Contact: Taun Cortado, Gospel for Asia, 972-300-3379

CARROLLTON, Texas, Nov. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- A Gospel for Asia native missionary serving as a pastor in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has escaped after being beaten and abducted on Monday.

GFA leaders in the state report that Pastor N. Chauhan was questioned in a marketplace by anti-Christian extremists who then dragged him to a secluded house. The mob beat him severely, saying they were waiting for their leader to arrive the next day and "decide what to do with him."

When a GFA leader tried to call Pastor Chauhan on his mobile phone, a voice answered, saying, "The same thing is going to happen to you!" The GFA state leader and other pastors reported the pastor missing, and police promised to take the matter seriously.

That night, the mob took Pastor Chauhan to an intersection where they waited to meet the extremist leader. They untied him to let him relieve himself, and he escaped. He ran 15 kilometers (9 miles) to a believer's house, where he was able to call his supervisor and make a plan to reach safety.

"Extremists are becoming more and more brazen in their attacks," said GFA President K.P. Yohannan, "but we thank the Lord for His miraculous intervention for this missionary."

He joined with GFA leaders in Madhya Pradesh in asking Christians around the world to praise God for protecting Pastor Chauhan, and to pray that He will give wisdom to all who are handling the situation.

Gospel for Asia is a mission organization sharing God's love through both words and actions in the most unreached regions of the 10/40 Window. GFA native missionaries share the Good News and disciple Christians through some 30,000 worship centers in 10 Asian nations.