Jordan (MNN) — Authorities in Jordan have arrested three suspects in connection with a Friday shooting that left nine people dead and more than two dozen wounded. The shooting took place during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church south of the capital.

Though Islam is Jordan’s official state religion, society is generally tolerant of Christianity, making the October 23 attack particularly shocking. Police say the assailants’ motive remains unclear.

According to Joe Willey of SAT-7 USA, Friday’s terror attack affected believers throughout Jordan. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the church attack, leading Jordan to launch targeted attacks on known terror cells in southern Syria.

(Photo courtesy SAT7 USA)

“When you’re such a small percentage of a population, the communities of Christians tend to be very close-knit,” he explains.

Christian broadcasts offer community

SAT-7 broadcasts Christian satellite TV programs throughout the Middle East and North Africa. More about that here. News and feature shows help small communities of believers feel connected across the region.

“We are not meant to be alone. We’re meant to be in community, and that is a real challenge in the Middle East and North Africa,” Willey says.

That connection is especially vital for Christians mourning those killed in the terror attack in Jordan.

“There will be programming that addresses this (event) as the news unfolds,” Willey says.

“We mourn with those who mourn, and we celebrate with those who celebrate, and right now, it’s a time to mourn.”

How to pray

Now that you know, how will you respond? Ask the Lord to comfort believers in Jordan, especially those who lost loved ones in the attack.

“I put myself in the place of a Christian in Jordan at a funeral, and there is gunfire, and people are killed, and that is a fearful position,” Willey says.

“Pray they do not have the fear that I think would be very natural.”

Pray that grieving believers will find strength in Christ and hope in His promise of eternal life. “We need to be reminded that we are not home,” Willey says.

“Heaven is our home, and this difficulty, as terrible as it is, is temporary.”

 

Header image courtesy of Heart4Iran.