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After Sian lost everything in a wave of violence, he and his family were left destitute. But a courageous faith and the hand of God have provided hope for Christians throughout the region.
On May 3, 2023, life changed in an instant for thousands of Christians living and following Jesus in Manipur State, a region in north-east India.
One of those believers is Siang Muang*, a pastor who serves multiple congregations in the state. "I used to pastor more than 10 churches in the area," Sian says. "On May 3, 2023, five of the church buildings were completely burned down; the rest were looted and severely damaged."
"Despite everything we lost, my wife and I decided to forgive our perpetrators, remembering how Christ forgave us and died for our sins."
Sian, Pastor in Manipur State
Sian and his family—his wife, Jenny* and their 2-year-old daughter, Tia*—could do nothing as they watched thousands of believers flee, churches being burned and vandalism breaking out across Manipur State.
The violence was rooted both in ethnic and religious tensions in Manipur State. The Kuki people (who are majority Christian) are a "scheduled tribe" in India—an official status under Indian law that provides government benefits to groups that face significant socio-economic disadvantages. They are a minority of the population in Manipur. Most people in Manipur State belong to the Meitei people—an ethnic group that is mostly Hindu. The Meitei had been fighting for scheduled tribe status, leading to protests from the Kuki. The protests began in April 2023 and were largely peaceful at first.
But they quickly turned violent.
And Christians were targeted. Even churches belonging to Meitei were attacked by Hindu extremists, and some extremist groups went door-to-door in Meitei communities, demanding that converts from Hinduism renounce their faith in Jesus.
Sian saw the religious element of the violence first-hand. He describes a mob of over five hundred extremists, targeting the church properties and vandalizing everything in sight. "They burned the Bibles and hurled abuses at God and the Christian community," he remembers. "They raided homes and burned churches, forcing Christian residents out of their homes. I think it was an intentional attack by extremists to eradicate Christians from Manipur State, as church buildings were especially targeted."
Sian and his family are also Kuki—so they were at double risk. He and his family knew they could easily have been murdered. "If they had found us, they would have surely killed each one of us and our children," he says.
Sian and his family were actually separated when the attack started, adding another layer of risk. "When the attack started, I was away from my home, in a different village ministering to some church members, unaware of what was going on as the attackers had not reached that place, they reached the place where I was in, much later." he says. "I got a call from my wife, and I was shocked to learn that a mob had reached our neighborhood 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. "The news was too much for me," he remembers. "I became extremely anxious, but I prayed all night. As an answer to my prayers, the next day, my wife called back, telling me that she and our daughter had fled to the nearest army camp with the rest of the people. Though they were safer there, they struggled for water, food and toilet facilities, as there were thousands of people taking shelter in the same camp."
The emotion and pain of those moments are still obvious. Sian's eyes well up with tears as he shares the horrors of knowing his family was suffering and that there was nothing he could do. "I learned that there was no proper food in the camp for little children," he says. "My daughter, who was just 1 year old at that time, had to survive eating cookies instead of milk. They were in the camp for a couple of days. All this while I spent many sleepless nights worrying and praying for my wife and daughter. I had to remain where I was, as the situation was too dangerous to travel anywhere."
After a few days, Jenny and Tia managed to reach the airport with help from some friends, a journey that took about 30 minutes. "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. It was the longest half-hour of my life. From the airport, they boarded a flight to another city."
Amidst the chaos, Christians everywhere in Manipur State—both Kuki and Meitei—were being subjected to harsh treatment and animosity. They faced verbal abuse and death threats. There was an atmosphere of fear and distrust everywhere; even the police or army could not be fully trusted.
A few weeks later, the village where Sian found himself was also attacked by the extremists, and he, too, was forced to flee. "The day the violence spread to the place where I was staying," he says, softly. The memories are still intense. "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."
The rest of his escape was equally turbulent. "As we passed through the forests and narrow paths, we saw the remnants of the initial violence: dead bodies scattered along the way, hundreds of displaced people and families moving together in search of a safer location," he says.
Finally, Sian managed to reach a safer place along with some of the members of his churches.
It took about a month and a half for Sian to reunite with his family. They then took refuge in Jenny's mother's small house. Despite the limited space, this safe shelter was sufficient during the desperation in the immediate aftermath of the violence.
The family was left with nothing. They didn't have a home, clothes, income or any other worldly goods. They relied on Sian's mother-in-law's modest monthly retirement allowance, a little support from a mission organization for their survival.
But for all the persecution that Sian and his family have endured because they are living for Christ, God's love and hope still shines through.
"I want the attackers to know Jesus," Sian says. His eyes moisten as he shares his true hope for the people who have taken everything from him. "Despite everything we lost, my wife and I decided to forgive our perpetrators, remembering how Christ forgave us and died for our sins."
Such a radical sentiment may seem incredible—but for Sian, it's just part of the truth of the gospel. "We ourselves are also unworthy of any blessings, running away from Jesus, just like them," he says. "But 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."
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, there were multiple people killed and sexually assaulted. Thousands remain in camps.
These incidents leave a wounded church. When church leaders—usually men in Manipur State—are left without income, attacked or even killed, it leaves the entire family, community and church devastated. There's no one to provide financially, and churches are left without leaders. When Christian women are sexually assaulted, it creates a cloud of shame for their families, churches and communities; even when Christian communities rally around a rape victim, there's no guarantee she will be treated kindly by the surrounding society. And when people are left without homes, spiritual growth takes a backseat to simply surviving. The ripple effect of this kind of violence is difficult to overstate—and the Christian community in Manipur is still reckoning with it.
Even though he and his family are still displaced and lack basic resources, Sian is doing what he can to help restore hope to Christians in Manipur State. "As Matthew 25:40 [says], I believe my duty is to treat others as I would wish to be treated," he says. "I find utmost satisfaction in serving the Lord."
That's why he visits the relief camps and ministers to the displaced Christians there. Sometimes, he simply prays with them. Other times, he offers counseling. He wants to ensure God's Kingdom doesn't just survive in this part of India—he wants to see followers of Christ thrive.
His passion has led him to partner with Open Doors. Thanks to the gifts and prayers of Open Doors supporters around the world, Sian has begun offering persecution preparedness training and offering practical aid to victims of the violence.
Sian believes in the impact of persecution preparedness training since he himself attended the program, long before the conflict took place. "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.'"
Sian is also excited about how God is using Jenny for His kingdom. "My wife used to lead our children's ministry while we were back in the village," he says. "She cannot do that anymore, but now she is engaged in developing a Sunday school curriculum, which is amazing. God can use us in all circumstances."
Sian still encounters regular risk. Some of the churches he pastors are no longer easily accessible; the main roads are patrolled by extremist groups, so he is forced to take a dangerous route to get to some of the people he serves. But for Sian, it's simply part of his calling from the Lord.
Sian's own experience of terror and displacement have given him a unique voice to help God's people understand that He is still at work, and that they can continue to trust in Him. "God revealed to me a message I could share with them," he explains. "The message was: Being chased away from homes is not as dangerous as running away from God. 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."
God has even given him a new vision for the people of Manipur State. "My heart particularly goes out to the young people deeply affected by the violence," Sian says. "I want to lead them to Christ. I want to start a small library with a coffee shop where my wife and I can offer counseling and share God's word with the youth. While God has already provided for our needs so far, this venture will generate additional income, equipping us to serve Him better."
Though Sian needs to eventually find a new place to live for him and his family, he still cannot afford to do so. He believes it will be done in God's own time and focuses in doing what the Lord wants him to do currently.
Open Doors partners have reached thousands of believers like Sian, who were affected by the riots and have ministered to them with timely practical aid, and persecution preparedness training. As they help local believers rebuild their lives, their presence serves as a constant reminder to these individuals that they are not alone, enabling them to stand strong in the face of hardships.
Sian expresses his heartfelt gratitude to everyone—like Open Doors supporters—who have helped him and his family. "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]," he says. "These families always share how blessed they feel through your visits and assistance. We are encouraged knowing that Christians around the world are praying for us."
Sian asks for specific prayer for the congregations he leads. "Please pray for my church members who have also endured severe hardships and displacement due to the violence. Many are still in relief camps, struggling to secure even the basic necessities for survival."
And perhaps that's why prayer is the most important thing that Christians all over the world can do for Sian, Tia, Jenny and their other brothers and sisters in Manipur State. When the Body of Christ prays, it begins to restore hope—to undo the damage caused by the ripple effects of violence and discrimination. Prayer reminds them (and us) that God is still on the throne, and that His Kingdom is still on the move … in Manipur State, in India and around the world.
Open Doors works through partners in Manipur State and provides emergency aid, discipleship training, persecuted preparedness programs and more. Your gifts and prayers today can help this vital work continue, ensuring God's people know they aren't alone and encouraging them as they continue to follow Him.
*Names changed for security reasons
