Church Inauguration disrupted in Karnataka
The dedication of the IPC Zion Prayer Hall at Pavagada Kyathaganakere in Tumakuru district was disrupted.
The believers of the Kyathaganakere IPC church and the church minister, Pastor Suresh, were happy to complete the work of the worship hall, which had been going on for about two years. On the morning of March 31, the entrance of the worship hall was inaugurated by the former secretary of the Karnataka IPC, Pastor Varghese Mathew, and the dedication of the church hall was performed by the secretary of the Karnataka State IPC, Pastor Dr. Varghese Philip. After the speech of the Vice President, Pastor Jose Mathew, a group of about forty anti-gospel activists stood in front of the worship hall.
The speech was immediately stopped and the believers and distinguished guests came out, but the anti-gospel activists entered the hall in a group and unleashed violence. Pictures were pasted on the walls of the church hall and ten coconuts were broken and a special puja was performed inside the hall. The cross placed in front of the church hall as a sign and the plaque with names for the inauguration were smashed and destroyed, along with the pulpit and chairs inside the hall.
The food items prepared for those coming for the consecration service were also destroyed. Since the believers and the ministers did not go for any provocation, no further untoward incidents occurred.
The IPC church leadership immediately contacted the police authorities and higher police authorities immediately reached the spot and calmed the situation.
This is the third newly opened church hall under the IPC Pavagada area. The minister here is Pastor Suresh, a Kannada speaker from the nearby S.N. Halli village. The opponents of the gospel have objected to the fact that a large number of Kannada religious people come to worship here during his service here. They demanded that the church hall be demolished, but the church was built with legal registration and a complaint was filed with the police against the attack on the church hall. An FIR was registered, said Pastor Sajeev John, IPC Pavugada Area President.
They are now demanding that Pastor Suresh, a resident of the village, be removed from there. He is requesting everyone's prayers for peaceful worship.
