UPDATE: The Kiln People

The following updates were provided by Pastor S, who is serving the Kiln people mentioned in our previous update. Certain information has been removed for security purposes to protect Pastor S and his church. We will continue to update this post with more details if and when necessary.

Earlier today, Larry spoke with Pastor S on the phone to get an update on the Kiln People. The first distribution of food that CULTURELink provided took place on Easter weekend. Pastor S shared a lengthy update via email (below) along with photos (which we are not able to share them for security reasons).

As May has approached, we are investigating the second distribution. Pastor S is determined to get the original families back to work. The brick factory has not opened, but through negotiations with the government, a great number of the Kiln families have contracted to work state-run agricultural farms for the next few months. This is an answer to prayer and a miracle that the authorities would actually employ Christians. Pastor S said, “I want to help these families as much as possible, but I do not want to create a cycle of dependency. We are working to find jobs wherever possible.”

With a number of these families starting to work, other persecuted communities will be receiving food packets in May. In fact, 300 new families have already been identified; this is in addition to the families from the original group of Kiln people that have yet to be employed. So what is next?

1. First, the local church is committed to the medical needs of these families. Masks are being distributed and care being given. This frees the pastoral leaders to concentrate on food needs.
2. The price of the care packets – which contain a month’s supply of rice, flour, oil, dry milk, and other essential items – has been negotiated down from $30 to only $20 each. The suppliers welcome the business and are willing to work with the pastoral leadership team to provide the items at lower prices. This is fantastic news, as it will allow more families to receive aid.
3. In addition to CULTURELink, Pastor S is seeking resources through other means for this next phase. His hope is that by mid-summer these families can return to the brick company and their former jobs.

Greetings in the most powerful and mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

I pray God is keeping you and your family, friends, neighbors, and relatives safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. Please join me in praying as we remember those who have been affected and lost their loved ones in past days. Lord have mercy on all of us!

Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your love gift for the persecuted brick kiln Christian community [here]. The world is in a critical crisis situation due to COVID-19 which has affected [our country] badly as well. Christians [here] have faced not only an economic crisis but also discrimination at the hands of some Muslim Leaders & Politicians, which shattered their hopes and left them helpless.

• Sadly, Christians working as daily wage workers, sanitary workers, housemaid, and low scale workers lost their jobs.
• Local authorities did provide some initial support of food and health facilities to Christians in some urban parts but there have been incidents reported where Christians were forced to convert to Islam and, in some situations, they have been provided with expired food items.
• Unreached rural & village areas have been totally neglected.

With all your prayers, support, and blessings, I have been able to reach out to my Christian community working at the brick kiln in unreached areas of [our province]. I am also thankful for your prayers for my travel as it was difficult to travel during the lockdown but I am glad that the authorities did cooperate with me and let me go and reach my people. Strategically, we followed the protocol of social distancing but still managed to provide them with their critical necessities:

• I am glad to have prayer time with all the families.
• I am glad to share the message of hope and joy with them.
• I Shared the food packages among all the families
• I Shared the face mask among all the families.

I am thankful for my brother in Christ who accompanied me in travel and distribution of all the food packages and face masks.

Dear Larry Good Day,

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are doing fine by God’s grace and hope the same for you and your family.

Thank you so much for your continuous prayers and kind consideration to share support / love gift to uplift Brick Kiln Christian Community [here]. I have no words to thank you but asking reward from our Heavenly father for your sincere partnership and support.

I got the update from local pastors and I am praying to visit the families at different location in next couple of weeks.

[In total], we have the names and details of another 350 persecuted families which needs urgently and critical food support. Food package for one family would cost $20 (which includes flour pack 20KG, oil 4KG, rice 5KG, pulses 5KG, soap 2).

Thank you for opening your heart to share your love gift and contribution for the most needy and helpless Christian Brick kiln community and beyond.

Regards,
Pastor S