10/40 Window Prayer Alert- Pakistani Christians stand strong during the state of emergency and Islamic militants
Urgent prayer is needed for a Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf recently declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. Musharraf lifted emergency rule Saturday, December 15, 2007—six weeks to the day after he suspended the constitution and fired most of the Supreme Court justices. More than 3,000 people jailed in Pakistan under emergency rule have been released, the latest sign that embattled President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was rolling back some of the harsher measures he has taken against his opponents. Musharraf imposed sweeping emergency measures Saturday, November 3, 2007. Meanwhile, Pakistani Christians are concerned over increasing persecution from Islamic militants in the midst of the volatile situation for the troubled Islamic republic.
Emergency Prayer Alert- Pakistan
Pakistani Christians stand strong during the state of emergency and Islamic militants
Praise Report: Thousands Receive Christ at Egyptian Festival
Urgent prayer is needed for a Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf recently declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. Musharraf lifted emergency rule Saturday, December 15, 2007—six weeks to the day after he suspended the constitution and fired most of the Supreme Court justices.
More than 3,000 people jailed in Pakistan under emergency rule have been released, the latest sign that embattled President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was rolling back some of the harsher measures he has taken against his opponents, the Associated Press reported. Musharraf imposed sweeping emergency measures Saturday, November 3, 2007.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Christians are concerned over increasing persecution from Islamic militants in the midst of the volatile situation for the troubled Islamic republic, according to BosNewsLife.
Although the government of Pakistan is a major partner in the U.S. war on terror, it remains a major source of Islamic extremism and a safe haven for some top terrorist leaders. Credible reports estimated that as many as 900 Pakistanis lost their lives in more than 650 terror attacks in 2006, with another 1,500 people seriously injured, according to the Country Reports on Terrorism 2006.
Christian leader Cecil Chudhary told Minorities Concern of Pakistan that the ongoing terrorist activities in the North-West Pakistan. Taliban and many other militant groups have visible presence in many cities of North West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Agencies hospital, Spero News reported.
Since 2001, the government of Pakistan has launched operation against these groups, but they have grown and have become stronger, aggressive and operating openly. According to some analysts, the Pakistani government has lacked sufficient commitment to engage the Taliban, The Washington Post reported.
The Bush administration is alarmed about the possible collapse of the government, and there are also fears that its nuclear weapons could end up in the hands of Islamist extremists, The Guardian Unlimited reported.
Musharraf stepped down as army chief in late November, finally bowing to international demands to end eight years of divisive military rule. However, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said she would not accept him as Pakistan’s leader, BosNewsLife reported.
She pledged to form a national unity government with all political parties and opposition officials in Pakistan, including with exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Representatives of Pakistan’s Christian minority hope life will improve under a new government after Musharraf apparently failed to crackdown on Islamic militants that have attacked churches, BosNewsLife reported.
“Let’s all bow before God and pray for the protection of the churches and Christians during the emergency period, proclaimed by President Pervez Musharraf,” Ferhan Mazher, chairman of advocacy group Rays of Development Organization (ROD), said before a major prayer event Friday, November 16, 2007.
He told BosNewsLife that ROD and other Christian groups and churches were to observe “a special prayer and fasting day,” adding that they would ask “God to bless us and protect us, churches and other Christian institutions from radical suicide bombers.”
Mazher added that Pakistani Christians across the country were also to pray for Pakistan’s security, prosperity and “for the safety of detained Christian political activists and human rights activists,” several of whom have been detained and injured in clashes with police.
Currently there are about 2,500 house churches in Pakistan with 25,000 believers among them, according to Pakistan Gospel Assemblies.
At Miranshah in northern Pakistan, two Christian janitors were recently abducted from a hospital. No group has claimed responsibility, but the local Taliban extremists are suspected, The Daily Times reported.
Masked men kidnapped two Christian janitors, Naeem Masih and Shahbaz Masih, in front of Miranshah Headquarters Hospital in North Waziristan on October 27, 2007. Around 1,000 Christians live in Miranshah. Two Christians were kidnapped five months ago, but were later released.
In Pakistan, the persecution spirit is strong, according to William Johnson, leader of Pakistan Gospel Assemblies. “This spirit is even spreading because of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. …Christians are under pressure,” he told Intercede International. “Muslim religious people don’t look with good eyes upon the Christians. We had some church building programs going on, and in five places [extremist] Muslims just came in and stopped us….”
He added that in one town construction ceased for more than two years when a construction was at “roof level” because a local Muslim who had feared that the church would influence people in the area, had taken out a court order against construction. “So, four or five churches were not permitted to be constructed,” Johnson said.
He told Intercede International that Pakistani Christians have a special weapon―prayer. “When we see these things happen, they slow us down, but we are positive that Jesus is coming soon. We can expect these problems,” said Johnson. Authorities can close a door, he added, “but God can open seven other(s). By praying, we are moving on. In the congregations, we are teaching people, we are trying to establish prayer cells. Prayer cells are going to influence people in the community, and that’s a great encouragement for other people.”
Pray for:
- God to intervene in the crisis in Pakistan. Pray for peace and calm despite the political turmoil.
Pray also against any civil unrest and violence. - The salvation of President Pervez Musharraf. Pray for God’s wisdom for Musharraf to do what isright and just for all Pakistani people. Pray for the release of pro-democracy activists, including Christians.
- God to root out terrorist groups such as the Taliban out of Pakistan, so it will no longer be a safe haven for some top terrorist leaders.
- The rise of Islamic militant extremism across the Arab world to not take root in Pakistan and that the government continues to resist terrorist movements.
- Persecution and intimidation try to keep Christians living in fear. Pray that Pakistani Christians would stand firm in the authority of Jesus and have the courage to share their faith despite the troubles they face.
- Christians from a Muslim background who face possible execution under the Shari’a law. Most are too frightened to openly follow Jesus because they would risk their life or rejection from their families. There are could be thousands following Jesus in secret. Pray for their protection as well as all Pakistani Christians.
Sources: the Associated Press, BosNewsLife, The Guardian Unlimited, Country Reports on Terrorism 2006, Spero News, The Washington Post, The Daily Times, Intercede International, Open Doors USA, 24-7 Prayer
Praise Report: Thousands Receive Christ at Egyptian Festival
A gospel festival hosted by Egypt’s Evangelical churches recently reached out not only to thousands of Egyptians, but brought the message of Christ to dozens of nations in the Middle East and North Africa, CBN News reported.
Carried by a satellite network and the Internet, the event held at a giant hall in a campground just outside of Cairo, Egypt traveled to more than 350 churches in dozens of countries.
“I think this is a very historic event,” said one Egyptian Christian told CBN News. “This will open a new page for us in Egypt and maybe in the Middle East, because this program is broadcasted all over the Middle East and North Africa and the whole Arab world.”
More than 12,000 Egyptian young people and their families attended the three-day festival-style event. Many came simply to see world-class skateboarders and BMXers perform their stunts, as well as to enjoy the games and stage shows.
They also stayed to hear evangelist Andrew Palau bring a gospel message. More than 3,000 dedicated their lives to Christ at the event, CBN News reported. Andrew Palau is the son of international evangelist Luis Palau.
“People here didn’t enter a church at all before and didn’t hear about Jesus,” one participant told CBN News. “But now they are attending evening service and concentrating on the message. Those wanting prayer stand up and ask God into their hearts. This is something amazing.”
Sources: CBN News
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