PAKISTAN — Christians in several communities in Pakistan have come under attack from angry mobs this week after two teenagers were accused of allegedly desecrating a Quran. Christian leaders and others said it was a false accusation.

Nearly 30 churches were attacked, some being completely destroyed as hundreds of Bibles and Christian literature was burned. At least 100 homes were destroyed or burgled leaving thousands of people displaced, with many fleeing for their lives.

In response, Christian charity Help The Persecuted has a field ministry team on the ground in the worst affected areas around Faisalabad providing immediate practical and spiritual support.

Faces of Help The Persecuted team blurred for security reasons.

Christians in several communities in Pakistan have come under attack from angry mobs after two teenagers were accused of allegedly desecrating a Quran. Christian leaders and others said it was a false accusation. In response, Christian charity ‘Help the Persecuted’ has a field ministry team on the ground in the worst affected areas around Faisalabad, providing immediate practical and spiritual support.

A team member, Pastor Rashid, is stood on one of the most impacted streets, describing the devastation in this Christian community.

Pastor Rashid:

“I am looking at the situation here in front of me, a really bad situation and as a part of the body of Christ I can feel the pain. So please pray for us and pray for our brother and sister who are living here. They lost everything, they have no place to live.”

He went on to visit one of the homes of a Christian whose home had not only been vandalised but also burgled.

Pastor Rashid was able to provide lightning funds to assist 80 people with their immediate needs for food and shelter.

Pastor Rashid:

So our little support when we gave them, they were smiling like they have a lot of money. When they took the cash support, like relief from us, they were giving lots of prayers and they were asking where come from this money. So I said to them it is from God. So they were very happy.

And Help the Persecuted CEO and President Joshua Youssef says they’re committed to helping rebuild these many broken lives in Pakistan.

President Joshua Youssef – Help the Persecuted CEO:

This type of event is going to require a larger response on our part, both in terms of rebuilding but also a sort of spiritual and counselling component as well. And we need to be praying for these people who are experiencing a host of emotions, I’m sure, and that they would be given peace in the midst of this chaos, but also some resolve. I think things need to change in Pakistan and perhaps this is a turning point.

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About Help The Persecuted

Rescue. Restore. Rebuild. Help The Persecuted has been supporting suffering Christians with practical and spiritual help since 2011 and in 2018 was established as standalone charitable organization. We pray our efforts will empower the global Church to flourish not just in Middle East and North Africa, but also in the Western world as we share in their suffering and bear their burdens. Help The Persecuted is a 501(c)3 organization and a member of ECFA, the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability