Hamza, a Christian convert from a Muslim family in South Asia, received a surprising message from his estranged father, “Son, please come back home because I am so sick.” Previously, his father had kicked him out of the house and fired him from his teaching position at the school his father owned. All of this happened when Hamza went against Muslim culture and brought shame to the family by becoming a Christian. Hamza is just one of many persecuted christians to experience backlash from his community. It was even dangerous for Hamza to return home to visit his family. Regardless of the danger, Hamza decided the call from his father was an urgent one, so he went home.
Conversion Leads to a Split In the Family
Hamza had been studying to become a lawyer. Then, he received a Bible from a missionary. After reading it for a while, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. Hamza soon married a Christian woman, leading to more problems with his family. He and his wife chose to move to another city after their families and friends rejected them.
A Desperate Cry
Despite the rejection of his family, Hamza hurried home to check on his sick father. Surprisingly, his father seemed fine. Although the message was clearly a lie, Hamza decided to spend some time with his family. After eating a meal with his parents, he became ill, eventually landing in the hospital.
The doctors in the hospital ran tests, and the news was shocking: his own father had poisoned him! Hamza had shamed his father by accepting Jesus as his Savior. His father was desperate to regain honor, so he tricked Hamza into coming home where he could poison his son.
After leaving the hospital, Hamza, his wife, and their children had to relocate. They were not safe as his father had located him with the message and then tried to kill him. They lost everything with this move.
Thankfully, the missionary who had given Hamza the Bible and had been mentoring him offered help from the ministry he worked for. They were able to get the family furniture, bedding, clothing, and food to establish themselves.
Challenges for the Ministry
Helping Hamza and his family with their immediate needs was good, but now there are problems. Why? The ministry in South Asia doesn’t have the funds to continue supporting Hamza and his family or to help other families in similar circumstances.
A generous donor gave one missionary land where he built 30 tiny homes to help new converts with a safe place to live. However, the ministry does not have the resources to supply all the needs of the families living in the homes. Often, the converts cannot pursue the livelihood they were trained for because of persecution and being in hiding. The ministry leader needs ideas and funds to help the families establish new sources of income.
Another challenge the ministry faces is that the work is very slow. The vision of the ministry is to lead Muslims to saving knowledge of Jesus. This is a slow process, as Muslims and Christians on both sides must build trust with each other.
Also, after a Muslim converts to Christianity, he needs discipleship and Biblical training. Discipleship and training takes time and money. The ministry does not have the resources to do all of this and help with basic needs for the converts who are rejected by family and friends and suffering persecution.
Test Case to Free Slaves
Persecuted Christians aren’t the only ones the ministry is trying to help. The ministry leader also explained a test case they attempted to see if they could help families who were slaves to brick factories.
Often, families have been enslaved to factories for generations. The family will go to a landlord/factory owner desiring employment. The landlord gives them jobs and charges them illegally high interest rates for the land they live on and other items they receive from the landlord/factory owner. They are enslaved and mistreated, with even the children working at a very young age.
The ministry paid all that one family owed to the owner of the brick factory. The family received the legal documents stating they were free and clear of the owner. The family was then set up with a fruit and vegetable cart to earn a living. They are making 2,000 to 3,000 rupees per day. The plan after this test case is that once the generation is out of slavery, they will have the opportunity to grow and lead a life of freedom.
Wisdom Needed
However, again, the ministry is faced with the needs of the people they have helped to escape a terrible situation. They don’t have the resources to support the family’s daily requirements or the emergency needs that may arise.
That is why we are asking you to pray for persecuted christians. Pray for the ministry in South Asia and other ministries like it. Download the prayer guide to pray for the 10/40 window. This guide will give you information and prayer points to help you know how to pray for the ministries and the people they are working to reach with the Gospel.
