Please see an important update below before reading this case.
Source: VOMC
Sources: Kross Konnection, UCA News, Daily Pakistan, Morning Star News
On August 16th, protests by thousands of angry Muslims in the Christian colony of Jaranwala resulted in damages to hundreds of homes and over 20 churches. For more details on this recent incident, view our report from August 24th and a very informative video alert.
While the intense violence has been quelled, tensions persist throughout the region, and the anti-Christian sentiment which fuelled the violence remains. Eleazar Sidhu serves as the pastor of the Myong-Sang Naserth Church in Jaranwala, which was one of the many churches attacked in the riots. On August 28th, Islamic slogans were painted on the wall of the church building, including a curse against Pastor Eleazar. This vandalism was reported to the police and the writing has since been painted over.
A few days later, a group of people intercepted Pastor Eleazar and threatened to kill him because he had removed the writing. On September 3rd, the church leader was returning to his home when two unidentified men approached him. Pulling out a pistol, one demanded that Pastor Eleazar recite the Kalima (the Islamic declaration of faith). When the pastor instead began reciting the Apostles' Creed, the man shot him in the upper chest and then fled.
Pastor Eleazar was taken to the hospital, where doctors were able to remove the bullet. While he lost a lot of blood, the pastor is now considered to be out of danger and, thankfully, recovering well after surgery. The incident has led to renewed concerns regarding the safety of Christians in the area. Police guards have been deployed at churches, but there is scepticism about whether this will be an effective means of protecting worshippers at risk.
Pray for the complete healing of Pastor Eleazar, asking that this Christian leader and his family members will tangibly sense God's comforting presence throughout his recovery.
Praise the Lord that there have been no reported casualties due to the ongoing religious tensions in Jaranwala.
Please pray for the Lord's protection over His people in this troubled city, as well as those residing in other areas within the nation of Pakistan.
Also ask for His intervention in the affairs of the country so that the blasphemy laws, which are so commonly abused, will be revoked.
SEPTEMBER 7th, 2023
PAKISTAN REPORT UPDATE
We regret to inform you that information regarding a situation in Pakistan, which was published in the September 7th Persecution & Prayer Alert, has proven to be false. The report was about a Pakistani pastor named Eleazar Sidhu who claimed to have been accosted by unknown assailants and then shot on September 3rd. It has since come to light that his allegations were false and his injury was, in fact, self-inflicted. The Presbyterian Church of Pakistan recently dismissed Pastor Eleazar after he confessed to making the false allegations.
In a video published online, Pastor Eleazar claimed that his actions were motivated by stress and a desire for police protection – in response to the violence that had been targeting Christians in his community. Whatever the motivation for his actions, we encourage prayer for him and the leadership of the denomination during this difficult time.
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