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The February Church Partnership Evangelism India campaign, the seventh in a series with the India MB Conference, began in the wake of persecution of Christians in two neighbouring provinces.
In Gujarat state on the west coast, a band of Hindu radicals set fire to 35 church buildings between Christmas and Jan. 4. In Orissa state on the east coast, a large band of youth doused an Australian missionary's Landrover with gasoline and set it on fire, killing Graham Staines and his two sons.
At this time, a CPE team of seven, all from B.C. churches, arrived on the scene at Nagarkurnool Feb. 6. They were briefed on the situation and then attended consultations with Indian MB Conference leaders. One of these sessions took place on the roadside of national Highway No. 7. Conference president P.B. Arnold joined the group which prayed for wisdom and direction.
Four precautions were agreed to: First, the team would not take nor give any signatures. Second, no photographs would be taken in the 21 villages in which the campaign was being conducted. Third, team members would vacate the villages by 4 p.m. so as not to get caught on the roads after dark. Fourth, no baptisms would be held during this campaign.
Meanwhile, the CPE team faxed prayer alerts to the Abbotsford CPE office for distribution to the CPE-sponsoring churches. The Nagarkurnool campaign proceeded on schedule, and over 2,000 people prayed to receive Christ.
The next CPE India campaign is scheduled for November at Deverakonda.--Dan and Helen Nickel
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