Christian churches in India continue to expand despite persecution

Christian churches in India are rapidly expanding despite the increase in reported cases of violence directed against Christians.

According to Christianity Today, the estimated number of Christians in the country range from 25 to 60 million, most of whom are Catholics.

On a hilltop in the state of Rajasthan, Bhagwana Lal ministers to a one-room church that draws 2,000 people every Sunday. Lal, a member of a tribal group whose members are treated as outcasts from India's caste system, said that the cracks in the outer walls of the church are a source of pride because it marks the times when the building expanded.

F. Philip, a seminary president and editor of an evangelical magazine called Christian Trends, said that the Gospel is well-received by the tribe. His seminary currently trains tribal pastors to minister to 300,000 believers across 1,600 congregations.

The growth of Christianity is not limited to the lowest castes. Leaders said that Indians from different social backgrounds are turning to Christ. The staff members of the Research Project on Christwar Movements have accumulated 2,500 pages of interviews with new believers.

In August, the Evangelical Fellowship of India reported an increase in violent crimes committed against Christians. The organization documented 134 confirmed cases in the first six months of 2016 while there were 147 reported incidents for the whole year of 2014 and 177 in 2015.

P. Singh, a leading scholar at a respected Christian institution, suggested that Christians must take a less direct approach to evangelizing to Indians.

"Here people look at churches in a negative way — as only interested in conversions. If we go into the community directly with the gospel, then people will oppose us," he said.

His church partners with the Association for Christian Thoughtfulness (ACT) to help with the distribution of materials on HIV/AIDS, abuse and other social needs.

One church movement, Empower Believers Connections (EBC), focuses on making its churches self-sustainable through small enterprises. Some of its churches are running private schools while one runs a brass band that performs at parades and parties. One church runs a youth hostel and another manufactures LCD bulbs.

"The ministry is the priority, not the business. But the business should support the ministry. And opponents have less to criticize when you are doing social good," said Mathai Soren, who is leading the efforts of EBC.