A quiet night turned into a moment of divine intervention for a pastor who stopped what could have been a devastating arson attack on his church. Pastor Tanveer Boota of the Bethaniya Pentecostal Church was asleep in his living quarters on church grounds in Gulshan Basti, Pakistan, when he awoke to strange noises coming from the sanctuary around midnight.
“I saw two men who had covered their faces, and one of them was setting fire to a curtain on the window,” Boota said in an interview with Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “I shouted at them and ran to stop them, but they escaped from the main entrance.”
As reported by The Christian Post, the timely action of Boota and his younger brother, Usman, prevented the fire from spreading. Usman quickly extinguished the flames, and police arrived shortly after.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
“Soon after a police team headed by senior officers reached there, and during investigation recovered a bottle containing kerosene and a stick with a cloth tied to its end that was used to start the fire,” Boota explained.
Despite the severity of the incident, Pastor Boota says the attack is a mystery. “There are about 500 Christian families living in our area, and we have never faced any hostility from our Muslim neighbors,” he said. “I’m still at a loss to understand why would anyone want to burn our small church.”
/**/What adds to the confusion is that Boota claims the police altered the official report, suggesting a failed burglary attempt. “In fact, it was the police which scattered the books and papers on the carpet to give the impression that the incident was a failed burglary attempt,” he said, noting that this version of events was added to the FIR without his consent.
The church, which is home to just 16 families, has only been active for two years. Still, Pastor Boota remains hopeful and faithful. “We are extremely grateful to God that He has saved our church and residence from the fire,” he said. “We trust the authorities will ensure that whoever is behind this criminal act will be brought to justice so that no other miscreant can try to disturb the religious harmony in our area.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. In November 2023, a Presbyterian church in Lahore was also set ablaze. Initially believed to be the work of extremists, it was later revealed that a church member orchestrated the fire in a bid to oust the pastor.
Pakistan remains a perilous place for believers as it is ranked No. 8 on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List.
Yet, Scripture reminds us that persecution is part of the Christian journey. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
While we thank God for protecting Pastor Boota and his congregation, let’s not grow numb to the reality many Christians face globally. We must continue to lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer, asking God to grant them boldness, comfort, and strength to persevere—even in the face of fire.
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
