New York church frees Pakistani Christians from slavery with creative VBS project

The church set a fundraising goal of $862—an ambitious goal, but enough to give a family a second chance at life. At the church’s Vacation Bible School, children learned about families trapped in modern-day slavery. They also learned about Global Christian Relief’s Blueprint for Freedom—the three steps we use to help families escape bonded labor:

• Debt Relief – paying the legal amount to clear a family’s bonded debt
• Income Generation – tools or training to start a new livelihood
• Financial Literacy – skills to help freedom last for the long term

On the final day of the VBS, everyone was shocked to learn that they had raised much more than $862. In fact, they had raised $5,219.02—enough to free not one, but six families!

That story has encouraged and resonated with Christians in churches across the nation. One church in New York was so inspired that they dedicated their own VBS fundraiser event to freeing as many families as they could.

One of the stories that most spoke to their hearts was that of Maryam. When we first met Maryam, she shared with us that she had taken out a loan of less than $900 to cover the costs of her husband’s medical care. They only expected to work in the brick kiln for a year to pay what they owed, but high interest rates and garnished wages made paying their debt impossible.

Her husband died due to a chronic respiratory illness exacerbated by long days in the dirty and dusty kiln. Her children were forced to work alongside their mother and put their educations on hold after their father died.

Maryam worked in the brick kiln for 20 years—until, thanks to the generosity of compassionate believers, her debt was paid. GCR supporters provided Maryam and her family with a produce cart and a donkey, giving them a new way to earn a living outside of the kiln. They finally feel safe and comfortable in a home of their own.

Hoping to help give other Pakistani Christians a brighter future, children, church staff and volunteers at the church in New York used their VBS fundraiser to give generously and joyfully. Altogether, they raised $8,658!

At GCR, we are so encouraged and blessed by the news of these events inspiring generations of Christians to come together and pay the debts of their enslaved brothers and sisters in Pakistan—mirroring our Savior, who paid our debts because He so loved us. Learn more about how you or your church can help here.