How your donations provided a ray of hope for Kanak
Kanak* is a woman from India in her early thirties. Kanak and her family accepted Christ when her brother was healed of sickness. Kanak married a fellow believer, Peter*, and it was after their wedding that they got into full-time ministry and started working with an underprivileged community. Every day Kanak and her husband were thankful to the Lord for using them in ministry and found joy in serving the deprived. Then their church was attacked by extremists.
It was the end of summer and they were spending time in prayer along with many other church members when a group of religious extremists armed with weapons surrounded their house. The extremists were troubled by the increasing number of members attending the prayer gathering. The hall was packed with men, women and also small children. The extremists had all the weapons: sticks, pipes and iron rods and they barged inside and were attacking all the believers.
Kanak and Peter were severely injured, but during the gruesome and chaotic time, they managed to ignore their injuries and helped to protect others. Kanak says, “I was petrified when extremists attacked us, but I had to take courage to help my believers. Though I was in much pain, I could not bear to see my brothers and sisters going through the same and I gathered all my strength and protected the believers.”
Peter had called the police and on their arrival, the extremists left. Eventually, local pastors attended to the believers with medical aid. However, worries surrounded Kanak and Peter because they were continuously tormented by the religious extremists after the incident.
They even received death threats, but when they tried to take it to the police, they refused to help because they have been influenced by the extremists. The church stopped gathering because the members were gripped with fear after the incident. With the constant threats and no help from the authorities, Kanak and her husband were compelled to move out of their place.
When Open Doors partners learned about the incident and approached Kanak, prayed with her, encouraged her and helped her family find a new place to reside in a different city. Since this new place had no source of income, Open Doors partners helped in supplying grocery items that will sustain them for a few months.
Kanak expresses, “the one incident had changed my whole life, I had to leave the place where God called me to ministry, I had to let go of my people who were like family to me and had to hand over the community school to others that were dear to me. I felt like I had come to the end of a tunnel. But the help and intervention of Open Doors partners is like a ray of hope peeping through the dark tunnel and reminding me of the verse from John 1:5, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. Certainly, God’s light shined through your help and assured me that nothing can prevail against the will of God. I thank the organization for helping my family in the time of need and assuring of your constant prayers and encouragement.”
Kanak cannot go back to her home as the extremists are still seeking opportunities to target and harass them. She is thankful for the help of Open Doors partners and is not afraid of what lies ahead. She believes Jesus will make a way for her and will always stand by her side. Pray for Kanak and her family as they rebuild their lives in a new place and find chances to share their testimonies in the neighbourhood.
*Names Changed for security reasons
Please Pray
- Pray for Kanak and her husband as they cannot go back to her home as the extremists are still seeking an opportunity to target and harass them.
- Pray for the believers who are still residing in the area where Kanak had to leave, pray that they do not backslide, and pray that they get a new leader.
- Pray for Kanak and her family as they rebuild themselves in a new place and find chances to share their testimonies in the neighbourhood.
