Update on Jeba
Below is a letter I received today from Santhanaraj with the latest on
Jeba's situation.
Thank you for so many letters of encouragement that have been sent to
brother Jeba. This man and his wife are mighty workers in God's kingdom.
They have been Christians for less than two years. I have just arranged
for funds from the church to be used for his bail and to pay his
attorney. Lord willing, I will see him in two weeks. He remains faithful
in the midst of beatings and threats against his life. Please continue to
pray for him.
Don Iverson
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Dear Brother (Don),
It was good to talk to you this evening. I didn't have any clear information about Bro. Jeba when you called in the morning. Because, when Bro. Jeba talked to me first, he was panicked and couldn't give clear information regarding the incident. But, this morning he could talk to me in detail. According to his statement the whole thing started when the village committee (all of them Roman Catholics) ordered all of the villagers to give Rs 10000 ($220) for the renovation work of the Roman Catholic Church building.
Even though Jeba doesn't live in the village, they have asked him also to give the money as he belong to that village and his Taxi is getting offers from that village only. But, Jeba didn't give any money. Then they threatened him that he won't be allowed to enter into the village. In the mean time the local priest came to Jeba and told him that if he remove the thatched hut (where the church has been gathering) and leave his faith, he will be given a new house built for the tsunami affected people and many more favors. Even after that our brother didn't agree with them.
At this time, the village committee has asked the fishermen to do fishing within a certain distance from the shore. Bro. Jeba's younger brothers, who are living in that village, have gone beyond that distance with some other fishermen. So, the village committee called all of them and imposed a fine on them all. They have imposed a fine of Rs 200 ($4.50) for others, while for Jeba's family they've imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 ($450.00). Jeba's family opposed this saying that the village committee is taking revenge on them because of Jeba's faith.
During this discussion, Bro. Jeba went there accidentally without knowing what is happening. On seeing him some one in the village committee shouted, "Here comes the trouble maker who breaks the village rule and causing others to do the same, let us hack him down to death". With the shouting this man started running toward Jeba with a sword in his hands. On seeing this Jeba's younger brother got panicked and in an attempt to save his brother picked up a stone and threw it at the furious man. The stone hit the man in the head. Suddenly, whole village committee was furious and got hold of Jeba and his brothers and has beaten them up and lodged a complaint against Jeba, saying that he was trying to kill the man intentionally, while the man with the head injury got back home after a small first aid.
Because of this complaint Jeba had to flee away with his family so that he has time enough to prove himself innocent before the law. The men in the village committee are constantly calling Jeba on his mobile to tell him that they will hack him down to death even if he gets a bail bond order.
This afternoon I've requested Bro. Michael to go and meet Jeba to give him some money and then asked Bro. Stephen and Eswaran to visit Jeba's place and stay with Sis.Jeba till evening. Jeba was somewhat relieved of his fear now and trying to get an advocate to take him on bail. The local church members have come forward to sign for the bail papers. So, Jeba is now confident that the church is beside him. This is really a good opportunity for our brothers to bear one another's burden.
We have been praying for Jeba and his family, here at DBI along with Bro. Jim and hope that the saints all over the world also will be praying for him after knowing all these things.
With love
Raj
Jeba's situation.
Thank you for so many letters of encouragement that have been sent to
brother Jeba. This man and his wife are mighty workers in God's kingdom.
They have been Christians for less than two years. I have just arranged
for funds from the church to be used for his bail and to pay his
attorney. Lord willing, I will see him in two weeks. He remains faithful
in the midst of beatings and threats against his life. Please continue to
pray for him.
Don Iverson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Brother (Don),
It was good to talk to you this evening. I didn't have any clear information about Bro. Jeba when you called in the morning. Because, when Bro. Jeba talked to me first, he was panicked and couldn't give clear information regarding the incident. But, this morning he could talk to me in detail. According to his statement the whole thing started when the village committee (all of them Roman Catholics) ordered all of the villagers to give Rs 10000 ($220) for the renovation work of the Roman Catholic Church building.
Even though Jeba doesn't live in the village, they have asked him also to give the money as he belong to that village and his Taxi is getting offers from that village only. But, Jeba didn't give any money. Then they threatened him that he won't be allowed to enter into the village. In the mean time the local priest came to Jeba and told him that if he remove the thatched hut (where the church has been gathering) and leave his faith, he will be given a new house built for the tsunami affected people and many more favors. Even after that our brother didn't agree with them.
At this time, the village committee has asked the fishermen to do fishing within a certain distance from the shore. Bro. Jeba's younger brothers, who are living in that village, have gone beyond that distance with some other fishermen. So, the village committee called all of them and imposed a fine on them all. They have imposed a fine of Rs 200 ($4.50) for others, while for Jeba's family they've imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 ($450.00). Jeba's family opposed this saying that the village committee is taking revenge on them because of Jeba's faith.
During this discussion, Bro. Jeba went there accidentally without knowing what is happening. On seeing him some one in the village committee shouted, "Here comes the trouble maker who breaks the village rule and causing others to do the same, let us hack him down to death". With the shouting this man started running toward Jeba with a sword in his hands. On seeing this Jeba's younger brother got panicked and in an attempt to save his brother picked up a stone and threw it at the furious man. The stone hit the man in the head. Suddenly, whole village committee was furious and got hold of Jeba and his brothers and has beaten them up and lodged a complaint against Jeba, saying that he was trying to kill the man intentionally, while the man with the head injury got back home after a small first aid.
Because of this complaint Jeba had to flee away with his family so that he has time enough to prove himself innocent before the law. The men in the village committee are constantly calling Jeba on his mobile to tell him that they will hack him down to death even if he gets a bail bond order.
This afternoon I've requested Bro. Michael to go and meet Jeba to give him some money and then asked Bro. Stephen and Eswaran to visit Jeba's place and stay with Sis.Jeba till evening. Jeba was somewhat relieved of his fear now and trying to get an advocate to take him on bail. The local church members have come forward to sign for the bail papers. So, Jeba is now confident that the church is beside him. This is really a good opportunity for our brothers to bear one another's burden.
We have been praying for Jeba and his family, here at DBI along with Bro. Jim and hope that the saints all over the world also will be praying for him after knowing all these things.
With love
Raj
posted by J. Keith Maxwell @ 8:53 PM
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