Lahore: August 2, 2013. (PCP) Persecution of Christians can be historically tracked from the time of Jesus in the first century to our present time. Christians In the 20th century have been persecuted by various groups, and by atheistic states such as the USSR and North Korea. The Christian missionary organization Open Doors (UK) estimates 100 million Christians face persecution, particularly in Muslim-dominated countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. A survey reported in 2010 that at least 75% of religious persecution reported from 2008-2010, around the world was directed at people of the Christian faith. If you have been following our reports, then you have read about the horrible persecutions our Pakistani brothers and sisters in Christ have had to endure. Few people are willing to stand up for Christians in Islamic Pakistan and there is a great risk for those who do. Some of these brave brethren have even lost their lives advocating for the body of Christ. Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill is the National Director of LEAD (Legal Evangelical Association Development Development). LEAD is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. As followers of Jesus, they are motivated by God’s grace and love to serve all people regardless of race, religion, gender or ethnicity. Many of their clients are very poor and unable to afford legal services. Due to this fact, many incidents go unreported, causing them to be under constant abuse from their oppressors. LEAD Advocates offer free legal aid and assistance to those who are persecuted and unable to pay. Gill and his team are a few of the brave, willing to stand up for Christians being constantly abused in Pakistan. Recently, in an open letter to the Church, LEAD wrote, At the dawn of the 21st century, does the Church still have a purpose? Can you have a part in it? Will you act like a Christian in any circumstance? We are a group of pastors, lawyers and teachers. We are motivated by Jesus to break this silence. We are working for the persecuted and for the growth of the Gospel in Pakistan. We are working without any fear of persecution and to spread The Word of God. We have every kind of care for the Church according to the demand of 21st century. Our work is only for the Glory of Gospel and for the fulfillment of the GREAT COMMISSION. In 2007, after Advocate Gill dared to shelter his cousin Martha Bibi who was falsely accused of blasphemy, militants threatened Advocate Gill to “convert to Islam or die. In June we reported of new death threats made to Advocate Sardar Mushtaq Gill, when armed gunmen threatened his life and fired their weapons into the air. Gill is also the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) President of the (Lahore) Punjab province. This area has the largest population of Christians in Pakistan. The PCC has urged Mian Shahbaz Sharif to provide adequate security to Mushtaq Gill. Martha Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman and Gill’s cousin, who potentially faced the death penalty in Pakistan for false charges of “blasphemy” against Islam. She has been moved to Sri Lanka with her husband and daughter; just hours after Canada admitted it had rescued another prosecuted, mentally challenged, Christian girl, Rimsha Masih and her family. “Martha Bibi, 47, and her Christian husband, Boota Masih have arrived in Sri Lanka with their daughter,” said a source. “They will apply for refugee status with (UN refugee agency) UNHCR, as this is the procedure,” he added. “After that they will go to Canada or the United States.” The source, who was actively involved in the rescue operation, spoke on condition of anonymity, due to security concerns, including possible attacks by Islamic militants in Pakistan. For Mushtaq Gill, threats against him are increasing day by day. Here in the West, we can only imagine what it must be like to walk a mile in his shoes. Voice of the Persecuted stays in direct contact with Advocate Gill and he is now asking for our prayers. Please remember this courageous brother, his wife who is very concerned and the LEAD team in your prayers. In solidarity, please join us as we pray together for our Lord’s divine protection over them. Pray also that the Lord will give Mushtaq Gill divine strength to continue to stand for His people and do His will without fear. Ask our Father to bring down strongholds in Pakistan that continue to oppress those who belong to Christ, our brethren. Father, we pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!