Pakistan

Pakistan is situated in South Asia with a population of 160 million people, gaining indepencence from British rule in 1947. The separation of India from Pakistan was to provide basic rights to the vulnerable groups of the society, but even after sixty two years of independence, the miseries and sufferings of the common people continue. 

Islamists, landlords and military bureaucrats have exploited the poor people in Pakistan. The Islamization process creates countless problems in the country--sectarianism, corruption, drug traffic, Muslim sects fighting each other, smuggling, and suppression of the rights of weaker groups including women, children, laborers and religious minorities.

Christians in Pakistan

Christians in Pakistan have been the hot target of the exploitative forces. They have been isolated from national influence through organized campaigns and legislation. The curriculum in the schools encouraged hatred and stereotyping to the harm of Christians and other minority groups. Many jobs in government and private institutions were made unavailable to them. They were only given jobs as sanitary workers, considered as nominal and minor work for untouchables. 

Christians comprise 1.5 percent of the total population. Some Christians in Pakistan are now serving the country in areas of education, health, and social services. Though not publically recognized, there are people in the top levels of civil bureacracy and the military who have studied in Christian institutions. President Musharaf and the Prime Minister have studied at Christian schools. Leprosy was a big challenge in sixties and later years. Christian missionaries set up institutions and served Muslims at large and the disease have been disappeared from Pakistan.

There are different denominations, Catholics, Methodists, Salvation Army, Church of England, Jehovah's Witnesses, Born Again, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons and many more. They are feeding the hungry souls with word of God and Christians are busy in national development with their different kinds of services.

Christians and the Muslim Majority

A Christian in Pakistan faces many challenges in day to day life. Generally the Christian is hated for his faith in Jesus Christ. He is denied a job for being Christian and is asked to become Muslim. On the other hand, if the state or a Muslim violates the rights of a Christian, the police and courts do not give justice to the Christian. The Christian is voiceless and powerless in the society. Poor Christians are often the target of Muslim preachers, who offer them economic development and a better life. Some Christians are threatened or harassed to become Muslim. Christians have been killed or burned to death or their properties and Churches burned by mobs responding to false propaganda. Discriminatory laws permit a Muslim to abuse a Christian. There are different cases in history that shows how brutally poor innocents were killed in the name of Islam.

Christians in Pakistan are the most vulnerable who are witnessing to the Gospel. Most of them are ready to suffer for their faith and refuse luxuries, positions and wealth but do not give up their faith. There are a few cases where Christians become Muslim because they cannot get their children married. They go to court and accept Islam so they can marry. (If the parents do not allow children then marriages are not performed, therefore, Christian couples get married in court by becoming Muslims. (The society is so hostile that discourage independent male/female interaction).

Urban Versus Rural Christians

The Christians living in urban areas are better off than those living in rural areas. Urban Christians send their children to schools, colleges and other skill learning institutions. Urban Christians have better income and facilities--even the size of the families is smaller than the one living in a rural area. Christian schools, charity based organizations and other social services have given them confidence and inspiration. Urban Christians sometimes get together on different issues or get different formation trainings. Different Christian groups and NGOs provide them a platform to organize themselves for their rights. Different movements for their rights have achieved some success.

The rural Christians family size is bigger and their income resources are limited. They work in the fields for some landlord. The landlord does not pay them money, but only food. In many cases if there are seven or eight members all work in the fields. No other needs are supplied by the landlord. Very few rural Christians send their children to school. It has been observed that education rate is much better in villages or urban areas where there are Christian institutions.

Rural Christians are exploited by the Muslim extremists and landlords. They are involved in false cases. Being illiterate and busy in their earning activities they are misled by the extremists. The picture is not totally dark: there are a few Christian villages actively helping Christians to develop. Some Christians from these villages have played vital roles in the country's development.

Christians and the Government

There are lots of challenges faced by the Christians in Pakistan. Discriminatory laws and practices by the state and the vast Muslim majority have made their lives hard. They have been isolated from the mainstream of the country. Since 1947 no government has paid any serious attention to resolve religious minorities' issues. Some commissions were set up but their recommendations have never been implemented. Political parties have also neglected Christians. The recent elections have gained some attention but lots of things need to be done.

Churches/Ministries and Denominations have done a lot to lift up Christians at different levels. They have given education, jobs in the social sector, formation and built the capacity of people. The internet has also played a vital role in bringing the Christians of Pakistan and the world together. Christians around the world are getting an understanding about the issues and situation of Christians in Pakistan. Lots of work is being done jointly by Pakistanis and other countries. The United States is playing a vital role. It has been observed at national level that Americans are more concerned about Pakistani Christians. They are helping to equip with needed knowledge, skills and infrastructure to grow in faith and development.

The challenges for USA ministries and people are to get an idea about the issues and needs and then form strategies adequate to the needs. Pakistan is a country where there are lots of social problems and illiteracy is high among the Christians. Because of this, some people are misleading poor and innocent Christians; rather than bringing them to Christ or helping make them faithful. Some manipulate Christians for their own personal interests, thus creating troubles.

Problems Within the Christian Community

Poor Christians have great love for their faith and they pay attention even they do not get much spare time. There are some pastors or preachers who act as "wolves in sheep's clothing". They neither study nor get understanding about the word of God and the Christian's situation. If a family has someone sick or other problems, the pastors tries to make them think that because they are swinners, they are facing sufferings. They tell people the only solution is giving money to the pastor and this will reduce their miseries. Many pastors focus on "end times" preaching and some groups claim to heal people through prayers and big conventions. 

Poor illiterate Christians go to healing conventions and gathering with a hope that their miseries or sickness will be healed. If somebody complains to the pastor or preacher that their patient has not recovered they get a common reply, "You are not strong in faith," and therefore God did not give you healing.

The Needs

Now a question, a man or women who lived all their life under extreme poverty and slavery of landlord or worked as a tenant hardly get holiday on Christmas or Easter to go to Church attend prayer meeting, how would he/she will be able to know about faith? They just know that they are Christians and Jesus is their Salvation. They live all through their life on this. Many of their inadequacies, they are not responsible for. 

It has also been observed these pastors rarely visit those families who do not give them offerings or tithes. There are also some cases that some pastors created problems for the communities. There is a great need to help pastors/preachers to equip them in a way that they can help people in a better way. They could have better understanding of the issues of the people and need to learn effective strategies for sharing the gospel. Pastors or preachers need to be more people friendly. They need to make their vision clear.

Pakistan is faced with food crisis, sky rocketing prices of commodities of life, poverty, unemployment, terrorism, law and order situation, global changes around the world and clash of civilizations, breaking up of family life and values etc. Youth is living a life without a vision. There is a lack of creative or positive activities for youth. The oppression of women needs to be addressed. 

Doulos Pakistan--The Vision

Doulos Pakistan is evaluating the situation of the people of Pakistan. We have been developing contacts and consulting people in order to understand the situation and to plan how to respond to the needs. Doulos Pakistan is planning to make a long range difference for the gospel of Jesus in Pakistan. 

The vision of Doulos Pakistan is to Glorify God, Educate Christians, Enhance Ministers and Build infrastructure. We earnestly desire to bring a blessing to Pakistan. You are requested to pray and send your comments to help us in reaching the thirsty souls in Pakistan.