An Open Door
In 2000, the Lord opened a door for Exciting Word Ministries to expand into Jammu and Kashmir. He connected us with Pastor Antony and his wife, Laya, who were serving in unreached communities. Compassionate, humble, energetic, and deeply committed to reaching the unreached people of North India, they shared a clear vision for the work. That year, Exciting Word Ministries organized a three-month outreach with 48 young Bible college students under Pastor Antony’s leadership.
After prayerful consideration, we selected seven unreached areas and sent teams to serve there. The work was difficult because many residents had never heard the gospel. When I asked one person whether he had heard the name of Jesus, he wondered whether it was a brand of shampoo or soap. During the three-month outreach, the teams faced severe persecution from Hindu radicals. Many were beaten; some young men were paraded naked through a village, others were deeply humiliated, and several were arrested. Although the 48 young people were tested spiritually, physically, and emotionally, they stood firm and continued going from door to door to share the gospel.
During those three months, we witnessed some of the greatest miracles in the history of Exciting Word Ministries. A 29-year-old man with terminal blood cancer was healed after two outreach team members prayed for him; today, he pastors a church of 400 members in his village. A man who had been paralyzed and bedridden for 12 years was also able to stand up and walk after the team prayed for him. Similar accounts emerged from nearly all seven mission stations. As news of these events spread, 47 prayer groups were formed in the villages. After the outreach ended, Exciting Word Ministries sent full-time missionaries to all seven locations under Pastor Antony’s leadership. This marked the beginning of the ministry’s work in Jammu and Kashmir.
Under Antony’s leadership, the ministry spread to hundreds of unreached villages and reached thousands of people who had been living in bondage and under curses. As it grew, thousands publicly testified to their faith through baptism, hundreds of house churches were planted, and many local brothers and sisters were trained to lead them. The ministry later expanded into troubled areas of Kashmir among Muslim communities. With the help of young Muslim converts, we began reaching previously unreached communities. That work grew, and today a significant number of house churches serve Muslim populations.
Opposition and Persecution
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 (NKJV)
Antony received open threats from Hindu radicals who knew he was leading the ministry. Several times, they came to his home and threatened to kill him in front of his family. On one occasion, a group surrounded the house and tried to set it on fire while Antony and his family were asleep. By the Lord’s grace, they escaped, and neighbors helped extinguish the flames. Antony became a target, and his opponents repeatedly tried to damage his reputation.
As the ministry grew, people came to faith, found deliverance, and formed house churches. The light of the gospel began shining in some of the darkest areas and among previously unreached communities. At the same time, several of our leaders in Jammu and Kashmir endured serious hardship.
While leading a house church in a remote Muslim village in Kashmir, one of our young missionaries was killed by extremists.
In 2015, Antony’s 24-year-old daughter, Christy, a registered nurse, fell in a hospital bathroom and died from a brain hemorrhage. She was devoted to the Lord, a gifted worshiper, and committed to leading others to Christ. During four years of nursing school, she led 11 non-Christian friends to the Lord, and I had the privilege of baptizing 10 of them. Her sudden death shocked us all, especially Antony and Laya. In 2016, as they worked through their grief, Antony opened a small orphanage in his home for 22 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 11. Laya supervised the home. The community welcomed the orphanage, and local residents donated food and clothing. Despite political pressure and repeated inspections prompted by Hindu radical groups, local authorities and government agencies found the home in good order and approved its operation.
In 2017, Antony’s son, Christianson, and several friends were involved in an accident. Christianson suffered serious injuries to both legs and needed more than six months to walk again.
One evening in 2018, several government officials arrived with police and national media representatives. They accused Antony of child abuse and arrested him. The children were forcibly removed, and the orphanage, Antony’s home, and the church were sealed. For several days, the case dominated local and national news.
Antony was charged and imprisoned despite the absence of evidence. Four court-appointed doctors—two men and two women—examined all 22 children and found no physical or medical evidence of abuse. Nevertheless, the investigation continued for six months, during which Antony was not questioned.
After three and a half years in prison, Antony was granted bail and released. The court case continued, and all 22 children testified in his favor.
Justice and Vindication
Last week, eight and a half years after the case began, the court declared Antony innocent and acquitted him of all charges. It also suspended four investigating officers for fabricating evidence.
What the enemy intended for destruction, God used for His glory. For more than 15 years, prison authorities had invited Antony to explain the meaning of Easter and Christmas to inmates, lead them to the Lord, and provide spiritual counseling. During his imprisonment, the authorities came to respect him and, believing the case had been fabricated, allowed him to visit other cells and speak with inmates informally. This gave him opportunities to share the gospel and pray with them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he volunteered to serve those in isolation, which created further opportunities for ministry. According to Antony, during his three and a half years in prison, more than 50 inmates and three guards accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. After their release, many joined local prayer groups and house churches. I had the privilege of baptizing 24 of them and several of their family members on different occasions. A few now lead house churches in their own villages.
Antony and his family suffered greatly—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Exciting Word Ministries stood with them through prayer, practical support, and encouragement during this difficult period. Because of their sacrificial service and perseverance, the ministry has grown tremendously. Today, hundreds of self-supporting house churches worship the Lord in spirit and truth, and the light of the gospel continues to shine.
After Antony was released on bail, he and Laya became deeply involved in training young people for ministry. We thank all of you for your continued prayers for Antony and his family. As the psalmist wrote: “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Psalm 119:71-72 (ESV)