Saturday, May 26, 2012

Muslim dominated Indian Kashmir - Conversions to Christianity amid Persecution

Rev. Khanna: After release, I'm not afraid to go back to my Church


 In an interview with AsiaNews, the pastor of All Saints Anglican Church says he was "the victim of a conspiracy," but holds "no grudge". The rev. Khanna spent ten days in jail for having baptized seven Muslims.

Srinagar (AsiaNews) - "I was the victim of a serious conspiracy, but I'm not afraid to return to serve my church and community”, says Chander Mani Khanna, the pastor of All Saints Anglican Church of Kashmir  arrested for having baptized seven Muslims, shortly after being released on the night of December 1st in an interview with AsiaNews. The pastor was held in police custody for ten days at Kothi Bagh police station (Srinagar), under to art. 153A (people who promote disharmony, enmity or hatred based on religion, race, residence, language or caste) and 295A (people who offend the religious feelings of any class, with deliberate and malicious acts). He was arrested following a complaint made by the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, who had summoned him before an Islamic court after seeing a video of baptisms on YouTube. Below, an interview with Rev. Khanna by AsiaNews.

Rev. Khanna, what was the outcome of your trial?

I was the victim of a conspiracy, no Srinagar lawyer would take my case, the same legal group in Kashmir threatened all of its members to boycott me (see AsiaNews, 30/11/2011, " Kashmir: Anglican pastor who baptised seven Muslims to be released "). Twice, the judge had to postpone the hearing to determine my bail. Eventually, they released me only with a warning not to leave the state. At the time of liberation, outside the prison, there were protests, and on my return home, I had to change cars twice to avoid being followed.

Tell us about the events that led to your arrest

In Kashmir, we Christians are a very small community, just 200-250 people against the majority of Muslims, yet we serve through our schools and our apostolate. We never go around proselytizing, we never invite people to convert to Christianity. These seven young men came to our church for almost six months, they wanted to listen attentively to the Word of God, and with great respect sat among the community during services. After a few months, they spoke to me of their desire to receive communion and become Christians. So, they began to follow catechesis, after which they received baptism before the whole community. These seven people freely chose to be baptized.

Do you regret celebrating the baptism?

Absolutely not. The baptisms were celebrated in broad daylight, before the whole community. I had no ulterior motives, or other matters of money. I am an ordained minister of the Church of North India (Anglican, ed) and an Indian citizen living in a secular country. As a minister of the Church, we have our own evangelical mission. The scriptures tell us to go and proclaim the Word of God and baptise. This is the commandment given to the Church, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Here in Kashmir we are a very small community, yet its like living in an Islamic state. A Koranic court summoned me and I went without any problems because I wanted to explain to them that I had done nothing illegal or unconstitutional.

Reverend, what would you like to say to the Muslims of Kashmir and those places where Christians are a minority?

I want to tell them that we are all sons of our father Abraham, who want to live together peacefully, and work to improve mutual understanding. There are many things that they do not understand about prayer. It is urgent that intellectuals and spiritual leaders sit down together and open a dialogue for the common good of all people. Giving communities more spiritual values, to help them understand and live together. The message of Christ is to spread love, not hate: that is why we want to express Christ's love in our lives through our ministry.

Are you willing to return to your church, despite the threats?

Certainly. It is imperative that reconciliation takes place between the two communities, so we can understand and help each other. Both Islam and Christianity are religions of peace. I do not harbor a grudge against anyone, my prayer is that God can reveal the truth to them. There is no other power except that of the Good News of the Gospel, which in a free gift such as I have received, and I can bring people closer to God's love

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

International Exorcist and Charismatic priest Fr Rufus passes away



Fr Rufus Pereira died in the morning on Wednesday, 2 May 2012 due to cardiac arrest during sleep in London, UK. He had been to Europe tour for giving retreats. He was known worldwide for performing exorcisms for healing and deliverance meetings. The body of Father Rufus remain in England until they have completed preparations to take him to India, where he will be buried. The date has not yet been disclosed.

Father Rufus was born in Bandra on 6-May-1933. He was a priest in the Archdiocese of Bombay and was a resident at St. Pius Church Mulund. He was an international charismatic preacher and was known for his power in deliverance (casting away the demons).
His first personal experience of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was on Pentecost Sunday in 1972 – at the Renewal’s beginning in India. Since then he has worked extensively in Renewal and World Evangelism ministries.

He studied Philosophy, Theology and Sacred Scripture in Rome, where he was ordained in 1956. He holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Theology.

For several years he served as director/headmaster of four secondary schools in Mumbai. In addition to the retreat speaker, Bible teacher and lecturer, he was a professor of Sacred Scripture in postgraduate courses in various Papal Theological Institutes.

He was also president of the International Association for the Ministry of Liberation. He published numerous articles and biblical theology, especially on evangelism and healing.
He was appointed by Archbishop Cardinal Gracias to dedicate himself to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Since then he has preached in meetings, retreats and missions throughout your country and also throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and some places in Latin America such as Brazil, where he was several times, including the New Song Community.

Father Rufus was also a director of the National Charismatic Bible College. It has recently been integrated into the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) in Rome, as responsible for the global ministry of healing and deliverance.

Father Rufus was editor of ‘Charisindia’, the National Charismatic Monthly, and director of the National Charismatic Bible College and continues to be visiting post-graduate Scripture professor at a Pontifical Theological Institute. In 1994 he was selected as Vice-president of the newly started International Association of Exorcists, Rome and in 1995 initiated the International Association for the Ministry of Deliverance.

He joined the ICCRS Council in 1997 and represents Asia and the Healing and Deliverance Ministries.


Testimony by Fr. Rufus available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YmF3fUNWKQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTDTCmvyY2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6rAyFLRB9o

Articles of Fr. Rufus Pereira are at
http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/rufuspereira/

Pentecost by Fr. Rufus Pereira
http://www.jmanjackal.net/eng/engrufus.htm

Sermons of Fr. Rufus Pereira
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLKbLobGrEU
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNp4n5nb-M
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNnIXi0Gm5A
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0p-uAEiiTE
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD-SB1dAxxU
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOEZVf72jTQ
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1LXxHZcLx4


The play list is at
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2652598015AAA242

Inner Healing Retreat of Fr. Rufus Pereira
1a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3–LZxUIHkA
1b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xd096hUJJ0
2a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yLuB5WU9KU
2b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHC-qCIgVfM
3a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvw-Kund0bk
3b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFdO7NoLEM
4a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7NwjBL0Bbc
4b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtSi0zAcxNQ
5a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWqQbzc-rkw
5b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNYcyQpS8Pw
6a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNYcyQpS8Pw
6b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnqrKj4RSHA
7a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l80o_VXKJXw
7b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc5UP0lKd1k
8a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNeWOREFBnU
8b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnCZFvOXOvg
9a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH0lEHCXI6c
9b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy6aY_hiQ1s
10a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlIaz5Zoi0c
10b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7dDEt9WMi8
11a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00ffaIWQXQ
11b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiqHUZY_sAg
12a. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6LjaXOUrwk
12b. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb6a_iYueaw

The play list is at
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDB235D8148F86E3D

Fr.Rufus Pereira – Preaching – 13/11 – Lord’s Prayer, the Key to Total Healing
http://en.gloria.tv/?media=216735

List of Talks by Fr. Rufus Pereira
http://en.gloria.tv/?search=Rufus+Pereira

Fr. Rufus Pereira Vice-president Of The Association Of Exorcists
http://newcovenantjournal.blogspot.in/2010/08/fr-rufus-pereira-vice-president-of.html

Google Videos of Fr. Rufus Pereira
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_nW0hLupFE