Members of the Bethel Indonesia Church meet for worship in various homes in Jalan Banuaran, a village located in Padang, Indonesia.
On 29th August, as believers were worshiping God in the home of Juni, a hostile woman from the community, Liza, broke the windows of the house and demanded that the believers stop worshipping.
Shortly afterwards, Liza’s husband came to Juni’s house, along with two of his brothers who were armed with a machete and a wooden club. The men threatened to kill the Christians if they refused to stop their worship meeting.
The believers prayed while Pastor Hiatani tried in vain to calmly diffuse the situation by explaining that the landlord of the property and the head of their Indonesian community are aware of the church’s activities.
Liza, a relative of the owner of the house church and who lives in the back of a nearby house, was subsequently detained by the police who referred to this incident as a “misunderstanding”.
Pray that there will be a peaceful resolution of this situation. Pray that the believers can continue worshipping the Lord in that house church without any fear of harm. Pray that God will work mightily in the hearts and minds of the opposing community members, as well as the authorities involved in this case, so that harmonious relationships can be built between the church and the landlord’s family and neighbours.
(Source & Photo : VOMC)
#Persecuted Church