Pakistan: Pastor Killed After Sunday Service
“… The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 NIV.
On 30 January, two pastors in Peshawar, Pakistan were shot by two gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected terrorist attack.
Pastor William Siraj, 75, was killed and Rev. Patrick Naeem was taken to hospital but thankfully discharged without injury. They were driving home after leading a Sunday morning service.
This latest attack and a fresh wave of incidents targeting Pakistan’s Christian community have left believers fearful. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which the police are still investigating.
Pastor Siraj’s funeral was held on 31 January at All Saints Church, the very church where on 22 September 2013 two suicide bombers had killed as many as 127 people, including an estimated 37 children, and injured a further 170.
One of the martyrs was Pastor Siraj’s son-in-law. He had been supporting his daughter in the years since her widowing, and often ministered to the families of other victims.
While Christians make up only 1.9% of the population, this still totals roughly 4.1 million people. Pakistan is currently eighth on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most persecution.
Believers not only face the threat of death and violence, but also discrimination because of blasphemy laws.
Home Group Prayer:
Father God Almighty,
We pray for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan and the persecution they are experiencing right now. We can’t imagine the fear they live under every day and ask for your Word and your everlasting peace to comfort them in the midst of this terror.
We also ask for peace and a permanent cease to any further would-be attacks on Christians in Pakistan.
We ask you to change the hearts of those who seek harm and deliver them out of the darkness they live in by shining your light on them through the power of The Gospel.
We pray for the family of Pastor William Siraj and all who have been victims of all these terrible attacks over the years.
We ask for your comfort to envelop them in the midst of their sorrow, for your joy to be their strength, and for your love to help them forgive.
We also pray for the government and authorities of Pakistan, that they would provide protection and support to the Christian minority and stop such attacks.
We ask for their hearts to be moved by compassion and for the message of the cross of Christ to be continuously preached throughout the country without fear.
LORD! Please hear our prayer. We ask it all in the name of your son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Materials used by kind permission of the original author.
this is the revelation Yahweh by his spirit and grace is giving me concerning this incident. Pastor wiliam and Pastor patrick are one body in christ which speaks of the death and the resurrection of the saints of God or the body of christ to reign with christ in the kingdom age for all the kings of the earth to bring their glory and worship the living GOD as prophesied by the prophets of old. the spirit of God directed my spirit to look into the meaning of the name william and patrick it was so amazing. William is derived from will = desire, and helm = helmet, protection Patrick means noble man. Pastor william desired of helmet of protection which is salvation which he will be raised to have a glorious body being nobleman in the age to come. In the big picture, the saints are protected by the mighty hand of almighty God and shall be rised to sit with princes. Remember Jesus said, He that believes in me though he may die but I will raise him up on the last day. this incidence is shadow of our death and ressurection to come. comfort each with these words. For the revelation is true trusworthy.
shalom.
So so so horrible. Prayed this prayer and will continue to hold these braveheart Christians up for divine protection and angelic hosts to minister and protect in Jesus name. May the spirit of the Living God be poured out in Pakistan that multitudes may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Amen. Sandi Holman
As a former member Of the Roman Catholic Church, in which God brought me out of that Babylonian system, I can speak from experience, that just because someone calls themselves “Christian”, does NOT make them “Christian”. It is obvious that this was done by Muslims, as they think, like most of the world does, that if someone calls themself “Christian”, then they are Worshiping Jesus of the bible. While in fact, many so called “Christians” are worshiping Another Jesus, just as I did when I belonged to the RCC.
Not sure if this will get posted, as the moderators here don’t seem to like it when someone post true biblical concepts and expose false religion.
@dj on I know this page since 10+ years, and I must tell you: The moderators and admions are the most genuine, bold, couraged and faithful CHRISTians I have ever known. Never they were cowards ! They posted terrible facts and news, they helped the most vulnerable and outcasts, and almost all here come from an official denominational background.
The friends, the brethren here are highly intelligent and humbly. Oh how often they have exposed false religions. I do not know why you stated such an assumption against the moderators. You should apologize, but as I know the admins, they do not even expect an apology. THEY KNOW GOD and they can discern good and evil, and they are very wise.
AMEN. AND MAY THE TERRORISTS GET FULL RESPOND OF GOD FOR THIS MURDER.
Amen