I was at the airport last Saturday, dropping off a family member when I got a call from a Christian leader in India. He lives in one of the more difficult states for Christians.
I’m used to getting calls like this.
“This church is being attacked.”
“These Christians have been harassed.”
“A pastor has been arrested.”
“A Christian has lost his job.”
The stories are heartbreaking, but there is usually someone on the ground who steps in—a leader who would speak for the church, go to the authorities, advocate for the families, and remind people that they weren’t alone. And then I got this call.
“Arun Pannalal has been arrested.”
I was shaken. Arun Pannalal is not just another Christian leader. He is one of the people who has been a voice for Christians in Chhattisgarh for years. He is 75 years old, and I have personally interviewed him.
When something happens in a remote village, he gets the call. When tribal Christians are pushed out of their homes, he gets involved. When someone is threatened, he raises the issue with authorities. When a church is attacked, he makes sure someone knows about it. He is often the person who shows up when Christians feel like nobody else will.
There is a personal story behind his commitment. In 1999, missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons were burned alive while sleeping in their vehicle in Odisha. It remains one of the most horrific attacks against Christians in India’s modern history. Pannalal has spoken about how that tragedy changed the direction of his life. It pushed him deeper into Christian advocacy and eventually started Chattisharh Christian Forum.
Last year, he also spoke publicly in the case involving two Catholic nuns and a tribal man who were arrested over allegations of human trafficking and forced conversion. The tribal women involved later said they had been pressured into giving false statements. Pannalal publicly defended the accused and challenged the allegations.
That is who Arun Pannalal is. A man who has spent years giving Christians a voice. And now, that voice is sitting in judicial custody.
According to police, Pannalal was arrested over a social media post concerning Lord Shiva. He has been charged under Sections 196, 299, and 352(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to allegations of promoting enmity between communities, offending religious sentiments, and conduct that could disturb public order.
Whatever the legal process ultimately determines, I think his arrest is something Christians around the world should pay attention to. Not simply because of one man’s case, but because of the bigger picture.
Across parts of India, Christians are facing increasing pressure—sometimes quietly, sometimes openly. Churches are threatened. Families are harassed. Pastors are arrested. Tribal Christians can be pushed from their homes.
So today, I’m asking you to pray. Please pray for Arun Pannalal and his family. Pray for the Christians in Chhattisgarh who are facing pressure right now. Pray for pastors and leaders who are standing in the gap.
And pray for courage—for those who continue to speak when it would be much easier to remain silent.
[Image courtesy of AsiaNews]
When a church is attacked, a pastor is arrested, or a family loses its livelihood, the damage is not only legal or financial; it can isolate people at the exact moment they need steady support. The role of a local leader who can speak to authorities and stand beside affected families is therefore deeply significant. Advocacy should also include careful documentation, trusted communication channels, and practical support for those whose safety or work is at risk. Solidarity matters most when it is organized, persistent, and attentive to the people carrying the burden.
Esther 9 : 1
Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, ( *though it was turned to the contrary* , that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) (KJV)