The Persecuted Church in Pakistan thanks you for your support.
We want to share a ministry update on how your prayers and support are making a lifesaving difference for persecuted Christians on the front lines.
We recently told you of an urgent need for security cameras for churches in Pakistan. You responded and we can’t thank you enough.
Risking Their Lives to Attend Church
Most of us don’t have to worry about suicide bombers or jihadist death squads when attending church. But in Pakistan, Christians who go to church risk their lives every Sunday.
It is very stressful. Yet, each week, tens of thousands of believers faithfully gather together in houses of worship throughout this Muslim nation.
Believers come together to worship Jesus Christ despite the constant threat of Islamic suicide bombers, death squads, and surveillance by Muslim terror organizations.
Many churches in Pakistan have been attacked, destroyed, and pastors and congregants martyred by jihadist “warriors.”
No Protection for Churches
That is why churches in Pakistan petition the Islamic government to provide armed guards and metal detectors covering each entrance. Unlike America, citizens in Pakistan cannot legally bear arms. So churches depend on local police or private security firms for protection.
Tragically, too often, the local police refuse to protect churches. They deny the church’s petition. Private security firms, too, often deny requests for protection of churches.
Even worse, when local police or security firms do provide protection, they cannot be trusted. The police and private guards are Muslim and their presence is no guarantee against terror attacks. On September 23, 2013, a pair of Muslim suicide bombers hit a heavily guarded Anglican church in Peshawar, killing at least 119 Christian men, women, and children.
Christian leaders in Pakistan have been killed by their own bodyguards who were provided by private security firms.
The “protection services” provided by the local police and security firms must be paid for by a local church. Many churches cannot afford it; others use most of their meager Sunday offerings to pay for the “protection service.”
The Need
Pastors on the frontline in Pakistan are asking for our help. More needs to be done to provide for the protection of believers as they courageously worship in their churches. But resources for churches are scarce as most Christians in Pakistan are very poor.
Senior Pastor Pervaiz Samuel of the Sundar Singh Memorial Church in Lahore — and many other pastors — were asking us to provide security cameras for their churches.
You responded. Thanks to your prayers and gifts, security cameras are going up.
The security cameras will provide an extra layer of protection. A few precious seconds can literally mean the difference of life or death for our brothers and sisters in Christ; the added seconds they need to escape a Muslim suicide bomber or death squad.
The cameras are controlled and operated by Christians in the church. It is a reliable, trustworthy form of protection for the pastor and congregants.
In addition, recorded documentation on the identity of the attackers is both a deterrent, and proof if necessary, for reporting attacks to the authorities.
We asked you and others like you to pray and respond. And you did.
Continue to Pray
Please continue to pray for the Persecuted Church in Pakistan. Pray for safety of these brave men, women, and children who risk their lives simply for attending church.
Your gift for security cameras is a practical way to demonstrate the love of Christ to believers in a very dangerous place for Christians.
A suitable security camera, including installation, training, and relevant hardware and software, costs about $185. Our co-workers in Pakistan are purchasing and installing the devices where the needs are most urgent.
More cameras are needed so please continue to pray.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for responding to the need. May God bless you.