By Mark Ellis
Pastor Degal
In 2008 and 2009 Hindu extremists went from village to village
destroying churches, burning houses, and killing Christians. Their
agenda was to wipe out Christians and Christianity from India starting
in Orissa.
Some pastors were beaten, doused with petrol, and burned to death.
One pastor was beaten to the point of death by a mob of 100. He vomited
blood and later regained consciousness and managed to flee. Another
pastor and his pregnant wife ran away in the darkness and hid themselves
to save their lives.
Some took shelter in the forest without food and clothes for days.
When they returned to their village, they found their homes and property
burned and looted by angry mobs.
Pastor Mahara Degal was forced out of his village during the
persecution of 2008 and 2009 because he accepted Jesus Christ as his
Lord and Savior. He barely escaped with a broken leg after being beaten.
He relocated to a village called Gatingia, which has only one narrow
dirt road leading into it, and isolated himself for a time. But
answering the Lord’s call, he re-dedicated himself to the Lord’s service
and God began to empower his witness.
In 2012 Pastor Degal was given an audio playback device known as a
“Proclaimer,” developed by Faith Comes by Hearing. The solar-powered
device, preloaded with an audio New Testament in the Kui language,
provided him and his listeners thousands of hours of recorded verses and
discipleship.
The pastor’s bicycle
Using a bicycle, he travels to other villages to share the gospel.
Last year, he went to a district called Kalahandi where he shared the
Gospel with two Hindu extremists, who were involved in the violence.
“They came to know the Lord through the Proclaimer,” Pastor Degal
says. “I’m so happy that those who were involved in this persecution are
also coming to know the Lord.”
In the village where he lives, five households nearby have begun to
follow Jesus. “They’re also meeting here for the service on Sundays.”
“They hear God’s Word and they memorize God’s Word. When I was asking
them some stories, they’re able to tell the stories. So, I’m really
excited about what the Proclaimer is doing in my life and in the lives
of so many other nonbelievers.”
Source: Godreports