Christians are more frightened in India as persecution for their faith is growing. 

"The last five months have been difficult," says a pastor in India to International Christian Concern (ICC). "Our congregation has been reduced from 40 members to 15. Even these 15 are now scared."

Holding one seventh of the world's entire population, India holds roughly 1 billion people. With only three per cent of it's population as Christians, that is still 30 million believers living in India. 

In the Madhya Pradesh state, a large state in central India alone, more than 50 house churches did not have a Sunday service last week. This is because the Universal Hindu Council (VHP) and other radical Hindu nationalist groups sent out a notice to Christians in the Jhabua district forbidding them from gathering without special permission from a local magistrate. 

Forbidding worship at house churches is illegal as, in theory, India's constitution says people have religious freedom rights. This notice violates them, however, after it went viral on social media, some churches weren't going to take a chance. 

"I know as a pastor that I need to endure hardships and persecution for my faith," says the pastor. "But I am worried about those who are showing interest and coming newly to worship with us."

India makes the list of world's most dangerous countries to express your Christian faith at number 10, according to Open Doors World Watch List. Hindu extremists believe that all Indians should be Hindus, and that the country should be rid of Christianity and Islam.

"Daily life for many Christian and Muslim communities in urban and rural India has become an excruciating struggle to earn a living and practice their faith while also remaining alive and under the radar of the far-right Hindutva organizations that now dominate the Indian public and political sphere," says a researcher working for Open Doors. 

Still, some believers are taking a stand against this new notice. 

According to CBN, more than 300 pastors and Christian leaders met with authorities about the notice that barred them from holding church. They have submitted a memorandum requesting the fair treatment of all communities in the district, including the Christian minority.