Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: March 14, 2020
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ (Joshua 1:9)
The Lord spoke these words of comfort and encouragement to Joshua when he was about to go into the Promised Land. This week, pray this verse over religious minorities in Pakistan.
Tomorrow marks five years since the bombings of two churches in Youhanabad, Pakistan, which claimed 15 lives and injured 70 people. In protests which followed the attacks on St John’s Church and Christ Church, two Muslim men suspected of being connected to the bombings were lynched by a mob.
Around 42 people who were indicted in 2016 in connection with the lynchings were acquitted recently by the Anti-Terrorism Court.
The attacks highlighted concerns about the security of churches and Christians in Pakistan. Religious minorities face discrimination from society and in their education and employment; and the near-constant threat of violence, fuelled in part by hate speech.
In summary, please pray:
- That the needs of families who have lost loved ones will be met.
- That Christian families will stand firm in their faith and that no harm will overtake them.
- For the peace of God to reign in Pakistan.