Two foreigners, selling* religious literature,
became targets of the anti-conversion ire
now sweeping the country, at Vikhroli station on
Wednesday night.

The foreigners, belonging to a Christian sect, were selling* literature in Indian languages on the station platform when they were accosted by two anti-conversion militants around 9:30 p.m.

The militants kicked up a furore and a crowd soon collected, forcing the foreigners to seek refuge in the ticket-booking office which is adjacent to the station master's office.

Not satisfied that the foreigners had beat a hasty retreat, the militants taunted and goaded the crowd about conversions until some of them rushed into the booking office and snatched the leaflets from the two men.

The crowd then made a bonfire of the leaflets on the station platform, attracting even more attention. The police were nowhere in sight, however. A lone constable turned up only when the drama was over.

*Editor's notes: We were not selling, but rather freely giving away our lit to the poor people of India, never asking them for money for our literature to correct the above newspaper mistatements. Also, I kept the short article here above about the BJP, that was published just below the attack article back in 1982, because it is now in power in India as a religious party ruling what was a secular ruled government in India. There have been murders of Indian Christians and foreign Christian missionaries by anti-conversion militant Hindus reported in the news this year 1999. Christian Indians have vigorously protested, while the BJP government has officially decried the attacks and killings.

Also, the Evening News of India did not know that only one militant started shouting at us, following us into a restaurant, and then to the station. Afterwards, 7 or 8 policeman came to rescue us, with two of them escorting us to another station where they asked if we wanted our burned lit. But since it was so damaged we did not. They let us go back home to Byculla without further delay. Thank God for His miracles of protection, His guardian angels and for the police.

One of the funny things about this event was that we could not get off of the very crowded commuter train until it came to Vikhroli. We had had shouting attacks in downtown Bombay before this incident. So we thought getting out further into the suburbs would be better. Just shows you, you always need God's help and protection and guidance.

Lucas and I were finally even forced out of the Salvation Army hostel where we were staying because a Christian friend also staying there, turned out to be an enemy. He didn't like some of our literature either. We both headed for Goa separately.

Since a brother named Peter Pebble had invited us both, Lucas took the ship from Bombay, while I later took a commuter train to the outskirts of the city. From Thana my taxi driver stopped a truck going south. They got a tip. Then he left me off at a highway intersection for Goa, after which I discovered that my keys slipped out of my pocket in the truck. An Indian boy happened to be passing by and I mentioned that my keys were lost. He took out his keys and opened up my suitcase that had a lock from Portugal! Praise God. Thank God for little ones and little things!

A chauffered car with a government passenger stopped and gave me a ride to a new highway construction zone at a village. There I met the highway engineer who rounded up money for an 80 rupee ticket! The local police had me wait on a road island while they checked every bus for a seat and got me on one last seat at dusk to go the rest of the way overnight to Goa! Halleluiah! Thank You Jesus!

You may wonder why anti-conversion militants of any religion would want to persecute Christians for telling the Good news! I respect the truth that can be found in all religions. It's just that Jesus loves me so much that I want to tell others! It's not people's fault that they haven't found His Love. It's true Christians' fault for not showing more Love to the whole world for the Last Days of these 2000 years since Christ came on earth.

In many ways tho' I have been more blessed than the average human, as average as I am. God has shown me His Love in many ways just about all of my entire life. I just did not always look for His Love throughout all of my life. I did not always love God all of my life. I am still learning to love God through His Son Jesus with all of my heart.

But persecution has been a part of my Christian life in so-called Christian Western countries as well: in America, in Mexico, in Greece, and Italy. I have been arrested at the point of a gun in America for distributing literature; arrested, jailed and deported from Mexico just for literature; nearly deported from Italy because of literature; and deported by the New Delhi Federal Government of India which branded me an "undesirable element" for distributing literature!

The police chief of Panjim (Panaji), Goa had received the LIN (Love Is News) from me at a Ganesh Festival show of a policemen pyramid. I had been invited by some local Goans. But I made such a mistake in giving it to someone I did not know in such a position of power. It would have been better for me to just have attended as a guest. Well, I was summoned from my budget hotel room to the police station where my passport was taken until I received a one way ticket home. The police chief was so afraid of me when I tried to approach him to speak about the problem that he fled into his waiting car and drove away. A guard nearly stopped me, so I halted! But can you imagine? I really thought to speak to him. The Lord wanted to give him a chance to change his mind. But he sent something to New Delhi that ended my wonderful tho' lean stay in India! God had His hand in it all.

My life has been a peaceful and loving one for Jesus, but as He said, "The disciple is not above his Master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you!" (Jn.15:20) Paul continued this theme when he wrote: "What persecutions I endured; but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution!" (2 Timothy 3:11b,12a)

Do you think that lovers of peace, lovers of God, lovers of Jesus, and lovers of all mankind are looking for trouble? Absolutely not! We try to stay out of all unnecessary trouble, and we try to save others from their troubles too. It's not others' religions fault for persecution. It's really the Devil's fault most of all, because he just hates the truth and the love of Jesus. He tries to use ignorant and fearful people to attack God's Messengers of Love and Peace. He even lies to people saying "God wants you to kill those people who speak about Jesus!" The Devil is just a Liar, and knows that Jesus is the Truth, The Way, and Eternal Life! (Jn.14:6) It's the job God gave him to do: persecute the Truth tellers, the prophets, God's witnesses of His Love, to test their faith, love, loyalty and obedience to God. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven:, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you!" (Matthew 5:11-12) Halleluiah, Praise the Lord! Thank You Jesus!