Key Facts WWL Ranking: 14 Leader: President Asif Ali Zardari Population: 180.8 million (2.4% Christian) Majority Religion: Islam Type of Government: Republic

The Church in Pakistan

The Church in Pakistan can be traced back to the very Early Church in the 1st Century when St. Thomas came to India as a builder and craftsman for King Gundaforus and brought with him the Gospel. This Orthodox Christian beginning has given legitimacy in the Sub Continent, and therefore in Pakistan, and has since then varied and branched into other denominations like Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Presbyterian and Assemblies of God. However, her history and her existence as a historical presence is integral to her existence and continuation in the country. Evangelical work began some 200 years ago and has been active in church planting. The Church in Pakistan has been very affective in providing services such as education, health and medical care and other welfare services.

Pakistan's Church, even if the numbers are debatable, is blessed with more freedom than many Muslim countries. The right to exist, if even under pressure and the watchful eye of the authorities and extremist groups, makes it key to spreading the Gospel and being Salt and Light in South and South West Asia, with reach into Afghanistan and Iran.

As the government attempted to crack down on the Taliban, there were more attacks on Christians in 2009. Extremist groups continue to incite hatred, resulting in arrests, beatings, abduction, rape and attacks on Christian homes. Christians are rarely compensated for their losses. Blasphemy laws are frequently abused, often to settle personal scores. In August, a rumor of blasphemy led Muslim extremists to burn down over 50 houses in Gojra, killing at least seven Christians.



Sources of Oppression and Persecution

1. Fundamental Islamists cause discrimination from grass root levels all the way up to a governmental level. Islamic identity gives the man on the street power over a Non-Muslim and violation of his or her rights, without the fear of being reprimanded by the authorities.

Pray for effective justice for believers facing false charges of blasphemy. Pray, too, for those facing death threats, abduction or physical violence.

2. Though the Church exists and we are thankful for that, her activities are curtailed through a set of laws that make evangelism to Muslims and conversion to Christianity a crime.

Pray for churches to find ways to continue to worship and fellowship despite the regulations.

3. Christians are denied opportunities to become literate.

Pray for believers attending literacy training programs.

4. The government has been known to create conflict and tension between various denominations playing them up against each other and using spies to monitor Church activity and behavior. This causes Church politics which is highly destructive for the local church but a well used weapon by the state against the Church.

Pray for unity among the Church as a whole in Pakistan.

5. Discrimination of Christians in the workplace, in receiving scholarships, education, healthcare and in some extreme and remote areas even in accessing basic amenities like clean water, food etc.

Pray for not only those discriminated against but their families who are directly affected as well.