Violence erupted near the port city of Karachi, as members of a congregation erased pro-Taliban graffiti on their church.  Armed men arrived and began to fire indiscriminately at the crowd. Erasing slogans such as, “Long Live the Taliban,” Christians worry their province could be the next to fall under Islamic law. 

Non-Muslims make up 3 percent of the population in the Muslim-majority nation of 176 million. They are frequently marginalized, particularly in the sharia-influenced justice system that gives precedence to Muslims.  For Christians this means that they either must convert to Islam or pay the jizye, a poll tax paid by non-Muslims for protection if they decline to convert.

Heavenly Father we stand with fellow believers in Pakistan as they endure persecution. “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne” (Revelations 3:21). We pray also for those who are lost…praying that You will reveal Yourself to these precious men, women and children. That they too will bow down and call you Lord.