Extremists are demanding that a GFA-supported missionary remove the cross and nameplate from his church building

SOUTH ASIA (ANS) -- The police have told a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary to remove the cross and nameplate from his church building. If he does not comply, the local authorities said they would remove the items themselves. Pastor Kian Mettur has led this church of 40 members for about two years. He was summoned to the police station on July 23 after some anti-Christian extremists filed a complaint about the church building. The police official told Kian that he had to remove the cross and the nameplate because villagers were seeing it and, in turn, coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pastor Kian refused to take down the cross or the church name, and he conducted his regular worship service that same weekend. This week, Pastor Kian has been leading a training session in a nearby town. The police told him they would come to remove the cross and the nameplate on July 30.

Pastor Kian asks for prayer that if the police do come to his church that they would not harass his wife and children, nor destroy the items. He also requests prayer for the believers in his church that they would stand strong in this time of testing, and that the extremists who made the complaints, along with the police officers, would come to know the love of Jesus