a rural area of Nepal for "choosing to follow Christ" have forgiven her murders and withdrawn their case against them, missionaries said Monday, June 20. Villagers were so impressed by the forgiveness that seven suspects became Christians themselves, a native missionary said in a statement released by Christian Aid Mission (CAM). CAM, which supports indigenous missionaries in the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, said the victim was a member of the Santhal tribe in the eastern part of the country.
LED TO CHRIST
"She was recently led to Christ by a native missionary. When her family and neighbors found out about her decision, they beat her so badly that she had to be hospitalized. After five days in the hospital, she passed away," CAM added, citing sources in the area.
Local police reportedly detained several people and charged them with her murder,» however, Christians in the village, led by the native missionary who worked among them, chose to forgive the murderers and withdrew the case," CAM reported.
"The neighbors were very much impressed by this and have been searching for the truth since," a native missionary said on condition of anonymity, apparently for security reasons, in a statement.
HUNDREDS GATHER
Three hundred and fifty people from the area reportedly gathered under a tent to listen to him. During the service "seven family members from the tribe who had been accused of the killing accepted Christ," he said.
CAM said there were 27 more conversions and as a result, a new church has been started in this village, which it claimed "is growing daily." In a letter to supporters CAM urged Christians to "pray that this Santhal community would continue to respond to the gospel of Christ" and to "pray for peace to come to the murdered woman’s family."
Human rights groups say Christians in Nepal face wide spread persecution. Nepal’s King Gyanendra has been under international pressure to allow more political and religious freedom. He recently lifted a state of emergency imposed when he took over power, backed by the military, on February 1. (With BosNewsLife Research, BosNewsLife Staff in the region and reports from Nepal)
