PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS REACT TO TERRORIST ATTACK

On Sunday, October 28, five or six masked, bearded gunmen on three motorcycles rode up to St. Dominic Catholic Church in Bhawalpur, about 225 miles south of Lahore, and opened fire on a Protestant congregation that was worshiping there. They shot the police guard, then entered the worship hall and sprayed the congregation with automatic weapons fire, killing 15 believers including the pastor and injuring 33 others, five seriously.

The pastor, Emanuel Dita, died clutching his Bible. His wife, Sarai, is in a Lahore hospital with 12 bullet holes in her body. Christian Aid's contact in Lahore said 13 of the victims were all from one extended family.

One six-year-old girl, Elishiba, had both legs shot, one fractured by four bullets. Lying in the hospital, according to Compass Direct, she declared to visitors, "Thank God Jesus saved us." When asked if she would attend church again, she replied firmly, "Yes I will. We will definitely go back to church. Thank God that Jesus saved us."

A group calling itself Lashkar-e-Umar (Army of Umar) claimed responsibility for the attack as reprisal for "the American crusade" in Afghanistan. Bhawalpur is the second largest city in South Punjab Province and home to several militant Muslim organizations.

"We are not supporting attacks on Afghanistan. We have always supported the Muslims of Pakistan in their causes. We have nothing to do with Afghanistan. Why are we being targeted?" said a member of the congregation, according to Rueters.

Two Christian ministries supported by Christian Aid continue their ministries with caution.

"The whole world's eyes are focused on Pakistan," said the leader of one of them, "but our eyes are focused on the Lord."

"As disciples we are not called to be spectators, but to take steps," he continued. He said there is another way to counter terrorism: "That is through changing the heart of man."

He said there had been an increased interest in the message of the Bible among the general population. He reported that one of his Christian workers had sold 87 Bibles, 122 New Testaments, 77 copies of Proverbs, and 73 copies of Genesis in two months.

Another Christian leader stationed in Lahore said 20 churches of various denominations had come together in unity for prayer and to strengthen one another in a spirit of solidarity. He also planned to hold an interfaith dialog for Muslims and Christians "to educate people for peace and unity in the local community." He said the government favors such educational seminars.

To learn more about how the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan has also opened Afghan hearts to the gospel, write to insider@christianaid.org and put Pakistan Terror-MI-244 in the subject line.