Building up Churches
Building up Churches
Building up churches is a challenge for the poor Christian community in Pakistan. They face discrimination, intolerance, and persecution from extremist Islamic groups. Many Christians do not have a place to worship, and if they try to build their own churches, they risk being attacked and harassed by the extremists.
Education is Pivotal Tool
There are many incidents of churches being burnt, destroyed, or bombed by radical Muslims who want to eliminate Christianity from Pakistan. In 2013, a suicide bombing at the All Saints Church in Peshawar killed 127 people and injured more than 250. In 2015, two churches in Lahore were targeted by suicide bombers, killing 15 people and wounding 702. In 2016, a church in Quetta was attacked by gunmen, killing nine people and injuring 503. These are just some of the incidents of violence and terror that Christians face while offering their prayers.
Report By Centre for Social Justice ...
The majority of the Christians in Pakistan are financially disadvantaged, making the construction of churches a hefty challenge. And if once constructed, churches become targets of brutal attacks, vandalism, and burning by extremist Muslim groups. The threat heightens during Sunday prayers when the Christian community gathers, rendering churches in danger of attacks. There have been horrific incidents where extremist groups have attacked churches during services, leading to the loss of innocent lives and instilling a perpetual fear in the community.
Jaranwala Attack
Despite all these challenges and threats, Empowering The Christian Community (ETCC) emerged as a beacon of hope. ETCC is persistently working towards aiding the poor Christian community in Pakistan to construct churches. ETCC also provides persecuted Christians legal aid, education, health care, and humanitarian assistance. ETCC works with local partners and donors to empower the Christian community and promote religious harmony in Pakistan.
Empowering The Christian Community (ETCC)...
ETCC’s involvement is a stride towards calming the fears of the Christian community, enabling them to have a sacred space for worship, and contributing to a tolerant Pakistani society. The building of churches transcends the physical structure, bringing an environment of religious freedom, promoting interfaith harmony, and challenging the extremist beliefs that jeopardize the peaceful coexistence of diverse religious groups.
Christian community in Pakistan
Through ETCC’s relentless efforts, the fear and persecution are slowly but steadily replaced with hope and empowerment. By building up churches, ETCC is helping the poor Christians in Pakistan to overcome their fears and difficulties and to celebrate their identity and culture as followers of Christ.