have a secular constitution and law and order but the ground realities are very different to what is written in a book … even we are unable to do anything to control these people … so you pray to your God and ask others to pray that something significant will happen … either these people will
get divine punishment or change their ways.”

Visit www.jossysblog.wordpress.com for update about this situation.

Would you pray and mobilise others to pray?

􀂃 Please pray for Jossy, Jenni and the children that during this time they will know the peace and joy of the Lord

􀂃 Pray that the Lord will open the door for Jenni to re-enter India and join with her natural and spiritual family

􀂃 Pray for Empart leaders and Church Planters. They are feeling hurt and frustrated about this situation.

􀂃 Pray that out of all this pain and persecution a great move of God would be unleashed in India.

􀂃 Please pray for open doors and favour at the highest levels in Delhi, resulting in a speedy resolution.

􀂃 Please ensure you also keep praying for our suffering brothers and sisters in Orissa. It is all part of the same battle being fought spiritually over this nation.

Empart is all about planting churches and transforming communities. To learn more visit www.empart.org.