Interview: Preetha and Vinita one year on from their terrible attack

A year on since Preetha* and Vinita* from India shared about the persecution they faced for being Christians, they give an update and ask for prayer.

You might remember Preetha* and Vinita* from India. We shared their story last year – how they were brutally attacked in their own home by Hindu extremists. How they were denied treatment in hospital because of their Christian faith. How Open Doors partners came alongside them, offering practical and spiritual help. And, above all, how Preetha and Vinita stayed unshaken in their courageous faith – knowing, as Preetha said, “God is always with me.”

One year on, you can hear an update from these remarkable women. Thank you so much for praying for them, and for all the support you give to our church family in India. Please keep praying for Vinita and Preetha, and all Indian Christians who follow Jesus no matter the cost.

Are you still facing persecution for your faith?

VINITA: I still face mental abuse, taunts and sarcastic comments from my neighbours every single day. The people who attacked me that day live nearby and often I see them pointing towards my family, scorning us and commenting about us. They also try to pick fights with us over very trivial issues.

I do not openly share about Jesus with anyone now, as my family is constantly under strict surveillance.

PREETHA: After the incident, we had to relocate twice. Whenever people got to know about our faith, they alerted the Hindu extremists, who came to my house and created commotion.

We are currently living in my third rental house and are maintaining a low profile. We have quiet fellowships and small gatherings – we know that the moment any extremist group comes to know about us, they will come and accuse us of converting people to Christianity using money. They will force us to leave the locality.

How is this affecting your faith and your relationship with God?

VINITA: My faith emerged stronger after the incident. I wake up very early in the morning and spend time reading the Bible as well as praying. I take time to meditate on the Word. My relationship with the Lord is now even stronger and somehow, I am finding courage to stay in the same locality; I could not move house because the house belongs to me (I had bought it with great difficulty), and it is not rented.

PREETHA: I am strong in my faith; I begin my day at 5 o’clock with a one-hour prayer time and then spend a lot of time throughout the day praying also.

Even though I am illiterate and cannot read the Word, I listen to it. I sit down with my husband every day and he explains it and teaches me.

Today I received God’s word from Hebrews 12:7 (ESV): “It is for discipline you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”

How can we pray for you?

VINITA: I thank God that, even though I had a severe head injury because of the incident, God healed me without major treatment because of everyone’s prayers.

Please pray for me as I wish to grow more in my spiritual life. Pray for my sister who was a major victim in the incident. She is also a lone believer in her husband’s house and cannot practise her Christian faith openly.

Pray for my shop as I wish to bring it to a more prime location where I can get more customers; presently it is near my house and it is under the constant observation of my anti-Christian neighbours.

PREETHA: Please pray for our health. After the incident I had a broken arm. My arm had been fractured in many places and my nerves and tissues were also torn. Despite the treatment, it still does not function properly and I still have pain. The doctors have suggested surgery, but my family does not have the financial ability to bear it.

My husband also had a heart attack a few months ago but he is not able to get proper treatment as it is very expensive.

*Names changed for security reasons