January 3, 2008
by Robert Johnson
PC(USA) mission worker
Forman Christian College

LAHORE, Pakistan – The people of Pakistan need your prayers.

Since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, there has been an air of uncertainty and melancholy here. Many of those who did not support Bhutto still see her death as a blow to civil society, and the chance to return the nation to democracy. Now that the violence has stopped, there are even more difficult questions that have arisen, none with apparent answers.

What this nation needs now is healing: healing from the grief of Benazir's death, healing from the rage that accompanied that grief, healing from the anger being expressed at the government right now.

As always, the common people – the huge majority who would never harm a neighbor under any circumstance – are the ones who suffered. They are the ones who always need to be borne in mind, and held up in prayer, whenever you hear about political violence.

Right now, there is relative calm. Pray for the sake of the nation that it stays that way. Pray for the peace of the church, which is primarily comprised of some of the poorest people in the nation. And, especially pray for the tremendous troubles right now in Kenya, and God's work there. But the real message here is: Pray. Pour your heart out to God for the church and world. Your sisters and brothers in mission depend on you. God bless you all.

Presbyterian News Service