Millions of Christians are under serious pressure in Pakistan. Ranked by Open Doors as the world’s eighth worst country for persecution of Christians, believers here suffer routine discrimination and opposition. Over the years, our partners have shared numerous stories of how Christians are targeted. 

One such story concerned a young couple who were expecting a baby. When the time came for the baby to be born, an ambulance was required for transport to the hospital. However, knowing the family were believers, the phone operator refused to dispatch a vehicle. Sadly, by the time the family made it to hospital, it was too late for the medical staff to save the life of the baby.

Stories like these are heart–breaking, and the routine discrimination faced by believers has had devastating consequences. Yet, despite the enemy’s best efforts, our partners are seeing the Lord at work in many ways.

Brick factories

It is estimated that two million people live and work in Pakistan’s 20,000 brick factories. In effect, these people are slaves – bonded labourers trapped in a spiral of debt and servitude. In moments of crisis, poor families who desperately need of money have no choice but to approach the masters of these factories for a loan. In return, the family must work off the debt in the factory.

While this may sound reasonable, the reality is that the masters are corrupt. Inordinate rates of interest are applied and paperwork is edited after being signed. Appeals to local authorities are pointless, with corruption rife and factory owners wielding significant power. Some are sitting members of parliament.

Suddenly, families are told they owe amounts far exceeding the sum borrowed. On a wage of £3 per day, there is little chance of clearing the debt. As a result, many of those in bonded labour are trapped by a debt passed down from anywhere up to six generations before them.

With routine discrimination involving the denial of jobs or education, a disproportionate number of these modern–day slaves are believers, with half believed to identify as Christian.

 

Gospel workers

Your support is helping gospel workers minister to families trapped at the brick factories. Over the years, fellowships have formed at many sites, with gospel workers visiting each week to teach God’s Word and lead times of praise. Other workers gather children at the factories together for a Sunday School ministry.

With many Muslims also living and working in these factories, workers have seen many opportunities for the gospel. Peter visits multiple brick factories every week and at the last count, he had seen over 260 Muslims come to Christ! 

As relationships are built, the gospel workers help to meet the basic needs of those living at the factories. When finances allow, the team will negotiate the release and settle the debt of particularly vulnerable families. Meanwhile, the longer–term focus is on freeing a much larger number of families from this intergenerational curse through the provision of good education in a Christian school. 

Pray with us for an end to this exploitation, and for continued gospel growth in the face of persecution in Pakistan.