Hopelessness to Hopefulness

Pastor Mintu Kumar, a devoted servant of God, has endured immense trials for the sake of the Gospel. He, along with his wife and three children-one daughter and two sons-has been faithfully following Jesus and His command in a village in Uttar Pradesh state.

However, their journey has taken a painful turn as persecution has intensified, leaving them struggling to survive.

His journey of faith began several years ago when his father, after experiencing divine healing, accepted Jesus as his Savior. His parents served the Lord wholeheartedly, and they entrusted him to a pastor for biblical training. Pastor Mintu later pursued a one-year Bible course and committed himself to serving Jesus full-time.

However, the rise in persecution has forced him to halt his ministry.

A previous attempt on his life further escalated the danger, and local believers urged him to stop visiting these regions for his own safety. As a result, his financial support was completely cut off. Pastors live on the offerings they receive from their church believers. Because of churches being closed and his motorbike-essential for travel-remaining under loan, he is unable to retrieve it. Even his room rent remains unpaid.

Pastor Mintu was leading gatherings of over 300 believers. Sadly, his own relative, affiliated with a religious party, betrayed him by falsely accusing him of religious conversions. One fateful day, as he and fellow believers gathered in prayer at a home, a mob stormed the meeting.

Accusations were thrown, and while an offering was being collected, they entered and took him along with 8 to 10 believers, who were dragged away and kept in custody. Others were released, but Pastor Mintu was imprisoned, and a case was filed against him.

Now, the case remains unresolved due to a lack of funds. A dedicated Christian advocate is fighting on his behalf, working tirelessly to bring the case to a close. Amid all this, the family is thankful to the Persecution Relief family, who has stood by them in their trials and supported them with round-the-clock prayer and finances. However, they remain in desperate need. As Pastor Mintu spoke of his suffering, tears streamed down his face, his heart heavy with sorrow.

Pastor Mintu finds himself in a dire situation. The closure of churches in the region has left his family without an income, forcing all three of his children to discontinue their education due to unpaid school fees. The hardship has become so unbearable that his wife, in utter desperation, contemplated taking poison to end her life.

Hunger has become a daily battle, with nights spent on an empty stomach. On the day he spoke to us, a believer brought some food for them, but the struggle continues daily. Pastor Mintu was once engaged in other work to support his family, but due to the ongoing persecution, he lost all means of livelihood.

The Persecution Relief family is trying everything possible to resettle Pastor Mintu and his family. They have already provided all immediate assistance needed. Pastor Mintu hopes to become a vegetable vendor, and with that income, wishes to continue serving Jesus.

This is just one story, but there are many like Pastor Mintu who are suffering in various forms.

The Church needs to take the plight of persecuted saints very seriously; you cannot overlook the Body of Christ.

All Church Leaders should make it mandatory to fast and pray for the persecuted saints-your prayers are their fuel to finish their race.

“If you are different enough from the world, and similar enough to Christ, you are qualified for Persecution.”- Bro. Shibu Thomas, Founder- Persecution Relief.