Pakistan: A look at the Effects of the Pandemic on Christians

A ministry leader in Pakistan recently conducted a survey on how the pandemic has affected the lives of Christians in the country. He wrote, “The consequences of COVID-19 have been felt in many different ways all over our world. For some, it was the swift loss of a job. For others, it was the devastating news of the passing of a beloved relative. Every change was a challenge, but they were all magnified by this pandemic. For Pakistani believers, it has been similar except one must also throw in the challenges of extreme poverty and persecution. When the shutdown in Pakistan took effect, 70% of all Christians, most of them day laborers, immediately lost their only source of income. 60% of Christian families reported that they’ve exhausted all of their savings. Churches saw their incomes drop by 80%. Many are waiting for the vaccine to become more widely available, but its likely its price will be unaffordable for many believers. Needless to say, COVID-19 has certainly been devastating to the personal finances of the majority of Christians in Pakistan.”

This pandemic has affected virtually every person in the world in some way or another, and many of us in the US have shared in these difficulties. However, most of us are fortunate enough to have been able to maintain some level of stability during these times. The majority of our brothers in sisters in Pakistan on the other hand, have not; many were already living in poverty before the pandemic, and are now struggling to even keep their homes or afford food for their kids. GCP has increased its help to believers in Pakistan with financial support, food packages, and more during the pandemic, but the need is great.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan and consider helping them with financial support! Pray that God will protect and provide for believers struggling financially in Pakistan.