Preaching Christ Where His Father Was Martyred

"They might kill me also in the future, but I'm standing firmly for Christ."

Basnath was 25 when his father, Pennaiah, shared Christ with their village. For the first two months, the villagers despised him and hated his message. Pennaiah, however, remained unshaken—he wanted them to know the good news of Jesus.

Then, one day, the entire village invited him for dinner, and he gladly accepted. 

When Pennaiah arrived, the villagers murdered him and threw his body in the fields with a warning attached:

"If you believe in Christianity, or if you spread the gospel in this village, this is what you're going to face."

When his wife and family found his body, they fell to their knees and wept bitterly. Soon after, Basnath's younger and older brothers fled in fear. 

Instead of fleeing, Basnath stood firmly next to his father. In that moment, he decided that he needed to share Christ with those who had killed his father—he needed to plant a church where his father had suffered for Christ.

Basnath (left) speaking to India Heart Bible ministry leader, Ruthvik (right).

After hearing from a missionary about a Heart Bible for the Nations training in India, Basnath decided to attend. In the training, 60 pastors and leaders secretly internalized Bible stories so they could know and share God’s Word—even in villages where physical Bibles are banned.

During the training, Basnath heard the story of how Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead. As he heard the story, he was reminded that one day his father would rise, and he would see him once again.



At the end of the training, Basnath was filled with comfort and a continued determination to take these Bible stories to the very village where his father was murdered.



This past month, Basnath attended another Heart Bible training, where 60 leaders from 42 villages gathered for seven days to learn Biblical foundations, pastoral leadership, discipleship, and storytelling through internalizing Bible stories.

With low literacy among many believers and bans on carrying physical Bibles, Heart Bible is meeting an urgent need for "Walking Bibles" in India. 

Train More Walking Bibles in India

Basnath faces constant death threats because of his faith and his desire to share the gospel.

Another believer who attended the previous training was told by villagers:

"If you won't stop sharing Christ, then maybe someone in your family needs to die."

In the face of intense persecution, our brothers and sisters need our prayers and support:

• Please consider helping us raise $3,200 for the next training in September to help 60 pastors and leaders take ground for the Kingdom of God in India.

• Pray that God would give Basnath and the many other believers courage, protection, wisdom, and strength.

Thank you for partnering with us to make Christ known among ALL nations!

RAISE UP WALKING BIBLES IN INDIA