VOM has resently learned that the pastor of a small church was killed on April 2 by a shotgun fired at point blank range at his home in Manawala, near Lahore, Pakistan. George Masih, wife Aniata and four children were watching the JESUS film in their home around noon. When the movie finished and Aniata opened the door to go outside, two masked attackers burst in. One grabbed Aniata while the other shot George in the face and then hit him with the butt of the gun.
Masih had been a Christian for seven years and was active in ministering for the Lord. Two years ago, they moved to Manawala to plant a church there. Their work, however, drew the anger of a Muslim neighbour, Shokat Ali. Ali urged the landlord to evict the Masih family and had threatened to kill Masih if he continued preaching.
Pastor George Masih and family
About three hundred people gathered for the funeral, including many Muslims who had been blessed by Masih's ministry. Aniata told VOM sources, "I need the prayers of my brothers and sisters that I may be strengthened by the Lord our God to bear this loss." Aniata has four children, ages eight, four, two and one.
Pray for Aniata and the children as they deal with this terrible loss. Pray that the ministry begun in Manawala will continue and that many will come to faith in Jesus Christ, despite this tragedy.
For more information on persecution in Pakistan, click here.
VOMC partners to train Christian women in sewing skills throughout Pakistan to provide a sustainable source of income for their families and encourage them in their faith and witness for Christ.
Religion (%) Islam (96.5), Other - Christian and Hindu (3.5)
Leader President Asif Ali Zardari (2024)
Government type Federal parliamentary republic
Legal system Common law system with Islamic law influence
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Pakistan
Pray that amendments will be made to Pakistan's existing blasphemy laws so that the country's citizens – including its children – will be protected from injustice and abuse. May our Lord's mercy and justice prevail, not only in the judiciary system but also in the hearts of the country's militants. Ask Him to transform their "hearts of stone" into hearts that are receptive to His love, mercy and the workings of His Holy Spirit – not only for the purpose of protecting the Christian minority but also for the salvation of their own eternal souls.
On February 27th, an impoverished Christian man named Wasif Masih was collecting wood along the road when he was confronted by a group of six Muslim landowners. The men verbally abused the believer, referring to him as "chuhra" – a term frequently used in Pakistan to insult Christians. The perpetrators then physically beat Wasif and detained him for four hours on a poultry farm.
Waqas Masih. Photo: HARDS Pakistan via Morning Star News
A 22-year-old Christian man was brutally attacked by his supervisor at a paper mill in Sharaqpur, Punjab, when he refused to renounce his faith in Christ. Having sustained severe injuries to his throat on March 21st, Waqas Masih was hospitalized in Lahore where his condition has been reported as critical but stable.
Lahore High Court Photo: Wikipedia / MariyamAftab (cc)
On March 6th, Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court unexpectedly resigned from his judicial post as a court official, effective immediately. The judge cited "personal issues" as the reason for his resignation.
Saba Shafique and her mother. Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
On January 5th, 12-year-old Saba Shafique was abducted from her home in Lahore, Pakistan, and forced to convert to Islam before being married to her abductor. This devastating incident occurred despite the country's laws prohibiting child marriage.
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