Why Pakistan?
In 2015, I was speaking at one of our partner churches doing a Q&A. A gentleman named Shafquat stood up and asked "When will you come to Pakistan?" My initial response was that we don't know anyone in Pakistan and one of our core operating principles is that we base our work on a History of Relationship. This means that we work in places where we have relational connections. We believe this increases levels of trust from the outset. I also quipped "Maybe someday you will go back to Pakistan and we can work with you." Fast forward to 2021, we begin to receive inquiries from Shafquat who has now retired from his work in the USA and moved back to Pakistan to minister to the village he was born and raised in. E4 began doing a few small programs with Shafquat, which has evolved into a much larger engagement.
During this same period of time, we had started praying about how we might be able to do the work of E4 in areas where the Gospel is difficult to advance. The 10/40 Window is a region that stretches from 10° to 40° north latitude encompassing parts of northern Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This region has the highest level of socioeconomic challenges as well as the least access to the Gospel message. Additionally, roughly ⅔ of the planet’s population lives in this region. The Joshua Project calls this the resistance belt because of the dominating religions of Islam, Buddhism and Hindu. We believe that the framework of E4 Project suits these areas well in regards to meeting physical needs as a means of expressing the Gospel message.
Below is a list of all that has happened as of today with our work in Pakistan. Each program listed includes the presentation of the Gospel in some form. All of these programs over the last three years cost ~$20,000.
Now, nearly three years after we started working in Pakistan, I have just returned from E4’s first visit to this spiritual desert. It was an eye opening and encouraging trip. The poorest of the poor live in this region. On average, many people in this part of the world live off of less than a few hundred dollars per year. Since E4 is dedicated to serving the poor, this region is a ripe opportunity for our work.
"The 10/40 Window is home to the majority of the world's poor. Of the poorest of the poor, more than eight out of ten live in the 10/40 Window. On average, they exist on less than a few hundred dollars per person per year. It has been said that 'the poor are the lost, and the lost are the poor' as the majority of the unreached live in the poorest countries of the world. There is a remarkable overlap between the poorest countries of the world and those that are least evangelized."
The Joshua Project
Our work to date has consisted of programs that have varied from: providing sewing training for 60 young women ages 16-39, developing of a livestock distribution program, creating life skills and career training, teaching Afghan refugees literacy and helping persecuted Christians in times of need. Each of these types of programs have ample opportunity for expansion. For instance, the goat distribution we provided while I was there was done on a lottery basis and many women went home empty handed. It was disappointing for me to see so many leave without receiving a goat, but we are limited on funds and can only provide what we have currently.
Much of our work has been centered in a relatively small community named Youngson Abod. This village is named after a Scottish minister, Rev J.W. Youngson who helped establish the village as a Christian community. The community is roughly 50/50 Christian/Muslim, and most of the community is living in poverty. This visit was an opportunity for me to observe and listen intently to the community leaders, beneficiaries, and villagers so that I can better understand how we work together most effectively.
I walked away humbled by the joy exhibited in the lives of the Christians living here and how closely knit together the community is because of the rich Christian history. This village is an anomaly in a country that is 98.5% Muslim. It is encouraging to be able to see the Christians in this community serve one another including their Muslim neighbors.
Life for People in Pakistan
Below, you will find a gallery of images showing how many of the people of Youngson Abod live day-to-day. This is predominantly an agricultural community with many people working in the fields, tending to animals or doing brick making which is generally relegated to Christians, as they are viewed as the lowest in society.
Future Opportunities
The primary objective of my visit was to see the results of the programs we have done over the past three years. This included being a part of a goat distribution to needy women in the village, meeting with the young women who participated in the sewing training program, meeting beneficiaries of previous livestock distributions, and gaining an understanding of how the program will become self-sustaining as the goats continue to have kids.
From what I could observe, the programs have been incredibly successful. I was able to meet with the young women from the sewing training and learn what they are now capable of producing, how they are saving money and in some cases actually earning some income outside of the home. I was able to ask questions about additional training they would like to have over time. Their ideas included baking, beauty care, literacy education, and advanced sewing training. The beauty of this program is that many of these women generally are not permitted to be outside of the home due to safety concerns. These training opportunities give them a little freedom that they did not previously have as well as a way to hear Biblical training.
After meeting with many of the beneficiaries of the livestock distribution program, I was encouraged because of the pure joy many had with just a single goat ($85 USD) and the difference it will make in their life. They will receive milk that they can use or sell. And once the goats bear young, the first will go back to the community, but all subsequent kids will be theirs. They can then sell them or continue to benefit from milk. These are very simple programs, and the team working in the community works closely with a veterinarian so that they can monitor the health of all the goats. There is training on what to look for and when to seek professional support. A program like this could easily expand and create inroads into serving the Muslim community in ways that they are not accustomed to.
Another equally important objective for this trip to deepen the relationships with our partnering organization, Messiah Ministries. As with many of these trips, so much is learned in car drives or walking through villages. Throughout my week, I was impressed with the team that is assembled in Youngson Abod. They understand the long-view of community development and are eager to do more as God provides. Their servant hearts were on display as they served at each event. Many of the members of the Messiah Ministry team also serve in the men's choir of the church. I was blessed to listen to their worship in a private worship session. You can see them at these links: Song 1, Song 2, and Song 3. Each song is about the upcoming Passover and Easter celebrations.
The majority of my time was spent in the village. But I also was introduced to a ministry opportunity in the inner city of Lahore, where there is a church that ministers to Christian domestic workers. These women receive very little in terms of pay and are also discriminated against by their Muslim employers. Everyone in Pakistan has an ID card that indicates their religion. Christians then face discrimination and persecution. Meeting with these women and hearing their desire for basic literacy education opened my eyes further to the magnitude of the needs that exist in Pakistan. I know this is not unique to any city or country, but we all have an obligation to find ways of meeting the needs of people that are living in the 10/40 window. God has deepened our burden for this region, and my visit only amplified the need to do more.
What's Next
Like so many trips like this, I walk away overwhelmed by the need. My heart fluctuates between doubting that the work we do has minimal impact to wanting to roll my sleeves up and find as many ways as possible to water what has been planted. Only God knows what the future will hold, but I want to end with a comment that a domestic worker said to me. She was articulating her struggle with her current deficiencies. She said, we don't even know how to read. My response was, "do you think it is a coincidence that I am here? E4 has done literacy training already in Pakistan, maybe that is what God is showing us is next?" I think God uses moments like this to point out how He is at work in the lives of communities like this.
I don't want to be in a position where I saw needs but am unwilling or unable to act. We would like to raise an additional $30,000 to continue the next phase of development and go deeper with each program. Our hope is that you would join us in this effort.
Please click here to view a larger gallery of the entire visit.
