Talking About What We Can’t Talk About: Security-Sensitive Ministries in India, Myanmar and Malaysia

A man in India, flashing a cell phone, deliberately approached Pastor Steven.* He was not friendly. He was part of a growing wave of ultra-Hindu nationalists in the country.

Extending his phone with one hand and vigorously pointing at it with the other, he accused Pastor Steven of being connected to a Christian organization seeking to make converts — the Advent Christian General Conference (ACGC). Displaying web content with links to ACGC, the man falsely claimed that Pastor Steven was receiving thousands of dollars each month from the organization in an attempt to blackmail him.

This real incident highlights the current persecution of gospel workers in many parts of India. With anti-conversion laws now enacted in 12 of India’s 28 states and Hindu-nationalist vigilantes becoming increasingly violent, gospel ministry is turning into a minefield for some.

As we learned more about this escalating situation late last year, we began taking steps to protect gospel workers. First, we removed all identifying information from our electronic publications, including the website, blog, YouTube and social media platforms. Additionally, we no longer publish ministry news related to India electronically.

Publishing ministry news from Myanmar has been a security-sensitive issue for many years. However, the situation intensified after the February 2021 coup d’etat, when the military seized power from the democratically elected government. Since then, ministry has taken place under the military’s watchful eye.

Ministry leaders must now contend with military roadblocks, where their phones are searched for VPNs and restricted forms of communication. The military has full access to typically private information, including bank accounts. Last year, authorities began enforcing a conscription law with a target of 5,000 recruits per month, forcing young people to either fight for a cause they do not believe in or flee the country. Due to these concerns, we rarely publish anything electronically about ministry in Myanmar. When we do, we omit identifying information.

Ministry in Malaysia shares some similarities with India in that the Malaysian government has long-standing anti-conversion laws. Islam is the state religion, and proselytizing Muslims or converting from Islam to another faith is illegal. While religious minorities are guaranteed freedom of religion, they do not have equal standing with the government. Gospel workers in Malaysia must navigate this difficult terrain. As with India and Myanmar, we do not electronically publish identifying information about gospel workers in Malaysia.

At ACGC, we wrestle with the tension between protecting gospel workers and effectively communicating ministry updates to our churches and mission supporters. As we press forward with ministry to unreached people groups­ — many of whom are in security-sensitive regions — this challenge will persist. If you are part of one of our North American churches, we hope this article helps you understand that ministry is actively happening in these areas and why you may not always hear about it.

To share updates more securely, we are utilizing alternative communication methods, including print materials and in-person gatherings. Additionally, our mission staff is always available to share the latest updates in person or via Zoom about what is happening within in our security-sensitive mission fields.

*Name changed for security reasons