Jossy Chacko

Empart worker, Kusulia has been faithfully serving the Lord in his tribal village in Orissa, not only sharing the gospel but helping the community with health education and teaching children to read and write.

The people he is reaching live in incredible poverty – only less than 10% of the people are literate. On 29th January Kusulia was traveling by bus to attend our local monthly meeting. But as he got off the bus, he was confronted by the police. “Are you Kusulia?” they asked. As soon as he responded “Yes”, they arrested him and threw him in a police vehicle.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked again and again, explaining he was a Christian worker and showing them his Bible. “We know you are a terrorist… keep quiet,” an officer commanded. 
In recent times, anti-Christian groups have made false accusations against Christians by using new government terrorist laws to persecute them. Once a person is accused of being a terrorist, they have few legal privileges and are treated very badly. Most lawyers are unwilling to help a “terrorist”. The emotional suffering it causes to the accused is long-lasting.



When Kusulia failed to attend the monthly workers’ meeting, Empart leaders realised that something was terribly wrong. None of the workers would ever miss an opportunity to train and worship together and support each other, unless they were in serious situation. They soon learned that someone had filed a false report with the police, claiming that Kusulia was a member of a terrorist group called Naxalite (an Indian Maoist group). They marched into the police station and made every effort to prove that Kusulia was not a terrorist, but the police are refusing to accept their evidence.

Kusulia is still in custody. Emaprt leaders don’t know what they should do next.  Please pray for:
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Kusulia that he will be filled with the peace of God during this difficult time, that he will be physically and emotionally protected.


The little tribal church members, and for Kusulia’s family that they will know God’s presence and comfort


The police that they will treat Kusulia with respect and dignity and not harm him.


Kusulia to be freed and not harmed
.

Empart leaders to know what they should do and also for other Empart workers, that they will be protected from such false allegations and persecution and that they will be bold and strong in their faith.



Would you please forward this to all your friends and ask them to pray? Please read Acts 4 while you pray for this.
 Also, Empart needs to create a fund to fight these allegations. Last year we had to help fight seven such accusations against our workers. While our brothers and sisters are innocent, the legal cost of trying to prove their innocence is high. I ask that you make a one time gift of $20 or $50 towards helping these precious brothers and sisters in their darkest hour. Please visit www.empart.org and www.empartusa.org (in USA) and make a donation to show your support, or call an Empart office near to you. (Visit www.empart.org/contacts for the phone number and visit our websites for updates of stories like this.) 



Thank you for your love for the Lord and care for your brothers and sisters – whatever you did for the least of these my brothers you did it for me…



For the Lord and the persecuted brothers in Asia

Jossy Chacko




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