Mission to Muslims Under Assault

It's been escalating all year, but no-one has yet stopped the killings.

First it was targetted murders, then the slaughter began.

In July, a mob of Karachi's Taliban went on a four-day shooting spree, opening fire on anyone they could see: labourers on their way to work, shopkeepers, even women with small children. The sprawling city of 18 million shut down in terror; rockets were launched into residential areas (as reported by Pakistan’s main English language newspapers:

Read More from Youth With A Mission in Karachi, Pakistan

Sign Petition to Free Christian in Pakistan

Asia Bibi, a wife and mother, defended her Christian faith against mocking co-workers who tried to make her convert to Islam. She was later convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death.

In Pakistan, more than 150,000 Christians have signed a petition demanding justice for persecution victims, including Asia Bibi. Now you can join with The Voice of the Martyrs and our Pakistani brothers and sisters in a call for mercy. We hope to gather 1 million signatures on behalf of our sister Asia, who now sits in prison awaiting the Lahore High Court's ruling on her appeal.

Invite your friends to visit www.CallForMercy.com and add their names to the petition as well. VOM will deliver the petition, along with the list of signers, to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC.

Dangerous Church Planting in Pakistan

For Christians, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is among the toughest mission fields in the world.

More than 95 percent of the 184 million souls who live in Pakistan claim Islam as their faith. The country has anti-conversion laws for Muslims and has served as the base of operations for extremists. The Taliban formed in Pakistan among a group of refugees from neighboring Afghanistan. In May, the Pakistani city of Abbottabad was revealed as the hiding place of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

But the Gospel has taken root in Pakistan, says Hadayat Din, a native of Sialkot, in Pakistan’s northeastern Punjab province.

Read More…

Pray for Pakistan and India

I have a friend who is traveling to India this month. That part of the world is very troubled with religious conflict. Please pray for the Christians in that region who are fearful of attacks from their neighbors.

Here is a story about the murder of a Pakistani Governor who fought for the release of an innocent woman imprisoned for her faith in Jesus.

The governor of Pakistan's Punjab province was assassinated Tuesday by his bodyguard.

Salman Taseer was one of the most vocal advocates for Asia Bibi, a Christian mother sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, and an opponent of the country's blasphemy laws.

He was shot dead while walking through an Islamabad market by a bodyguard who opposed the governor's position.

http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/pakistan-mourns-slain-governor-who-backed-christian/5922.htm

Pray for Asia Bibi–A Christian Sentenced to Death in Pakistan

On Nov. 8, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge in Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. VOM contacts reported that her attorney will appeal the sentence.

Asia was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including Asia, worked on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees. During their work, many of the Muslim women had pressured Asia to renounce Christianity and accept Islam. Her family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families.

On June 19, there was an intense discussion among the women about their faith. The Muslim women told Asia about Islam, and, according to VOM sources, Asia responded by telling the Muslim women that Christ died on the cross for our sins. She told them Jesus is alive. “Our Christ is the true prophet of God,” she reportedly told them.

Upon hearing this response, the Muslim women became angry and began to beat Asia. Then some men took her and locked her in a room. They announced from mosque loudspeakers that she would be punished by having her face blackened and being paraded through the village on a donkey.

Local Christians informed the police, who took Asia into custody before the Muslims could carry out their plan. She is currently being held at the police station in Nankana city. Christians there had urged the police not to file blasphemy charges, but police claimed that they had to go forward because of pressure from local Muslim leaders.

Pray for Asia and her family. Pray that the people of Pakistan will understand God’s love and mercy.