Day 14 - The Pakistan Floods - Today is Pakistan's Independence Day
Pakistan's worst natural disaster in July and August 2010 was described as a 'slow-motion tsunami'. The catastrophe rendered five million Pakistanis homeless and over 1,600 dead. Over 20 million needed humanitarian assistance - food, shelter and emergency care. One-fifth of Pakistan was under water. Outbreaks of cholera and dysentery caused deadly waterborne diseases. The number of people reported to be suffering from acute diarrhea was in the hundreds of thousands.
Yet this disaster opened opportunities to show God's love to the Pakistani people and to serve them in the name of Jesus Christ. Many recognized that the help was from local Christians. One Pakistani district official commented, 'I appreciate the efforts of Christian people; you always step in first to help in times of need and serve without any greed'.
At the end of one distribution, a man from a local village said to Christian workers, 'I've never met any Christians in my life. This is my first chance to see a Christian; but you look like us.' The team member told him that they follow Isa (Jesus). The man replied, 'No person from my faith came to help us, but you came from a distant place. Surely you are true followers of Isa.' Another man said after working alongside a team for one month, 'There is no salvation without Isa Masih (Jesus the Messiah).' He had been seeking the truth for two years.
However, it was not all good news in Pakistan. According to one leader, 'Some Christian refugees were openly denied aid [by Muslim Aid efforts], while others were told to leave or convert to Islam. You can imagine the terrible choice: either you abandon your faith or you cannot feed your child.'
Prayer Ideas:
Yet this disaster opened opportunities to show God's love to the Pakistani people and to serve them in the name of Jesus Christ. Many recognized that the help was from local Christians. One Pakistani district official commented, 'I appreciate the efforts of Christian people; you always step in first to help in times of need and serve without any greed'.
At the end of one distribution, a man from a local village said to Christian workers, 'I've never met any Christians in my life. This is my first chance to see a Christian; but you look like us.' The team member told him that they follow Isa (Jesus). The man replied, 'No person from my faith came to help us, but you came from a distant place. Surely you are true followers of Isa.' Another man said after working alongside a team for one month, 'There is no salvation without Isa Masih (Jesus the Messiah).' He had been seeking the truth for two years.
However, it was not all good news in Pakistan. According to one leader, 'Some Christian refugees were openly denied aid [by Muslim Aid efforts], while others were told to leave or convert to Islam. You can imagine the terrible choice: either you abandon your faith or you cannot feed your child.'
Prayer Ideas:
- Pray for the long-term recovery work across Pakistan. Pray for all the flood victims - the bereaved, the injured and those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Many have lost wealth, homes and businesses built up over generations. Pray that all will find adequate shelter, clean water and food. They need the hope that comes from God's promises.
- Pray for Christians in Pakistan, the majority of whom are desperately poor. May they know the comfort and provision of their heavenly Father.
- Pray for the many new believers who came to know the Messiah during the floods. They need discipleship and to understand the love of God the Father and the Messiah.
- Pray against the flood of evil and intolerance that victimizes minorities, and even those Muslims who speak up on their behalf.
- All text from 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank-you for the feedback!