Officials Locked the Church Against Singing Songs   Malabar (India), SVM News, 27 March, 2007: New Testament Pentecost Church was established 35 years ago. Eleven years ago, the church successfully registered with the government, and has grown to include 11 branches and various ministries, and does not operate using foreign assistance.   However, 12 years ago a Muslim family living nearby started making life difficult for the church. The father of this family tried many different ways to get rid of the church, first by attempting to buy it from the Pastor. When that did not work, he and his son would disturb their worship by shouting loudly over their singing. But the real trial came when four months ago the neighbor and other Muslims joined together and sued the church. The Pastor, Sam George, was summoned to the police station 4 times. Twice the police were favorable to him, but the last two times the police became hostile.   Recently, a notice came from the municipality showing that the church’s worship was causing a disturbance to the neighborhood. Police stopped Sunday services 22 times, verbally abusing the church members and attempting to arrest Pastor George. The police gained a court order against the church, prohibiting their use of a sound system because the sound was more than 55 decibels, the volume of a normal conversation.   Four weeks ago the church received a notice from the municipality showing that the church hall would be sealed if they sang songs or did any preaching. The next day the building was sealed without an order from the high court. For the last four weeks they have been worshipping in another house.   Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned locking of the church. It is against the fundamental right of a citizen of India for the freedom of worship. CMCI sent petitions to the Central and State governement authorities to take an immediate action and open the Church for the regular worship. Otherwise we will be forced to conduct march for protesting freedom for the worship and against the Christian persecution. Paul Ciniraj said.   ______________________________________________   SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS) Devalokam (P.O), Kottayam, Kerala-686038, INDIA Visit our web: http://salemvoice.org -- E-mail: ciniraj@asianetindia.com Read latest news items and headlines: http://salemvoice.org/news.html Enlist your prayers and supports: http://salemvoice.org/donation.html