Pakistan Appeal

This weekend we’re having a special offering to support Christian leaders in Pakistan — those known to Roger Pomeroy who face significant hardship following the devastating floods.

Here’s some information from Roger:

Following our missionary involvement in Pakistan since 1968, we have many contacts in the lower Punjab and Sindh provinces. Many of these contacts are Christian Marwari people. There are also Hindu-oriented Sansi communities and some Muslim converts who are now our brothers in Christ.

Beyond these, millions of people have lost homes, possessions, and in some cases loved ones. Over 1,200 have already perished in the floods.

Those we know are sending reports, video clips, and pictures of the devastation. Through a WhatsApp group called PREM MINISTRY, I have been updating friends on the situation; anyone who wishes can be added.

The map shows the worst flooded areas (in red). The black circle shows the location of the contact who sent the map. Those we know are living just north of that point and south almost to the coast. The faint line marks the southeastern province of Sindh — the area where our contacts are most affected.

In these devastated communities, Christian friends as well as many Hindus and Muslims are in great need. We can only touch the surface of what is required. Some may receive help to rebuild simple mud-brick homes; others may receive funds for emergency food, medical care, or basic items like string beds and bedding.

Please pray for these two families we have heard from recently:

1. Arbelo Arif, a Marwari evangelist

Arbelo, his wife Haseena, and their five children have played an instrumental role in leading many to Christ. Arbelo writes:

“My name is Arbelo Arif and my wife's name is Haseena Maseeh and I have five sons and one smallest daughter. Their names are Kamran Arbelo, Imran Arbelo, Farman Arbelo, Irfan Arbelo, Noman Arbelo, Neelam Arbelo. We are eight persons in our family. Rain in our country is running from a month and will continue to 15 September. Our conditions are bad. Please pray for us.”

They lost their newly constructed home and are currently sheltering in a government school, rescuing what bedding they can.

2. Rustam, a Marwari evangelist

Rustam lives about 25 miles from Arbelo. He has a similar family, and around 20 families in the area now profess faith in Christ. A week ago, he had to wake the community in the night when a nearby canal burst its banks, flooding their homes.

3. Rajan Victor

Rajan writes:

“In these days the situation of District Mirpurkhas, Sindh Pakistan, it is so hard to tell the terrible disaster we are facing right now. People are homeless, hundreds of thousands seeking help to survive. Floods have damaged everything; cities are full of water. Heavy rains have stopped for now, but we are facing famine, no clean water, thousands of villagers homeless, fields destroyed, livestock dead, grocery prices rising. Words can't explain what we are going through. Keep us in your prayers.”

4. Raju Rahool

Raju is a leading Christian and one of very few Sansi believers living outside the North Sindh city of Shikarpur.

The church building where Sansi believers worship has been badly damaged in the floods. I worked in this community from 2002–06, and many homes there have been damaged.

***Donations are now closed***