Source: www.persecution.org
Date: September 11, 2021
Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – According to Asia News, a Pentecostal church near Lahore Pakistan was attacked last Sunday by several unidentified assailants wielding military-style weapons. The attack left several Christians injured, but fortunately no one was killed.
A group of unidentified Muslims reported open fire on The New Hope Church of Pakistan, located in Sheracote, near Lahore. The attack took place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 5.
“I was cleaning a room when suddenly I heard shots coming from the street,” Rukhsana Bibi, a survivor of the attack, told Asia News. “I fainted for a while.”
“The attackers had military-style weapons and fired directly at the houses,” Simon Aleem, a Christian journalist, told Asia News. “They wounded several people, including the New Hope Church pastor, Pastor Asif Nawab Masih.”
According to other survivors, the Christians of New Hope Church had been the victims of intense harassments in the days leading up to the attack. Christian families going to the church were routinely mocked and insulted with offensive language.
“The government is making great efforts to protect and safeguard minority places of worship,” Roheel Zafar Shahi, Secretary General of the Pakistan Minority Right Commission, said. “Unfortunately, in the last three years, incidents and abuses against minorities have increased by 40%.”
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for a swift recovery for all those who were injured. Pray for this congregation to remain strong in their faith. Pray for greater security for Christian minorities in Pakistan.