[Today’s Prayer] Pakistani Christians hold outdoor Sunday service due to church and house being burn

Christians in Pakistan, whose homes and churches have been burned down in recent violence, held an outdoor service on Sunday.

On August 16, thousands of Muslims attacked the village of Jaranwala, Punjab, burning at least five churches and damaging more than 21 others.

According to Release International, rioters set fire to 40 Christian homes and attacked more than 100 others. It also damaged churches belonging to various denominations, including the Salvation Army, United Presbyterian Church, United Foundation Church, and St. Paul's Catholic Church.

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Rev. Waseem Khokhar, a partner with Lilith International, said he was shocked to visit the site, which was under police protection after the attack.

“It was incredibly sad to see the horrendous destruction of the church building, the Bible and everything in it. All we could see was ashes,” he said.

Christians who had fled for their lives because of mob attacks are now beginning to return. However, they are still in need of basic items such as food, water, clothing, bedding and financial support to repair their homes.

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"This recent horrific incident makes it clear once again that when mob violence takes place, it is the innocent who are blamed and punished," said Paul Robinson, president of Lilith International.

“Time and time again we have seen Christian lives destroyed by false accusations of blasphemy. Extremists are looking for opportunities to attack and drive minority Christians from their homes, and we have seen repeatedly over the years that they are prepared to produce evidence,” he said.

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Source: ChristianToday

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11-12)

Lord, who is the Shepherd of all those who are in trouble, Christians in Pakistan, whose houses and churches were all burned down due to recent violence, worshiped outdoors on Sunday.

40 Christian homes were burned and more than 100 were attacked, with numerous churches and homes destroyed.

Lord, the visible reality of what the Pakistani church has gone through is devastating and sad but thank you for allowing us the grace to praise the Lord outdoors, yearning for worship in the hope of something invisible and eternal.

May the Lord be a refuge for those who have lost their church and home, and help them quickly fill and restore the necessary items.

Although satan tries to destroy the church and block worship, the church built on the rock of faith will never shake or collapse.

Pakistan's salvation is now closer than when they first believed. May Christians in Pakistan wear the armor of light without fear and keep their faith until the end for the salvation of their people and nations.

Let all those who are asleep wake up and prepare for the day when Jesus returns, discern the end times, and become a victorious Pakistani church.

Let the Korean church and the global church follow the example of the Pakistani church and become a church that does not give up worship in the midst of any kind of persecution and tribulation, puts off the works of darkness and puts on the armor of light, so that it becomes a church that is victorious.