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In places like Doda, a remote village in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, Hindus and Muslims are seeking out Christians for prayer.
Trapped in a cycle of terror, the disputed territory of Kashmir between India and Pakistan is one of the most devastated places on earth. But in the midst of the hopelessness, a Christian revival is breaking out.
At one time, the beautiful landscape of this area drew a multitude of visitors from around the world. But today, the shadow of death looms over one of the most picturesque, yet war-ravaged spots on earth.
Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan, is trapped in a cycle of terror.
Since 1989, Indian soldiers have been battling a Pakistani-backed Islamic insurrection against the Indian-held part of Kashmir.
Tens of thousands have been killed. Now, a new wave of violence is again disrupting the serenity of this disputed Himalayan territory. But in the midst of the turmoil, a growing number of Kashmiris are experiencing a newfound hope and peace.
A Christian revival is breaking out in the interior mountains of India-controlled Kashmir.
Many in this Muslim dominated region are finding an alternative way in Jesus Christ.
According to Pastor Santosh: "You're talking about villages, as a whole, turning to the Gospel."
For the last 30 plus years, Pastor Santosh, along with a team of Christian evangelists and missionaries, has been traveling across Kashmir sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Santosh says Kashmir is in the grip of an unprecedented move of God.
"Over 15 thousand people, just in the last four months, have turned to the Gospel!" he said.
In places like Doda, a remote village in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, Hindus and Muslims are seeking out Christians for prayer.
Yacub is a Doda pastor. He said, "Many of them are hungry for peace and are searching for something to believe in. They are tired of this conflict…Others are seeking physical healing. Many of them are being healed in the name of Jesus and that is bearing a great witness. People are spreading the word about the God who heals and delivers."
A couple of years ago, his church in Doda had 25 members. Today, it has grown to 125 believers and 10 other cell churches are scattered all across this mountain range.
Santosh said the churches are "…a testimony and witness to the rapid growth of church in this mountain region of Doda."
With the help of Christians in America, the Christians in Doda are putting the final touches to their new church building. The first one ever built in this part of Kashmir.
Lakshmi is a Kashmiri Christian. He said, "You have no idea what this church building means to us. To finally have a place to meet after all the years we spent in a mud hut."
Shandrak, another church member, agrees. "And for that matter, a mud hut that used to leak all the time. The roof would collapse often. So now we have this permanent structure. This is truly amazing."
The new church is being built on the face of a large mountain, in an area that has witnessed several deadly gun battles between Indian soldiers and Islamic militants.
Santosh said, "Today, as I stand and look at this church building, I see another milestone added to the ministry--to the work that God is doing in this interior region...especially in such a militant infested area...today a church building which stands as a wonderful witness."
But not all Christians living in Kashmir can risk going to church or meeting with other believers so openly.
Santosh said many are intimidated. "One of the main reasons being that they are scared, they have been threatened by the terrorists and the militants."
Fourteen years of chronic bloodshed have encouraged many young Kashmiri Muslims to become more radical in their faith. Some of them have been accused of inflaming communal and religious tensions in different parts of the territory.
Santosh said, "Just three months back, three or four missionary families were literally dragged out of their homes, beaten up…Many of these terrorists have gone and killed some of the Christian people."
Pastor Santosh believes that the blood of these Christian martyrs will be the seed of the church in Kashmir.
"These things are a fulfillment to what has already been prophesied in the Word of God," he said. "That in the last days you will be persecuted. You will be hated by all because of the Gospel being preached. And one thing I know is that you have only two options: either you preach the good news and face whatever opposition comes, or the second option is you stop preaching the Word of God and leave the area and locality and compromise with the people and with other religions. We are in no way going to compromise in proclaiming the Gospel. We are going to preach. I know the Lord has sent in wonderful people who are ready to put their life on the line."
People like Joy and Mustaqq, who today serve as Christian missionaries in the remote parts of Kashmir.
Joy said she is not afraid of the militants. "Yes, they can kill me, that's it. They kill me only once, they cannot kill me twice…I am ready to be killed anywhere, anytime for the sake of Christ!"
Mustaqq, who converted from Islam to Christianity, is eager to reach his fellow Kashmiris with the Gospel. Many of whom, he says, are war-weary and disillusioned.
"For the last 14 years there's been a great deal of bloodshed in this part of the world," Mustaqq said. "Many of my own people have become homeless. Many women were raped by either the militants or the Indian army. When I saw this, I knew that I had to reach these people who are hurting with the love of Christ."
He and Joy spend most of their time among the so-called unreached people groups of Kashmir.
Mustaqq described their situation, "They don't have electricity, proper access to medical care or drinking water. During the winter they are totally cut-off from the city. The roads are filled with snow. They don't have a way to get around. So this area is very, very difficult and often neglected by western missionaries."
Joy said, "We start with social works. We start helping them with medicines. We start helping them in the hospitals, giving them what their needs, basic needs are, and then when they see our love and affection, which they don't get it from their own community, they get attracted towards us."
Mustaqq said, "In the last five years, I have seen many people give their hearts to Jesus Christ. Muslims and Hindus who have turned to Christ. But many of them are secret believers. Many of them will never openly come out and share their faith. They are still very fearful."
And as the church has grown here in the interior mountains of Kashmir, so has the criticism and scrutiny of Christian missionary activity.
In recent months, a slew of reports in Indian newspapers has accused Christians of using bribes to convert people. A claim that Pastor Santosh and his team adamantly deny.
"The deaf and the dumb, hear and speak. The blind see, the lame walk. People crippled on their beds stand up and walk in the name of Jesus. Do you call that a forcible conversion? We have not done a forcible conversion. We have only proclaimed the Gospel. People have been coming to us wanting to hear more. We prayed with them and the Lord does the miracles and lives are being changed. How do you define that as a forcible conversion?"
Kashmiris are trying to make the best of their lives lived in terror. In the meantime, fearless Christians are risking death to share a message of hope in a place that locals fondly call paradise on earth.
"Kashmir has become a headache for
our Indian government," Santosh said. "But I strongly believe, and I feel
what I'm seeing today, is that Kashmir is the heart-cry of the Lord. The
heart of the Lord aches for Kashmir so badly that those people may also
be able to experience the love of Jesus."
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