Prayer for Persecuted Christians held in Pakistan Church
By Sheraz Khurram Khan
11/19/08 LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) was observed in Pakistani city of Lahore on Nov. 9.
A prayer meeting for the persecuted Christians around the world was held under the aegis of the Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan (SLMP) and Eternal Life Ministries Pakistan International at the Full Gospel Assembly Church, Bahar Colony Lahore.
"As the world observes the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we pray for those who are suffering persecution because of their Christian faith," Anwar Fazal, the Chairman of the Eternal Life Ministries Pakistan, International told the Christian worshippers.
Citing Chapter 13 verse 3 from the book of Hebrews, he urged the congregation to remember those in prisons as if they were their fellow prisoners.
Commending the ministry for its work for prisoners and blasphemy-accused in Pakistani jails, he urged the congregation to pray with the world for the persecuted Church on this International Day of Prayer.
He told the prayer meeting that "Jesus wants you to love your enemies. The Holy Bible tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them," he said.
In an apparent bid to express solidarity with the global persecuted Church the participants of the prayer meeting held each other's hands and prayed for persecuted Christians around the world.
Pastor Anwar Fazal hailed the Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan for its commitment to the persecuted Church.
He said that he appreciated the ministry for its struggle aimed at seeking permission from jail authorities for construction of chapels in the prisons of Punjab province.
The ministry has, in the recent past, secured permission from jail authorities for construction of a chapel in a jail in Pakistani city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad, the capital city.
Referring to a report of an international media organization, an SLMP member said Christians are facing severe persecution in several countries.
"Christian persecution in China has forced Christians to underground home churches," he alleged.
He also mentioned Colombia, India and Afghanistan as countries where Christians are vulnerable to persecution.
Christians are also facing persecution in Burma, Somalia, Algeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.
The congregation also offered special prayer for the blasphemy-accused.
