4.9 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 8 November 2025
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
In India, carrying a Bible to a meeting—or even offering a Hindu tea and cookies—could be construed as illegally "enticing" that Hindu to change his or her religion. Under anti-conversion laws currently enacted by 12 of India's states, such "enticement" can result in a long prison sentence. And once charges are filed against a pastor or other Christian, there is no presumption of innocence; it is up to the accused to prove their innocence.
Sister "Joti," a human rights lawyer in India, has worked on numerous religious freedom cases. She will tell listeners about 80 pastors currently in prison, accused of "forcible conversion."
Listen as Joti shares how the courts have tried to navigate the seeming opposites of a constitutional promise of the freedom to practice and propagate one's religion and state laws that require a person to notify the government, in advance, of their conversion. She'll also tell how she and her coworkers are advising pastors and churches to document interactions with Hindus and even record their sermons in order to create an evidence trail against possible future legal challenges.
Joti knows her work could put her in danger, yet boldly continues in what God has called her to do. "The work impacts real lives and real people," she says. "I am here to serve, for as long as I can."
Pray for Christians in India to be bold in showing love to their neighbors, and for lawyers like Joti on the frontlines serving persecuted Christians in the court.
The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Can the law restrict if I want to change my religion as an adult? No. You know, who is going to tell me about my motivations? |
| 0:09.0 | Can the law stop us? Or should the law stop us? |
| 0:12.0 | Jesus never promised his followers an easy path. In fact, he told his disciples that the world would hate them. |
| 0:20.0 | He sent them out as sheep among wolves. Jesus' words came true In fact, he told his disciples that the world would hate them. |
| 0:20.8 | He sent them out as sheep among wolves. |
| 0:24.0 | Jesus' words came true in the life of the apostles, and they're still coming true today |
| 0:28.4 | in the lives of his followers around the world. |
| 0:31.1 | Join host Todd Nettleton as we hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help. |
| 0:35.8 | Right now on the Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network. |
| 0:38.4 | Welcome again to the Voice of the Martyrs Radio. My name is Todd Nettleton, and we are coming to |
| 0:43.5 | you from South Asia. We're going to have another of our one-name guests, as we often do. |
| 0:49.0 | Sister Joti is a human rights lawyer in the nation of India. We're going to talk about what God is doing. |
| 0:56.3 | We're also going to talk about the price |
| 0:58.1 | that our brothers and sisters are paying |
| 1:00.3 | because of anti-conversion laws, |
| 1:02.3 | because of persecution that's happening here. |
| 1:04.8 | Sister Joti, welcome to the Voice of the Martyrs Radio. |
| 1:07.7 | Yes, thank you very much. |
| 1:08.8 | Thank you for having me. |
| 1:09.9 | Well, we are very glad to have |
| 1:12.1 | you. Give us the big picture as we look at the nation of India. I think now it's 14 states that have |
| 1:19.5 | anti-conversion laws. What does that mean if you're a pastor, if you're an evangelist, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Voice of the Martyrs, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Voice of the Martyrs and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.