One night while in Bangkok, Thailand we had the chance to participate in the beginning of a small church plant start-up of Pakistani Christian refugees. Bangkok has many Christian refugees seeking religious asylum because of life threatening persecution, but their lives are still very difficult because they are not legally allowed to have jobs in Thailand. Greg shared a message on Romans 8 - emphasizing how our trials make us more like Jesus Christ. After the time of teaching and worship, we found out more about the trials of one precious couple and their story broke our hearts.
The husband and wife are Christian refugees in Pakistan, but like most refugees in Thailand they aren't officially recognized by the government and are therefore not allowed to legally work. When they do work they are underpaid and risk imprisonment by immigration officials. The couple who shared with us have a 2-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter. The wife has already been imprisoned once.
Monday evening the immigration officials were pounding on their door, but they quietly hid. Their 4-month-old baby girl was sick and the day before they used the last of their money to purchase her medicine. They had no money to purchase their 2-year-old son milk and food. Monday they had nothing to eat until they joined our fellowship that night. They are 2 months behind on rent and facing eviction.
It's hard to explain what it felt like in our hearts as we heard this sweet couple's story and saw their tears. Mamas, can you imagine not being able to provide your baby girl with medicine or your toddler son with milk? Daddies, can you imagine longing with every ounce of your being to work to provide for your family not being allowed to because you'll be thrown into prison if you do? And all of this because you had to feel your country because you refused to renounce Christ.
Friends, this is where God graciously allowed many of you to be part of this story! We were so blessed with many of you giving to our survey trip and the funds that came in were over and above what we needed for our trip. Monday night one family in the church helped provide this couple with money for food/medicine/milk, and we were able to use the money you gave to cover the rent costs this sweet family owed!
Thank you so much to each of you who gave toward our survey trip! God has used you not only to help us determine which city we'll live in when moving permanently to Asia but also to help provide for the needs of this persecuted Christian family. The body of Christ is beautiful. To God be the glory great things He has done through the generosity of His people! This family still has many days of hardship ahead of them, but praise God that through the power of His Word and your gifts we were able to give them a glimmer of hope amidst persecution.
The video below is of these sweet brothers and sisters singing to our Jehovah Jireh in Urdu. Allow the depth of their praise to wash over you. Our God is worthy of praise from people of every tongue during every season of life.
The husband and wife are Christian refugees in Pakistan, but like most refugees in Thailand they aren't officially recognized by the government and are therefore not allowed to legally work. When they do work they are underpaid and risk imprisonment by immigration officials. The couple who shared with us have a 2-year-old son and 4-month-old daughter. The wife has already been imprisoned once.
Monday evening the immigration officials were pounding on their door, but they quietly hid. Their 4-month-old baby girl was sick and the day before they used the last of their money to purchase her medicine. They had no money to purchase their 2-year-old son milk and food. Monday they had nothing to eat until they joined our fellowship that night. They are 2 months behind on rent and facing eviction.
It's hard to explain what it felt like in our hearts as we heard this sweet couple's story and saw their tears. Mamas, can you imagine not being able to provide your baby girl with medicine or your toddler son with milk? Daddies, can you imagine longing with every ounce of your being to work to provide for your family not being allowed to because you'll be thrown into prison if you do? And all of this because you had to feel your country because you refused to renounce Christ.
Friends, this is where God graciously allowed many of you to be part of this story! We were so blessed with many of you giving to our survey trip and the funds that came in were over and above what we needed for our trip. Monday night one family in the church helped provide this couple with money for food/medicine/milk, and we were able to use the money you gave to cover the rent costs this sweet family owed!
Thank you so much to each of you who gave toward our survey trip! God has used you not only to help us determine which city we'll live in when moving permanently to Asia but also to help provide for the needs of this persecuted Christian family. The body of Christ is beautiful. To God be the glory great things He has done through the generosity of His people! This family still has many days of hardship ahead of them, but praise God that through the power of His Word and your gifts we were able to give them a glimmer of hope amidst persecution.
The video below is of these sweet brothers and sisters singing to our Jehovah Jireh in Urdu. Allow the depth of their praise to wash over you. Our God is worthy of praise from people of every tongue during every season of life.