A church's impact in a community can often be measured by the opposition it faces. Indian churches daily face the possibility of violence against the pastor and the church members.

In the Indian state of Karnataka, one of the Serve India partner churches reported that after the service had finished one Sunday morning and everyone had left, a young man was seen waiting for the pastor at the back. The pastor approached him, and the young man was in tears. "I was sent by an anti-Christian group to kill you if possible. I sat in the front row, wanting to stab you when the opportunity came. When the people in the church were praying with their eyes closed, I took out my knife to stab you, but my hand froze!"  I tried to withdraw my outstretched hand, but I realized that I could not do so. See, even now I am unable to bend my hand."

The pastor comforted him and praised God for protecting his life. Afterwards, the pastor prayed for the young man and his hand became normal again.

There is much fear in American churches these days because of recent violence that has come, but maybe the answer isn't more and more security guards but prayer.
God is good! When in fear, pray!