QADIAN, SEPTEMBER 19: In yet another first for Christians in Punjab, the mainline churches of the state have come together to offer relief to the flood victims. Titled ‘Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope’, a meeting to this effect was held at the office of The Right Reverend Jose Sebastian, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, at Jalandhar.
Attended by heads of the mainline churches in Punjab, including The Right Reverend Manoj Charan, Bishop, Diocese of Amritsar, Church of North India, and The Right Reverend Darbara Singh, Bishop, Diocese of Chandigarh, Church of North India, the Methodist Church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and the Salvation Army, the meeting also witnessed the revival of the Masihi Maha Sabha (MMS) to combat increasing Christian persecution.
“The Lord Jesus Christ has called His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Just as salt adds flavour to a dish, and light dispels the darkness, even so we are called to offer hope and succour to a world ravaged by floods, and the issues arising from the same,” said The Right Reverend Jose Sebastian.
Speaking about the revival of the Masihi Maha Sabha, Mr. Daniel B. Das, Secretary of the Amritsar Diocesan Trust Association, said that the MMS would jointly focus on addressing the problems faced by the Christian community in Punjab. “There are a host of issues that the Christian community in Punjab is facing. These include violence against the pastors, attacks on Church gatherings, allegations of forced conversions, which need to be redressed on a priority basis,” he said.
“The Masihi Maha Sabha shall initiate action in the form of rallies and processions to make the voice of the Christian community heard in this regard,” said Father William Sahota and Father John Grewall, the organizers of the meeting.
Major John Peter, Salvation Army, Rev Mohinder Masih, District Superintendent, Central Methodist Church, Batala, Mr Rajiv Gill, Seventh Day Adventist Church, President, North India, Jalandhar, Mr Sunil Messy, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Secretary, North India, Jalandhar, Major Emmanuel Masih, Salvation Army, Division Commander, Pathankot, Reverend Monsignor Michael Ani, Reverend Father Antony Thuruthiyil, Chancellor, Reverend Father Peter K, Reverend Father Joseph Mathew, Reverend Father John Teja, and Reverend Father Robin Azad, Rev Ayub Daniel, Administrator, DoA, CNI Rev Marcus Masih, Bishop’s Chaplain, DoA, CNI, Rev Vinay Sunny, DoA, CNI, and Mr Om Prakash, Finance Officer, DoA, CNI, were among others present in this meeting.