On November 1, 10 Muslim extremists in Islamabad used bricks and hockey sticks to beat a Christian clergyman who is the subject of a fatwa demanding his death. The Rev. Dr. Suleman Nasri Khan, pastor of Power of the Healing God's Church, suffered a serious head injury, a hairline fracture in his arm and a broken bone in his left ankle in the assault. He was able to identify two of his assailants as Allama Atta-Ullah Attari and Allama Masaud Hussain.
The attack follows Islamic scholar Allama Nawazish Ali's October 25th fatwa (religious ruling) to kill Khan. The fatwa was issued after Khan protested anti-Christian violence in Kalupura last month. Khan, a former fighter in Afghanistan, had relocated to a rented apartment in Islamabad after fleeing his home in Gujrat because of death threats against him and his family. Muslim extremists previously attacked Khan in 2008, after hearing of his conversion to Christianity. His 3-month-old daughter was killed in that assault.
While fighting in Afghanistan's civil war in 2000, Khan found a New Testament lying on the battlefield. He immediately threw it away, but he says he heard a divine voice extending an invitation to him. When he later embraced Christ, he began preaching and studying, and he earned a doctorate in biblical theology from Punjab Theological Seminary in Kasur in 2005.
Thank God for Khan's faithfulness. Pray for a full recovery. Pray the Lord will continue to strengthen him and protect him and his family from further harm. Pray for all Christians in Pakistan and Afghanistan who boldly follow Christ.
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 Arif Alvi (2018)
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.
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Christians protest the frequently occurring abductions and forced conversions in Pakistan. Photo: Wikipedia / Banksboomer (cc)
Two years ago, Abida Mukhtar's husband died of a heart attack. Finding herself in need of assistance with necessary adjustments regarding his government pension, the griev
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