Missionary Finally Released from Prison

CARROLLTON, Texas, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Roshan Kuma was released from prison August 10 after a trial found him innocent of the charges brought against him. He served 17 long months after being falsely accused of working with the Maoists, an anti-government terrorist group.

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Roshan, and his brother-in-law, M.T. Joshri, were arrested March 10, 2010. In some parts of South Asia, the Maoists are a popular political party, but in the country where Roshan lives, they are most often insurgents who terrorize citizens. The country's prime minister calls them the "single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country." Although Roshan was in prison, he refused to give up his calling to share the Gospel. He told his fellow prisoners about the love of Jesus and many chose to follow Christ. Roshan also started a prayer meeting in the jail.

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"In spite of spending more than a year of suffering in prison, Pastor Roshan's vision for serving Jesus never dimmed. He still has an unquenchable thirst and passion for the ministry," said Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Gospel for Asia president and founder. "He continues to serve in the same area where there's a lot of Maoist activity, which causes many people to live in fear. Yet he has a successful and wonderful ministry in this small village." When he was arrested, Roshan was pastor of a church with about 100 members. Some in Roshan's village believe the accusations against the missionary pastor originated with anti-Christian extremists unhappy with the growth of the church. The believers in Roshan's village continually prayed for their pastor while he was in prison. In spite of their leader's arrest and imprisonment, the church grew and now has about 125 people attending worship each week. Roshan's congregation is in the midst of constructing a new church building, which they plan to dedicate this fall. "Please pray for Pastor Roshan, that God would continue to use him mightily for the Kingdom," K.P. asked. "Praise the Lord for using Pastor Roshan in prison, and for the inmates who chose to follow Jesus. Pray that they will stand firm in their faith--even while they are in prison." Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

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