9 killed, over 50 injured in church bombing in Pakistan

18 December 2017

On Sunday, 17 December, a suicide bomber targeted a Methodist Church in Quetta, Pakistan leaving nine dead and more than fifty injured.

According to reports, though two attackers targeted the Bethel Memorial

Methodist Church, only one managed to detonate his vest. The second attacker was killed by security forces. It is believed that more than 400 worshippers were

attending the worship service during the time of the attack. A group affiliated

to the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident.

“We condemn this inhuman attack in Quetta and call on the Pakistani government to take all steps necessary to provide adequate security to Christians during this Christmas season,” said Godfrey Yogarajah, the Deputy Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance. “We pray for God’s healing mercy upon

those injured in the attack and God’s presence to be with those grieving the

loss of loved ones,” he added.

Prayer points:

* Pray that those perpetrating violence against Christians in Pakistan would

experience a change of heart, repent, and turn to Jesus Christ.

* Pray for God’s healing upon those injured in the attack.

* Pray for God’s comfort upon families grieving the loss of loved ones. 

* Pray that the Pakistani government would step up security measures for churches, ensuring the safety of Christians.

Terrorist training

Recently the world has watched in amazement as the new young Saudi Arabian prince has arrested, on corruption charges, many other princes and leaders.  It is not fully clear why he has done this.  Power would be one reason, but some say that he realizes that with the reduction of the need for oil from his country people are looking at the influence his country has had on radical Islam throughout the world.  Its Wahhabi type of Islam has indoctrinated people around the world, funded radical mosques, and financed terrorist groups like al-Qaida.  This has had a very negative effect on relationships with many countries.  

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been the major financial backers of radical Islam in Pakistan.  Until this funding is stopped, it is almost impossible to stop terrorist groups. President Musharraf was the last president to try and stop this. Madrassa schools are the training and recruiting grounds for terrorists.  Musharraf was closing these down.  As they were closed down, many of them moved to one of the most radical parts of the country.   Hundreds of these schools sprang up. One block could have several schools on it.  There were times when terrorist groups would come into these schools and take out as many as 10,000 young people to their camps for further training. 

How do these schools work? Everyone wants education for their children.  A worker came wanting to send their eldest boy to one of these schools. He was persuaded not to do it.  They later thankfully came and shared how a neighbor had sent their son to the madrassa and when they went to visit him a few months later, they found he had been sent away to become a “mighty warrior.”  They never saw him again. 

PRAISE for HOPE- God’s intervention in an unexpected way.

PRAY the Prince of Saudi Arabia will stop funding for madrassas, and fanatical

training camps and mosques in Pakistan. That they will be closed down.

Demonstrations to overthrow the government.  The situation had grown to where sit-ins and marches were in over 20 major cities.  The major issue for these demonstrations was over the blasphemy law.  This law is hated by most people in the country. Muslims use it not only against Christians but revengefully against fellow Muslims.  The government has tried to rectify this issue.

The whole issue had started when one very fanatical group, known for their stand

on the blasphemy law, gathered other groups to stand against the change that had been made in this law. The military was finally called in and stopped the demonstrations.  They are being proclaimed as the heroes who saved the country.  But it was with an agreement that a council of 14 people, made up of several well-known “pirs” and fanatics, will decide the fate of over a dozen political members, the ones who had tried to change this law.   

PRAISE  that the demonstrations have been stopped temporarily. 

PRAY for Peace

for this council’s decision

for the military’s place in all of this.

PRAYER TEAM TO PAKISTAN   For their preparations, safety, papers to be granted and ministry.   

 Breakthrough praying 

There have been breakthroughs in the Muslim world with moves of God and church planting movements in nearby countries, but things have been slow to move in Pakistan in some regards.

We are asking people to incorporate prayers for Pakistan into their prayers. We want 2018 to be a year of prayer for Pakistan. Would you kindly pray for :

• a fresh move of God in Pakistan, reviving the church and birthing a church planting movement among the majority
• a neutralizing of the powers and principalities that hinder the advance of the gospel and the witness of the church
• that God would continue to call the leaders needed  to launch a media ministry partnership, especially that he would call and identify the key Pakistani leaders for our International Council and Executive Board
• wisdom and grace for our executive leaders as the formulate and begin to execute business plans
• a continued strong momentum as representatives of the global church partner with representatives of the Pakistani church to bring the gospel there with power
• great unity among us as we move forward by faith, clearly sensing the Lord’s leading with each step.