We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the  most resistant and hostile State in India as far
 as the Gospel is  concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats  and harassment we faced as we went about His
 work. But none of our  staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage.... And it seems to be totally under
 the radar of the Western Media ....

 Let me explain.... A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of
 Orissa and 'reconverting' people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last
 weekend.
 Immediately the Christians were blamed.. The cry rose up...'Kill the Christians!' And the horror began.... In the
 past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of
 Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.

 Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News  India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa...
 they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of
 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did
 a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to
 come back and 'finish the job.' Our kids and staff  are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors  and
 windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer.

 More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream
 center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes
 or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came to kill everyone in the building. We would have
 had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The
 local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area.  So they
 left.. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.  All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids
 and staff huddled inside and police outside.. The fanatics are circling outside waiting for a chance to kill. Others
 were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a
 computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left
 on the road.... even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the
 Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind.

 Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to  said: 'We stay with our kids.... we live together or die
 together, but we will never abandon  what God has called us to do.' More than 5000 Christian families have had their
 homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities
 to bring about  peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen.  This will continue for another 10 days.... supposedly the
 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many
 more churches will be smashed down.  The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm
 down. We ask for your prayers. Only the hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution.
 But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and
 totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are
 unable to come and get them during these trying times.  Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue
 with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children.  Orissa will be saved... that is our
 heart's cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they
 will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great
 Commission.  What can you do?

 First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer.

 Second, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for
 this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His
 Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial.  We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa.  Thank you for taking
 the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge
 effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations....

 Prayer works!

 Blessings, Chip & Sandy Wanner
 Col 2:2
 MBI Team Facilitators to YWAM frontlines