Some of the Christians under attack put up a fight, but were overwhelmed. The attackers chose a house at random, shot dead the elder of the house, ransacked it and then set fire to it, burning the rest of the family members alive who had locked themselves in another room. Officials have condemned the attack and promised a judicial inquiry, but it is unlikely that will go anywhere or result in any prosecutions.
“Seven Christians were burned alive, 28 injured and more than 50 houses were set on fire by a Muslim mob, angered at an alleged desecration of the Holy Quran. I called an emergency meeting at the AFM church on hearing of this and we agreed to immediately despatch a team to the town to establish the facts and bring what help and sympathy we could to the people there.
They saw smoke rising from the burning homes and appliances. People were weeping for their relatives who had been burned alive in the attack. One eye witness reported that the local mosque Imam had announced in previous Friday’s prayers that the Christians should be punished over the alleged desecration of the holy Quran three days earlier in the village of Koryan.
On Saturday at 9 am, people were gathered at Malakwala Chowk, near the railway track, very close to the Christian town Gojra. The local Imam then made an announcement over the loud speakers at the Mosque, alerting the Christians that they were coming to teach them a lesson and to prepare themselves. Christians approached the Imam and asked him to prevent this action and he agreed, assuring them that they were only conducting a peaceful protest.
Unfortunately, this was not what the mob had in mind. Estimates place the number at 20,000, but it may not have been so many. They marched toward Gojra with weapons and chemicals, throwing petrol or chemical filled bottles into houses and setting them ablaze. They broke into houses and looted currency and gold. Their clothes, beds, fans, refrigerators, bicycles, motors cycles and even their pots for eating and drinking all gone. They now have nothing. Two churches were also destroyed, their Bible and praise and worship instruments all burned.
Many in the mob traveled from Jhang to take this action as part of the militant Sunni fundamentalist group Sipah–e-Sahaba. They covered their faces with veils.
The Police had assured that they were there for the protection of the Christian community, but they proved powerless in the face of the mob. Most of the residents had fled but 7 people included Hameed Masih (50), Parveen (50), Akhlas Masih (40), Asia Bibi (19), Imama Bibi (22) and Musa (7) were burned alive.”
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Seth Barnes
I'm motivated to join God in his global reclamation project. He's on the move, setting his sons and daughters free from their places of captivity. And he's partnering with those of us who have been freed to go and free others.
Seth and Emmanual,
My heart and soul goes out to the families and ask just one question of the 2/3rds of the people leaving the American Churches; Why is it when thru out the world, people are embracing the love of God and are risking their lives to trust, embrace, teach the word of God and it is their passion, their destiny, their eternity, why do we “choose” toleave? An entire generation around the world are putting their life on the line to reach out to others as Jesus did, a true love of our Father and many are turning our backs as if it is no big deal.
Some our younger generation leave the “faith” because it does not fit ‘their” needs. Don’t get me wrong, there is an army of passionate youth who are taking the same steps as their brothers and sisters around the world to trust, stretch, teach, care, and infuse the passion of Christ to each that they meet. Thank you and blessings to each for your vision.
I challenge all of the 2/3rds, young, middle age, older, and nearing the kingdom of God to hear this story. Be brave and bold and put away the noncommitment or fear, and feel the passion that was alive in the hearts and souls of these 7 people. Raise your voices, raise the money, raise the awareness, not just on the news, but in the hearts of your sisters and brothers. God has handed you the opportunity to feel and share his love again. Go for it!
Yes, it is a leap of faith for some to come back to just true love and faith, the joy, the peace, the basics of God’s love. Is it worth it to each and everyone of us……He votes yes.
To those who have heard the sweet voice of God today from this story and had your hearts broken, bless you and may God continue to keep you on this heart realization night.
We forget that our faith was forged through the blood of martyrs.
It is the life blood of the church.
And until all of us live a life of reckless abandon to the ways of the cross we will not see a provocative Gospel.
Instead it will be tame.
And that attracts–no one.
God help us. God help–me.
God spare us from a tame Gospel that has no power to change lives and nothing in it worth living or dying for …
Perhaps you’ve known the answer all along to how to keep these 2/3 of young people from leaving the church … perhaps it is simply to get them to places like Pakistan, Swaziland, Bangkok, etc. and give them (us!) a taste of what the Gospel looks like in these places.
Maybe the real change needs to be not in WHAT to do, but HOW to do it. Just a thought …
This post and the responses have really opened my eyes today.