Pakistan (MNN) — This December, the Islamabad High Court of Pakistan issued a ruling ending the practice of employing only Christians in highly dangerous and undesirable sanitation and sewerage jobs.
With few safety measures previously required, the work of cleaning out old infrastructure has resulted in the deaths of many workers.
In Pakistan, Christians make up just 1% of the population. Because they face discrimination and lack opportunities, these dangerous sanitation jobs have largely fallen to Christians, who are seen as lower class.
Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says the ruling is significant because it counters the common stigmas against Christians in Pakistan.
“These are incredibly vulnerable jobs, very dangerous jobs, and when you just exclusively make Christians do it, it’s just a terrible situation,” Kelley says. “Opening it up for everybody to have access to it makes a statement. It’s not sort of targeting or discriminating against Christians.”
Despite common hostility to the gospel, the Church in Pakistan is growing.
“In places like Pakistan, you don’t find lukewarm Christians,” Kelley says. “The people who are coming to know Christ in Pakistan, the second most populated Muslim country in the world, are white-hot for the gospel. They’re incredibly serious, devoted to their faith, and they’re multiplying.”
Unknown Nations is working to train Pakistani believers in reaching others, supplying resources like audio Bibles, and completing humanitarian projects that can open doors for the gospel.
Veiled women hold Treasures, the solar-powered audio Bibles distributed by Unknown Nations. (Photo courtesy of Unknown Nations)
“As we lift up these believers (in prayer), we need to be reminded that Jesus said to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers,” Kelley says.
Please pray not only for the safety of Pakistani believers, but also for them to be bold and courageous in their gospel witness. Pray that the discernment and wisdom of the Lord will be with them in the face of adversity.
Pakistan flag (Photo courtesy of Abuzar Xheikh/Unsplash)
