Global news agencies have covered the savage and deadly suicide bombings which took place in two churches in Lahore, Pakistan, this past Sunday. Christians in Pakistan are facing a new level of persecution; please join us in prayer for believers in this region. Continental Director Russell Board and Regional Director Tim Salley received the following report from our IPHC national leader in Pakistan:
“We are feeling uncertainty from our government, after 18 people have been killed, and almost 70 badly injured in the recent bombings. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on Christians. Our concern is for safety and security during worship services in Pakistan; we will have many services to celebrate the Resurrection day of our Lord. Our people are very worried. The government is not able to provide policemen at every church since they lack manpower and resources; many churches are not able to hire their own guards to protect their church premises. We feel abandoned by the government. Sadly, after the incident in Lahore, young people responded with violent protests. I’m afraid that many Christians have been influenced by this lawless society and want to take the law into their own hands. Many leaders and pastors are making efforts to calm the angry mobs on the Christian side. Law enforcement agencies are still deployed in the affected area in Lahore to control the Christian men and also minimize the risk of attack from the angry Muslim mobs in the neighboring areas.”
We ask our global IPHC family to remember these prayer requests:
- Pray for the families who lost their loved ones
- Pray for the injured people who are still in the hospital and struggling with severe pain; two of them died last night
- Pray for the protection of Youhanabad Lahore, and other Christian areas in Pakistan
- Pray for peace during Easter season in Pakistan
- Pray that there would be no retaliation from the Muslim people