After the evangelical organization Gospel for Tribals Social Service Society was booked for misusing foreign funds, hate speech, and indulging in religious conversion activities of Janjatis in Telangana, another Christian NGO ‘Serve India Ministries’ of Coimbatore has been caught engaging in similar activities by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF).
LRPF found that the evangelical organization ‘Serve India Ministries’ was involved in illegal conversion of Hindus through hate speech and enticements. A complaint has been filed by LRPF with the Ministry of Home Affairs for FCRA violations.
The complaint states that Ebenezer Samuel, the head of Serve India Ministries and the NGO was involved in large scale conversions through allurements, magic remedies, and by threatening the people of inviting ‘divine displeasure’. It charges Ebenezer for being inimical to communal harmony, multi-religious, multi-ethnic society of India.
Financial Irregularities
It was found that the NGO of Ebenezer received ₹48.92 crores as FCRA funds in last 10 years, with most of the money coming in from the US. It also notes that the tax returns filed by the organisation in India and USA do not match highlighting the fact that the organization has been filing NIL FCRA returns in India since 2010-11 while it has been filing tax returns in the USA from 2007 onwards. It also shows that for the last 4 years, the NGO has been putting substantial part of its FCRA funds in fixed deposits and deriving interest from the same.
Hate Speech Videos
There are also videos that put out the intentions of the NGOs very clear. In a video of Ebenezer Samuel delivering a speech in USA he says “we are involved in planting churches among the Hindus and Moslems and Buddhists and various other religious groups”
In another video, Ebenezer is introduced as someone who is looking to change the religious statistics of India forever.
Another video about Serve India Ministries showcased at World Missionaries Press’ 55th Anniversary Celebration says “World Missionaries Press’ Project India is aiming at liberating those in bondage of Satan for millenniums, poverty, demeaning caste system, child labour and enslaving pagan religions will all be overcome when God’s people pray, when thousands of Hindus and Muslims are baptised, when every village will have witness to Jesus.., worship groups multiply. Would you please pray for India to be saved, in this generation?”
In many such videos, non-Christians are referred to as “unsaved people”, “unreached people”, “those in bondage of Satan for millenniums”. It also goes on to say that “Whenever a Hindu faces a problem, he has to figure out which of the 33 million gods he or she worships has become angry and then do Pooja to appease that angry Hindu god. Hindus are oppressed by their own Gods!”
These are hate speeches and is an offence under Section 508 (Act caused by inducing person to believe that he will be rendered an object of the Divine displeasure) of the Indian Penal Code.
Using Children for Conversion
Serve India Ministries is also accused of using young children in their mission of conversion. The complaint notes that under the guise of ‘free tuitions’ named “Stepping Stone” and “The Egg Project”, children are made to go through Christian prayers, Gospel preaching, praying for Jesus etc.
The Stepping Stones project is pitched for getting funds from abroad. Most of the speeches of Ebenezer have references to this method for converting Hindus. Another project through which Ebenezer and his NGO attract non-Christian children is the Vacation Bible School (VBS). According to the NGO, the VBS is conducted for 20,000 children each year to expose children to Christianity. LRPF has attached numerous testimonies of children “accepting Jesus” in the annexures attached with the complaint.
Dalits as Baits
The NGO has set itself a goal of ‘training 20,000 native missionaries’ and ‘reaching 100,000 villages’ by 2020. It has been going after Dalits for their conversion activities. Atrocities committed against Dalits are quoted in almost all speeches and videos of Serve India Ministries.
Other Illegal Activities of Serve India Ministries
The NGO has also been repeatedly making statements that call Government of India as anti-Christian. Even in states where Freedom of Religion Act that prohibits forcible conversion in place, the NGO has been carrying out illegal conversions through enticements. The NGO is also accused of violating Visa norms by bringing in foreign preachers on tourist Visas for the purpose of conversion activities.
LRPF Complaint
The LRPF has requested the MHA to immediately stop FCRA inflows to Serve India Ministries and also freeze their bank accounts. It has called for a detailed enquiry of Ebenezer for his evangelic, religious conversion, miracle healing activities and also his personal assets. LRPF has also asked for the Government of India to debar all foreign citizens who came on tourist visa and engaged in activities of Serve India Ministries.
LRPF is an NGO working in the area of national security. It has been vocal about the rights of tribes and exposing fraudulent organisations.