Due to poverty and lack of education, Christians in Pakistan often borrow money from brick kiln owners. They are then required to work, making bricks, to repay the loan. The size of the loan tends to be small, but the terms are designed to keep it growing indefinitely. The family, including children as young as five, are forced to work at the brick kiln to pay the debt.
VOM’s partner ministry Mercy Home is committed to helping these families and has secured the release of nine families from four brick kilns in the past year.
Mercy Home paid out each family’s total debt, securing their release. On release, each family was supported with rent and living expenses, job training and education.
One of the now free men, Manzoor was sold into slavery by a friend. A welder by trade, Manzoor fell ill, needed money for surgery and borrowed it from a friend – his friend then took him to a brick kiln owner and received the full amount. Manzoor, along with his family, were forced to work in an effort to pay off the debt until Mercy Home secured their release. Manzoor is now working as a farmer hoping to eventually return to his trade.
Source: VOM Contacts, The Voice of the Martyrs USA
- Pray for the families forced into slavery and for Mercy Home as they work towards freeing many others caught in the same difficulty.
- Ask the Lord to grow His church in Pakistan in number and in faithfulness. Pray for a spirit of unity and love.
- Though the Christians in Pakistan are frequently poor and downtrodden; pray the believers will find their identity in Christ and be bold in their witness for Him.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
God of mercy and compassion, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, fill with your Spirit the hearts of your people who are helped by Mercy Home as well as the organisation’s workers. May they bring help and relief to many such families as Manzoors, and in partnership with Voice of the Martyrs and like agencies please rescue many others from the bondage of brick-kiln slavery and the like. Help them to bear a faithful and effective witness to Christ in the many villages of Pakistan and may Christ grow his church in knowledge, wisdom, unity, and love. We pray for your Gospel of grace to progress in the nation of Pakistan, which for so long has been held in bondage to the will of the evil one. Lord have mercy and soli deo gloria!
I am teaching a young man in Pakistan how to read in English. Without any assistance, he is using his money to teach Bible story and buy a treat to give each child and teen who comes. He hosts to village groups of young children, approximately 40. If my husband would pay for the Bibles and for teaching tools, is there anyone with VOM who works with Pakistani people. Understand things may have changed due to Covid-19 but he desperately wants 50 Bibles for the children and youth. He works 6 days a week normally and wants me to teach him any time he is free. We are ready for John chapter 8. Is there anyone who could help get materials to him in Faisalabad? We support VOM every year. Thank you for any help you might be able to provide. In Christ, Sheryl
Hi Sheryl, It took a little while for us to hear back form our contact who works in Faisalabad. He may be able to help. I have passed on your email address to International Admin. She will email you directly.