Switch Ministries

Christian persecution
and slavery

Many devout Christians around the world are facing adversity due to their faith. Christian persecution manifests in various ways, encompassing any hostility experienced as a consequence of their identification with Jesus Christ. Whether in Sudan or Afghanistan, Nigeria or North Korea, Colombia or India, followers of Christianity find themselves targeted for their beliefs. These individuals endure physical attacks, discrimination in workplaces and schools, and face the constant threat of sexual violence, torture, arrest, and other forms of persecution.

In Pakistan, the plight of brick kiln workers, particularly persecuted Christians, is deeply distressing. Trapped in bonded slavery, these individuals face insurmountable debts that extend across generations, perpetuating a cycle of oppression. In Pakistan, where Christians constitute less than 2% of the population, believers often endure poverty and discrimination, especially those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Brick kiln owners exploit the vulnerable by offering loans for immediate needs such as medical bills, weddings, or basic necessities. While seemingly a lifeline, these loans become snares, ensnaring families, many of whom are persecuted Christians. Daily wages are garnished for interest, creating a cycle of debt that may persist for decades.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus came to liberate the captives and offer them a hopeful and prosperous future. In our ministry, we are committed to following in the footsteps of Jesus, seeking to break the chains of oppression and provide grace to those in need.

It is our mission to bring about change, to challenge the structures that keep individuals bound, and to offer the transformative power of grace. Together, we can work towards a future where these oppressed individuals are no longer owned by the brick kiln but are set free to pursue a life of dignity, hope, and purpose.

To stay informed about the progress and updates regarding the families we have successfully rescued, please refer to the information provided below.

If you are inspired to be a part of this crucial initiative and contribute to freeing more families from the chains of bonded slavery, we encourage you to get in touch with us. Your involvement and support can make a significant difference in transforming lives and breaking the cycle of oppression. Together, let’s work towards a future where more families experience liberation and the promise of a better life.

UPDATE REPORTS

JANUARY 2024

Meet Yaqoob, a 77-year-old man who was stuck in debt at the brick kilns in Pakistan for seven years. Sadly, his wife has passed away.

His two daughters are married. Yaqoob doesn’t have any other children. He carries a deep wound on his forehead from an accident seven years ago when he slipped in the fields, and a stone hit him hard. He couldn’t afford the doctor’s fees then, so he borrowed money from the brick kiln owner to pay for medical treatment. Since then, Yaqoob has been working tirelessly at the kiln to pay off his debt, but as he’s gotten older, meeting his brick-making quota became increasingly challenging.

Last week, we at Switch Ministries, along with Pastor Naveed and his wife, jointly paid off Yaqoob’s debt to the Brick Kiln owner in Pakistan. He’s now free from slavery and persecution to start a new life and spend time with his two daughters and their families. At his age, Yaqoob shouldn’t have to work so hard every day to repay his debts. Today, we are celebrating his freedom and thanking our Father God for this, in Jesus’ name.

Please pray for Yaqoob and rejoice with us in the Lord for his freedom.

We thank Pastor Naveed, his wife, and his ministry for being good vessels of God in Christ Jesus

DECEMBER 2023

We gratefully acknowledge and give glory to God for the remarkable events that happened last Friday. Through God’s grace, we successfully liberated a young Christian family of four from the harrowing bonds of slavery and persecution within a Brick Kiln in Pakistan. This resilient family consists of Shahbaz, his wife, and their two beautiful daughters, Savera (meaning morning) and Roshni (meaning light), who endured an entire decade of enslavement, with both girls born into this dire circumstance.

Shahbaz and his wife, at the age of 25, became ensnared in the clutches of slavery 10 years ago when they borrowed money for a life-saving appendix operation. Trapped in an unrelenting cycle, they faced the daunting task of producing a daily quota of 1000 bricks. Their struggle was further compounded by oppressive loan terms, featuring exorbitant interest rates and punitive measures for failing to meet daily quotas—penalties levied even in the face of uncontrollable factors like adverse weather.

With profound gratitude, we thank God for orchestrating their liberation—a truly meaningful Christmas gift for this family. Now unburdened, they seamlessly integrate into the larger family and eagerly anticipate celebrating Christmas together, embracing the joy of newfound freedom and unity.

November 2023

Today marks the liberation of a Christian family comprising two parents and three children from 25 years of enslavement in Brick Kiln in Pakistan.

We covered the debt they owed to the Muslim Brick Kiln owner, where the entire family toiled for a quarter of a century, relentlessly making bricks each day to settle their debt.

We offer thanks to God for the provision He granted through us, giving Him all the glory.

Peter took out a loan 25 years ago for a medical treatment for himself and his father. Since then, he has been diligently working in a brick kiln, striving to repay his debt.

The three beautiful young children depicted in the photos were born into slavery, joining their parents daily in brick-making to contribute towards repaying the debt.

Many Muslim Brick Kiln owners impose exceedingly challenging daily brick quotas and apply exorbitant interest rates, making life exceptionally arduous for Christian families. This cruel strategy allows these owners to keep Christian families in enforced slavery, maximizing their profits through free labour.

Tragically, numerous enslaved Christian families endure physical and emotional abuse under the bondage of Muslim Brick Kiln owners in Pakistan solely because of their faith in Christ. This is persecution.

The Bible reminds us of Jesus’s mission to set the captives free, offering them hope for a better future. Following His example, we are commissioned to do the same.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed”

Luke 4:18