MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Romans 5:1-4, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [that], but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

By Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife – “The leader of one of Pakistan’s largest Pentecostal churches says he is ‘thankful’ to God for persecution after he and other church members were attacked by violent Muslims, with police refusing to intervene.

‘When I am in trouble I say thanks to God,’ said Bishop Akram Gill of the Lahore-based 35,000-strong Emmanuel Church in an exclusive interview with BosNewsLife.

The 53-year-old Christian leader oversees 207 affiliated congregations, many in Lahore, where Christians still worship though their homes, furniture and Bibles were recently torched by furious Muslim mobs.

On Monday, August 26, fellow Christian Savan Masih spent another day behind bars, nearly half-a-year after being detained for alleged blasphemy, which sparked the anti-Christian violence.

As many as 3,000 Muslims rampaged through the city of Lahore’s ‘Joseph Colony’ on March 8-9 ‘to search’ for Masih, 26, who has denied hurting Islamic feelings.

Muslims were seen burning about 200 Christian-owned homes, shops and churches in the Christian neighborhood of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

Bishop Gill and local residents said problems began when Masih was refused a hair cut by the local barber shop’s Muslim owner, Imran Shahid, triggering a heated exchange about religion between the two men.

Shahid reportedly told police that ‘drunk’ Masih made ‘derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.’ Police said the young man was taken into custody ‘pending an investigation’ into the blasphemy allegations.

Gill was reportedly nearly killed when he and his two sons arrived to help church members and other Christians. ‘The moment I reached Joseph Colony, the mob attacked my car and started beating me. They also beat my son Charles Rickey Gill, who was driving my car, and my second son Alfred Vicky Gill, who was with me on the back seat,’ the bishop said.” Read more.

Flashback: Pakistan: Violations Against Christians Soar, ‘Killing, Oppression And Humiliation Are More And More Frequently Taking Place’ – “Killing, oppression and humiliation are more and more frequently taking place in Pakistan. In addition to the well-known cases of Martha Bibi, Younis Masih, Rifaqaat Masih, Sawan Masih, Samuel Masih [Masih, meaning ‘messiah’, is a very common name among Pakistan’s Christians] and many others are also being subjected to killings, imprisonment with long sentences, beatings, and burnings.” Read more.