All their Bibles were destroyed and they could not afford to buy replacements.

A few months ago, I told our new Master Trainers in a training stream in India that I was going to give them new Bibles. I had no idea that their Bibles were destroyed when the Bajrangdol swept through their district in late 2008 causing mayhem and destruction. Hundreds were martyred, churches destroyed, and the houses of believers demolished and burned. Seventy-thousand were left homeless. Their vehicles, motor bikes, and personal property were burned or destroyed.

The multiplication of trainers in that district has been amazing. They have trained through the 4th generation with Storying for Evangelism and taken the stories to 94 villages, seen hundreds profess Christ, baptized 1,258 new converts from Hinduism, and planted over 90 churches in two years.

Beatings, stabbings, and killings were

carried out against believers.

All forms of transportation were

destroyed by the Bajrangdol.

A refugee camp. Seventy-thousand

were left homeless.

EXACT LOCATION OF THE SOURCE OF THIS STORY IS NOT PROVIDED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES MAY 1, 2017

Bibles for the Persecuted

Missionary’s house ransacked, burned, and mostly demolished.

Meridian funded the purchase of 1,230 Bibles for those who took advantage of our training. Many of these believers cannot read or write but to have a Bible is to possess a treasure and they will find someone to read their Bibles for them. It is our prayer that the readers who are not believers, as a result of reading the Bibles to their friends, will become followers of Christ.

On a side note, a recently released prisoner who now attends our church in Oklahoma, told us that he knew two inmates on death row who were given Bibles who could not read or write. They were in isolation where no one could read to them. It was a miracle. Separately, they learned to read their Bibles with no one teaching them! The Holy Spirit taught them!

More Bibles for Another Training Stream Where Persecution is Frequent

In another location in India, funds were sent to provide Bibles in their language to the Timothys (trainees) who have become Master Trainers and trained evangelists. It is more cost effective to wire money to them to buy Bibles than it is to ship them. But, the government is increasing surveillance of bank transfers asking how these funds are being used.

The Master Trainers (five)in this second location have undergone persecution including beatings, stabbings, threatenings, and even being struck with an ax. They were faithful in 2016 to take the stories to 34 villages, lead scores of people to Christ, baptize 145 converts, and plant 22 churches. These men live in constant danger but continue sharing.

PHOTO OF A BIBLE GIVEN TO OUR PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO WERE WITHOUT BIBLES FOR 8 YEARS The Bibles were printed in the heart language of these believers. Since 2009, Meridian has been training, encouraging, and facilitating the believers of this region where severe persecution took place. We have trained them to tell Bible stories which are reproducible and very effective for evangelism and discipleship. Master Trainers memorized about 110 Bible stories and were trained to conduct the study of these stories in small groups. They also learned to plant churches after the model provided by the apostle Paul. Those who can read can now go back to check their new Bibles for accuracy and detail.

Persecution was carried out by hired thugs backed by a

political activist organization with

supports the purging of non-Hindu religions.

Meridian is currently training in two

different Indian States where

persecution is reported. However, there is an alarming

amount of persecution in most of the other Indian

states. PRAY FOR OUR

BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN INDIA