Hari’s Story | Courageous Faith in India
“Even if they kill me, I want to serve the Lord”: Hari’s courageous faith in India.
In Hari Rana’s* village, there is no space for anything outside of the community’s tribal faith.
The traditional religion is deeply tied to the culture and identity of Hari’s tribe. So leaving the faith is viewed as a rejection of the tribe as well.
And following Jesus can be met with violence.
Hari saw this for the first time when a pastor visited the village and told people about Jesus. Three families accepted Christ, But were then kicked out of their village by extremists. They were forced to flee.
When Hari saw this, combined with the message of Jesus he had heard, he was deeply moved .He decided to give his life to Christ. “I was so amazed at the love these Christians showed to each other,” he says. “I knew this was the God that I wanted to believe and follow. From then on, there was no turning back for me.”
Hari’s family was furious at his decision—and he knew there would be consequences. “My parents hated me,” he remembers. “My brothers and sisters forced me to leave the house because of my newfound faith.”
But even his family’s rejection didn’t stop Hari from growing in his faith and continuing to walk with the Lord.
Arrests and accusations
Hari decided to study theology and after finishing school, he dedicated himself to full-time ministry in his village. As he preached the gospel, his ministry grew rapidly. But village religious extremists were not happy to see the church growing, and they began to look for a way to stop Hari and the other Christians.
“The extremists influenced local police and had me arrested on false charges of forceful conversion, but the police could not find any evidence and had to let me go,” Hari says intensely. “I continued my ministry and then one day, I baptized some people. These were people who wanted to be baptized out of their free will—but the police arrested me. Again, they found no evidence and had to release me.”
But that was nothing compared to the Easter service, when everything changed.
During that service, “Religious extremists along with the police barged into our service,” Hari shares. “They threatened the believers, [told them] they would be arrested and drove them all away from the church.”
Hari was called to the police station and questioned, along with two other Christians from his church.
“While we were being questioned, the extremists were also present, and they kept [pressing] the police officers [to oppose] us,” Hari recalls slowly. “The police asked us, ‘Who gave you the right to do this?’ I replied: ‘The Indian Constitution gives me right to preach and my Bible and the God whom I worship also give me the right to preach. I do not force people—they hear my preaching and if they like it, they come to the church.”
But the police didn’t care to listen. “The police kept alleging that I was destroying the harmony of the village by teaching about a foreign God,” Hari says. “They told me strictly not to conduct church services anymore. The extremists [who were] standing there threatened to kill me—[right] in front of the police.”
The the police closed down and sealed the church.
Hari stands in front of his closed down church building.
A secret church
Since then, Hari has tried everything—and asked everyone he can think of—to get permission to conduct church services, but hasn’t had any success. His church is still unable to gather.
“We now gather in secret—only in small numbers in houses,” Hari says. “We do take precautions, but I am confident that even if they kill me for my faith, I want to continue to serve the Lord. Christ has given me His life and all these years, He has protected me amongst all these threats. I know there is so much work yet to complete for God’s Kingdom.”
Even with the pain of losing his church, the multiple arrests and facing so much hatred from his community and relatives, Hari has not lost hope and has continued to passionately serve the Lord.
“In every disappointing moment, I was reminded of 1 Chronicles 28:20: ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished,’” Hari quotes. “This promise keeps me and my family motivated to do more of God’s work, as we know that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Nothing can stop us from loving Christ and serving Him.”
‘Our God has not forsaken or failed us’
Open Doors partners have been able to come alongside Hari with grocery relief and help for his business, along with ongoing spiritual and prayer support. Thanks to your gifts and prayers, Hari knows he does not suffer alone. “It is so joyful to see God’s children standing with me in the midst of persecution,” he says. “As a pastor of a small church, offerings from believers had been our only source of income. Since the church was shut down, I have been unable to manage the expenses of my family. I prayed to the Lord for help, and He sent you.
“The help you have provided us is a great encouragement and helps us attain sufficient income to sustain our family. Our God has indeed not forsaken or failed us.
“Thank you so much for your help and support.”
Hari and his church believers miss gathering in their church building. Yet they continue meeting in secret and live out their faith, in whatever ways they can. “Continue praying for us,” Hari asks. “I am very convinced that Christ is able to protect what we have entrusted unto Him.”
*Name changed to protect security
