Since the beginning of August, reports have been coming in daily to YWAM Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi offices about the fate of the Christians in two villages in northeast Pakistan. On August 1st, they were attacked by a violent mob of Islamists, stirred up by calls from a mosque in Toba Take Singh district. This is where some one of our representatives, a key leader, lives and works. He had been preparing to send two of his children to the next Discipleship Training School in Karachi and wanted to join a DTS himself. He now finds himself in the centre of a great tragedy, comforting innocent victims of a murderous attack inspired by destructive religious fervour.

“Initial police reports were of up to 22 bodies, I saw them all piled up in front of me along with the crowd of angry people all around us,” said Amjad as he tried to speak into his mobile, recounting to Zafar Francis, YWAM leader in Pakistan, all that was going on around him. “They tried to take some to the hospital and now they say 15 are dead, but we know more will soon pass away on account of the terrible burns they have suffered and the lack of medical facilities in our area and the way the mobs are stopping the wounded from getting to hospital. Many are terrified and hundreds are hiding. Our village is only made up of poor people. We held a collection amongst ourselves for the victims but barely raised more than a char pai (a four legged wooden bedframe with strings across it). Please send us money for food, we have received donations of kitchen equipment, but we have no food, beds, clothing or bedding. The sun is very hot and our children are thirsty and afraid.”

He went on to report that people were no longer earning a living, “They are too afraid of being shot if they try to go to work”, he told us today, Tuesday. On top of that, those who were employed by Muslims now consider themselves completely jobless. None of these families has any savings and all their worldly goods have gone up in smoke. They will need supplies for months to come.

In the long term, people need rehousing in a new area, away from their old homes and employers. YWAM Pakistan has land it could use for this, but the homes need to be built there, together with retail outlets, training rooms, a chapel and spaces for new businesses.

The threats will not go away. Indeed, attacks on Christians are becoming all too common. Local Islamist groups have said they will do this again and ensure that believers are permanently driven from the area. Our colleagues and their whole community need to relocate.

The mood in the nation amongst Pakistani Christians is sombre. The threats have been taken very seriously and Church leaders are imploring action be taken to quell those misinformed by emotions of hatred and murder.

August the 2nd was supposed to be the first day of the new school term, marking the end of the summer holiday in this country. Christian Mission schools all over the land took the step to refuse to open their doors for three days in protest against this destruction and in solidarity with those who have suffered. These schools are some of the best in the country and their action impacts families at the top end of the society. Will it be enough? It certainly communicates the seriousness with which the Christian minority takes these events. Obviously any effective response has to be holistic, addressing spiritual, social and physical needs. YWAM Pakistan wants to bring relief to those who are suffering.

The internally displaced now number around 450 people, some are hiding in secret locations known only to a few. They will never return. YWAM wants to rehouse them in another area. To help us bring grassroots assistance to the victims please visit : www.ywamrelief.org.uk . Donations for persecuted Christians will managed by our YWAM Pakistan office in London, UK and are needed for immediate relief and long term support until they are self sufficient again.