Believers batten down the hatches for anti-Christian violence in Pakistan.

Pakistan (MNN)–Security is tightening for Christians in Karachi after a car bomb exploded in front of Holy Trinity Church January 15.

According to Pakistani reports, the bombing re-awakens memories of a string of anti-Christian attacks by extremists in 2002.

In late 2002, five attacks through the year resulted in the deaths of over 20 people. In March that year, a church attended by diplomats was attacked by a suicide bomber followed by two attacks in August when gunmen attacked the Murree Christian school, close to the capital Islamabad, killing six people, and a grenade caused the deaths of four more in a hospital chapel in Taxila, also close to Islamabad.

The worst attack came a month later, in September 2002, when seven Christian welfare workers in Karachi were shot to death in their office. And yet another attack in December 2002 saw three more people killed in their church in a village in Punjab.

Despite that, plans are moving ahead to re-open the Murree Christian School. The school has been closed and the high school students moved to finish out their education in Thailand.

Interserve’s John Kennedy says the multi-agency school is, “…in the process, right now, of trying to find staff. They lost a number of teachers, and the headmaster moved on to other things. They’re trying to fill those positions now.”
A temporary director has been appointed until a fulltime replacement can be found.

Kennedy says because of the conditions, heightened security measures are underway for the 2004-2005 school year. Those modifications prompted questions about the staff’s ability to continue an open witness for Christ. “With some of the changes that have to be made, that’s going to change the whole environment atmosphere, context, and make that, not impossible, but a lot more difficult.”

Please pray for safety and wisdom as the Murree board prepares for this fall.