Elderly Couple in India Faces Social Boycott After Conversion to Christianity

(International Christian Concern) – Jaga Madkami, age 61, and his wife Debe, age 55, grew up in Hindu homes and lived a comfortable life in their village. Jaga Madkami spent most of his life devoted to serving as a Hindu priest, meditating, and making offerings to gods and goddesses.

Since 2018, Jaga and his wife have suffered from a severe case of tuberculosis, a lung disease caused by bacteria. Jaga sacrificed many animals to their gods and goddesses, went to many different doctors, and tried various medications, however, nothing worked. One day, Jaga and his wife heard about Jesus healing the sick from local Christians. Interested to learn more, they attended a church service in secret.

The pastor and the congregation knelt and prayed for the couple in the name of Jesus. Miraculously, their health started improving within days. In June 2020, Jaga and Debe accepted Christ and converted to Christianity.

On May 12, 2021, Hindu villagers came to the Madkami’s house to confront them about their absence from the village temple and Hindu festivals. After Jaga told them he and his wife converted to Christianity, the villagers isolated the family and told them to return to Hinduism or be socially boycott forever.

Jaga replied, “When we were with you, we still didn’t receive any help. We have no idea when we will die, and we do not want to return to Hinduism. If we die as Christians, we can go to heaven. You can do whatever you want.”

Hearing this, the villagers decided to socially boycott Jaga and Debe and have since given them no work in the village. The village leaders also declared that if anyone speaks to Jaga or Debe, they would be fined 5,000 Rupees.

With no source of income, Jaga and his wife pray that God might meet their needs. It is their prayer that they will receive a sustainable source of income and be an example of Christ to their Hindu neighbors.

This story was first appeared on persecution.org

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