On top of that, businesses belonging to believers were looted and attacked, too, leaving many without a way to support themselves or their families. It was a time of blind hatred. However, thanks to your support, GCR, in cooperation with our partners, has since been able to help several families rebuild their small businesses and share a hope for the future.
Christian stores were robbed, fast food equipment stolen, shops vandalized and donkey carts set ablaze. For five families, their livelihoods were taken from them by radicals. But the Body of Christ stepped up to intervene. For those five families, they would experience Jesus’ love from their global neighbors firsthand.
Nadia Pervaiz, a shop owner, says, “We left everything behind to save our lives, and the mob looted our grocery shop—the cash and material. We were left without anything.” But GCR and our partners met Nadia’s urgent needs. We provided her with enough stock to reopen. She says, “We have no words to express our feelings. This support has given us new life.”
Rashidan Bagum, too, has a small grocery shop. The day before the mob violence, she had fully restocked her shelves. Then, on the day of the rioting, “The mob looted everything from my grocery shop.” Rashidan’s business is the sole income for her and her family. She had lost it all. But through your gifts, GCR and our partners were able to help Rashidan reopen and make an honest living once again: “With this material we will be able to overcome our financial crises.”
It wasn’t just shop owners who felt the hit of the riots. Asif Masih runs a fast food business. He and his family ran for their lives as their small business was set fire to and equipment stolen: “Our appliances were looted and our shop was burnt.” However, through our partners, we’ve been able to meet Asif’s urgent needs. We supplied him with new burners, pans and gas cylinders, enough for him to get back on his feet. On the day he received his new equipment, he said, “Today is a great day for me and my family—we have no words.”
Sarfaraz Masih runs a motorcycle repair shop near a church in Jaranwala. When the church was attacked, spillover from the violence made its way to his shop. They looted Sarfaraz’s tools and burned several tires. He says, “I had no tools and equipment to continue my business.” But, through our partners, we’ve been able to help Sarfaraz restart his business by providing him with an air compressor, various instruments and different types of tires. He says, “I am thankful to God that He has given me more than the equipment I lost. It has strengthened my trust in Him.”
Javed Masi has an interesting job—he sells household pots from his donkey-pulled cart. But on the day of the rioting, his cart was set ablaze in the street and his donkey was stolen. He says, “The rioters took away everything from me. I was very upset, as I don’t have any other source of income.” With the help of our partners, though, we’ve been able to offer provision to Javed. We supplied him with a new cart and a new donkey. In gratitude, he says, “I am thankful to GCR. You are people of God.”
