“Peace amidst devastation” – how your support can help displaced believers in Manipur

Pastor Sian is one of thousands of Christians who were displaced by the violence in Manipur State, India in May 2023. Although he is still displaced two years on, Pastor Sian is helping other refugees, thanks to your continued prayers and gifts.

“I used to pastor more than ten churches in the area,” says Pastor Sian*. “On 3 May 2023, five of the church buildings were completely burned down; the rest were looted and severely damaged.” 

Along with thousands of other Christians living in Manipur State, north east India, Pastor Sian’s life was turned upside-down by the outburst of violence that began in May 2023 due to ethnoreligious tensions between the minority Kuki-Zo tribal community and the majority Meitei community. Two years later, he is still living in the danger and deprivation of displacement.

• What happened in Manipur? 

Pastor Sian and his family – his wife, Jenny*, and their two-year-old daughter, Tia* – could do nothing as they watched thousands of believers flee, churches being burned and vandalism breaking out across Manipur State. Christians from both Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups were targeted – but being from the majority-Christian Kuki-Zo tribe, Pastor Sian knew that he and his family were in danger. “If they had found us, they would have surely killed each one of us and our children,” he says. 

Separated from family 

When the attacks started, Pastor Sian was separated from his family. “I was away from my home, in a different village ministering to some church members,” he says. “I got a call from my wife, and I was shocked to learn that a mob had reached our neighbourhood and was destroying everything in sight; she was hiding under the bed with our child. After that short conversation, she switched off her phone since she feared the assailants who were possibly nearby.” 

There was nothing Sian could do except wait and pray. Eventually, Jenny reached out to say they had fled to a nearby displacement camp, where they stayed for a few days before heading to the nearest airport. Their travels were fraught with danger – but God kept them safe. 

“Extremist groups were actively attacking and stopping vehicles on the road, assaulting anyone they suspected to be tribals,” Sian says. “My wife and child faced immense risk in their travels, but God protected them, and they reached the airport safely. From the airport, they boarded a flight to another city.” 

Pastor Sian meets Open Doors partners 

A few weeks later, the village where Sian was staying was also attacked by the extremists, and he, too, was forced to flee. “Me and my congregants, along with the rest of the Christians, immediately ran to hills for safety. As we reached the top of the hills, we watched our churches being razed to the ground, engulfed in flames. It was a heart-wrenching scene. We hugged each other and cried helplessly. We could do nothing more than pray.” 

Finally, Sian managed to reach a safer place along with some of the members of his churches, and after nearly two months was eventually reunited with his wife and daughter. 

They found a temporary home with Jenny’s mother – but the family was left with nothing.  

Thanks to your prayers and gifts, local Open Doors partners were able to reach out to Pastor Sian and his family, as well as thousands of other believers displaced by the violence in Manipur with practical aid, spiritual care and persecution preparedness training.  

“I am deeply thankful to the ministry partners who reached out to my family and thousands of other families with grocery supplies, blankets, income generation projects and more,” Pastor Sian says. “These families always share how blessed they feel through your visits and assistance.” 

“Faith like Job”  

Now, two years after the initial violence, things are slightly calmer – but for thousands of Christians in Manipur State, things are not necessarily better. Violence is an ever-present threat, and occasional flare-ups still happen; in 2024, multiple people were killed and sexually assaulted. Thousands remain in camps, unable to return home – which is why your continued support is so vital.  

Even though he and his family are still displaced and lack basic resources, Sian visits the relief camps and ministers to the displaced Christians there. Sometimes, he simply prays with them. Thanks to your support, he is also leading persecution preparedness training and offering practical aid to victims of the violence. 

“I think the training equipped me to face this situation with so much courage,” he says. “I want the same courage for my brothers and sisters. I want to encourage them to have faith like Job, who lost everything but was still able to say, ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord. He gave and He took it away.’” 

The need is still great for displaced Christians from Manipur. “Please pray for my church members who have also endured severe hardships and displacement due to the violence,” says Pastor Sian. “Many are still in relief camps, struggling to secure even the basic necessities for survival.” 

Your support helps Pastor Sian keep going 

Sian and Jenny are determined to live out their faith in God, even when it’s difficult. “Despite everything we lost, my wife and I decided to forgive our perpetrators, remembering how Christ forgave us and died for our sins,” Sian says. “We know we are called to pray for our adversaries. True joy is in having Jesus in one’s life, and faith in Him provides us peace amidst the devastation.” 

Pastor Sian is still encouraging the believers he meets to hold on to God in the midst of uncertainty: “We were forced to run away from our homes and our beloved villages, but we should not choose to run away from God; instead, we should choose to run towards Him.” 

“We are encouraged knowing that Christians around the world are praying for us,” he continues. Your prayers and gifts are making a huge difference to displaced believers in Manipur – please continue to stand with them.  

*Names changed for security reasons