Seven Widows of Martyr Indian Christians Honoured on Martyrs' Day

Hanamkonda, A.P, Aug 12– On Christian Martyr's Day, widows of seven pastors who were martyred for their faith in Andra Pradesh were honoured at 127–year old Centenary Baptist Church in Hanamkonda, Warangal Dist, Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

It was the first ever Martyr's Day to be commemorated at 127–year old Church. The function was inaugurated by Ms. Christina Lazarus, MLA from the state capital. Thousands of believers and over 200 pastors from all over the region attended this commemoration service.

Dr Sajan George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians was the keynote speaker on the occasion. The theme of his talk at the function focused on the dream that the martyrs had, for the transformation of the nation through the love of God, and they paid the ultimate price in the realisation of that dream.

The pastors who were martyred in the past two years are :

Pastor Botla Ratnam of Warangal District Wife: Shantamma),
Evangelist T.Yesudas (wife: Manohari) of Medak District,
Pastor G. Devadanam (wife: Ratnakumari) of Kurnool district,
Pastor K. Daniel (wife:Hepsibah) of Hyderabad,
Pastor K. Isaac Raju (wife:Satyavani) of Hyderabad,
Evangelist M. Prem Kumar (wife:Sulochana) of Nizamabad, and
Pastor Goda Israel (wife: Aruna Kumari) of Krishna Distirct

The Church has pledged to support the martyrs family a monthly stipend of Rs.1000/– The Pastor of this 127–year old Centenary Baptist Church is Dr. Niranjan Babu.