letter from South Asia
I have led churches in India for over 50 years, enjoying the privilege of walking with God’s people. Today, I feel heavy-hearted hearing about believers victimised by “anti-conversion laws” and their extreme amendments, which criminalise our basic faith expressions.
The Christian faith is communal. Since ancient times, Christians have gathered in homes for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. The church has endured trials over the centuries simply by meeting together.
It is with grief that I acknowledge the dramatic changes in India. Due to strict anti-conversion laws, home meetings by Christians are banned in several states. Police warn that Christians must meet only in registered churches, and those who refuse face severe consequences.
There are hundreds of cases, the worst in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Christians are being jailed on false allegations of forced conversion. Pastors are being beaten and their civil liberties denied.
Although it’s March 2026, we still feel the impact of the recent wave of intimidation at Christmas against India’s Christians, with disrupted prayer gatherings, vandalised homes, and attacked believers.
All religious minorities across India face injustice, restriction, and intolerance. Hindus, however, continue in full freedom and without fear.
The persistence of this wild double standard is glaring. India’s Constitution secures the right to practise and share one’s faith. Sadly, that right is being denied to the minority religions, while others continue with liberty.
Will the perpetrators be held accountable? The issue isn’t just about restricting worship. The secular soul of our nation erodes as communities are divided and India becomes deeply split along religious lines.
We cannot let this happen. We love our nation too much. The church must stand firm in love, resist retaliation, and embody Christ’s call to bless those who persecute us.
As one, we defend the weak, even as we cry out for justice for the vulnerable, knowing that the Lord is always with us.
