Lahore ,Pakistan: After the church attacks in March, a group of 16 Christian men in Lahore banded together to form a security team to defend local churches. The team began by offering its services at the Shalom Presbyterian Church in Bahar Colony, Lahore, the ‘cultural capital ‘of Pakistan.

The men are not security guards by profession, but their determination and perseverance to protect the churches is too strong to be shaken, says a CBN report. The police work with members of the team, who have their own licensed weapons.

The inspiration behind the formation of this team is Luke 11:21 from the Bible: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.”

The team’s goal is not to point out the government’s failings, but to defend churches. Taking on terrorism is a gigantic task for a government already overwhelmed with challenges ranging from economic instability, an energy crisis, and maintaining daily law and order.

The team began with providing ‘security’ to one church, but has since expanded to provide security at six more churches in neighbouring areas.

“We are more blessed and strengthened in God day by day and we are looking forward to reach more and more churches in Lahore and other parts of the country, irrespective of the denomination,” team spokesman Waqar Peter Gill said.

Gill described individual team members’ backgrounds as coming from different fields of life: musicians, bankers, government and semi-government organization employees, computer technicians and teachers, and transportation and information services. However, they all share one commitment and that is to defend the churches.

Local police and security officials fully support the team’s mission and believe that it will increase church security by identifying suspicious people or activity near the church during service times.

Since the team members know the church members and can identify visitors, they have an advantage over police.

Gill said they are seeking emergency medical staff that would be on site to help with first aid needs in case of an attack. They’re also counting on churches to request the government provide people to train the medical staff.

The eagerness of the team to expand their area of working in other churches would be the perfect example of unity against any threat. Their message is that they are going to defend the churches until their last breath.

  Christian, Church, pakistan