[Today's Prayer] Suicide bombing at Syrian church during mass… 20 dead

On the 22nd (local time), a suicide bombing occurred at an Orthodox church in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing at least 20 people and injuring 52, the Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported.

According to the Syrian Ministry of the Interior, a terrorist from the Sunni Islamic extremist group Islamic State (ISIS) stormed into the St. Elias Church in the Dweila village of Damascus, opened fire, and detonated a vest containing explosives.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), headquartered in London, England, reported that the number of victims was at least 19 and that dozens were injured. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties.

This attack was the first suicide bombing since Syrian rebels ousted the Bashar al-Assad regime in December last year.

Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa posted on social media, saying, “We strongly condemn the bombing of the church in Dweila and express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We will do everything we can to fight against criminal organizations and prevent attacks that threaten social security.”

Syria is a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, but Shia Muslims and Christians are also known to make up about 10 percent of the population.

Musa Kurin, a cleric at Mar Elias Church, told The Associated Press that the attacker “first threw a grenade into the church and then fired a gun, and when the congregation tried to stop him, he blew himself up at the entrance.”

Rawad, another witness, said he saw the attack while driving near the scene and that two other accomplices were present, who opened fire outside the church and then fled.

(omitted)

Source : News

“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.” (Psalm 119:49-51)

Father God, we hear the sad news that a suicide bombing by ISIS occurred at an Orthodox cathedral in Damascus, the capital of Syria, killing at least 20 people, including children, and injuring 52 others.

The emotional shock to the Syrian people is also significant due to the first suicide bombing since the Syrian rebels overthrew the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Please remember the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in an instant due to the ISIS attack. May the bombed church community share this pain together and pour out their broken hearts in prayer, so that the bereaved families who are suffering may receive the comfort of God who is with them in the community.

Just as David overcame the pain with the word of God while being pursued by Saul, may the Syrian church gain new hope with the eternal word of God at this moment when IS is hostile.

May the Syrian church forgive the persecuting IS and testify the gospel of heaven to the Muslims of Syria who are deceived by the lies of Islam and are headed toward death. May they wage a holy spiritual war to overcome evil with good.

May the Arab church and the global church proclaim peace and send out those who will serve with the gospel and the word in Syria, where the provisional government has not yet been established and Islamic armed groups are on the rise. May the Syrian church bear the cross together and taste the glory at the end of suffering together.

Lord, who chose Syria as a nation that will be a blessing in the world, please let the Syrian church hold on to the word of promise and fulfill the mission of testifying the gospel of the kingdom among all Arabs and all nations!

Please save all nations under the power of darkness and make the Syrian nation prepare the way for the return of Jesus Christ!