Today I was reading in Barnabas Aid about their work in releasing Christian Pakistanis from brick kiln debt.
Many Pakistani Christians are from impoverished backgrounds and frequently have to get loans from their brick kiln bosses.
They have to work off their debt and cannot leave until it is repayed.
There are many reasons for getting the loan- medical care being a common one (one brick kiln worker needed it for his pregnant wife's urgent medical care).
Another sad detail is that if the debt is not paid off, it can be inherited and on top of this, many young children have to help their parents at the brick kiln.
There is no stopping the brick kiln owners extorting the worker debtors, one individual in the Barnabas Aid study wanted to see their debt levels, but the employer refused.
Source:
Barnabas Aid Magazine March/April 2025
Please praise God that charities like Barnabas Aid are paying off the debts of our Pakistani brothers and sisters in Christ who are bonded brick kiln workers but also pray appaling debt systems like this stop, indentured servitude has no place in the 21st century.
Being born in debt, having their debt paid off with nothing done on their part to earn it, and now being able to live debt free, sounds awfully familiar doesn't it? 🤔
A Pakistani pastor with some Pakistani brothers and sisters in Christ released from their brick kiln debt
Yaqoob (a former brick kiln debtor) and his daughter praying to God
Also in light of recent events- please pray for the families of our 70 beheaded brothers and sisters in Christ in the Congo- for comfort in this incomprehensibly challenging time.
