We are fully engaged in coronavirus relief. The coronavirus has a major impact on the lives of millions of people. For those living in countries with high levels of poverty and fragile healthcare systems, this virus is an unmitigated disaster. It also means a lockdown for a lot of people: no income and therefore no food.
In many churches, the collection is planned or has already taken place. One question that is being asked is: isn't a lot of help being provided by governments and aid organisations? And if that happens, why is help from us churches needed? A question we address here based on the situation in Pakistan.
Unconditional
Assistance from governments and many aid organisations is through the national or regional governments. But here a problem arises. We in the Netherlands are used to minorities in our country sharing equally in aid and care, but this is totally different in many parts of the world. We also find it common that our assistance is unconditional. This is also how we do it as diaconate CGK. We give this emergency aid regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, religion, disability, age or orientation. But even this is not normal in many countries.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, for instance, minorities are severely discriminated against. Christians feel like strangers in their own country. For them, it was the land of their ancestors until the middle of the last century, when Pakistan was 'formed'. After that, the situation deteriorated badly.
A Pakistani Christian told: 'Minorities are not safe. Christians are very disadvantaged. It seems people are only allowed to injure you so much, but you are not allowed to complain about it. And if you do, you are considered a non-loyal Pakistani. And that, while Pakistani Christians feel like loyal citizens and are working for the country. There are discriminatory laws (such as Article 295c) in this country, which the well-known Christian Asia Bibi fell victim to. Statistics also do not show the correct population of Christians. Christians are not allowed to drink from the same water pump as the majority of Muslims, are not allowed to use the same toilet and eat from the same bowl, etc. In fact, Christians are only allowed to do inferior work and the government posts advertisements for street sweepers, for example, saying 'only for non-Muslims'.
Corona aid
In corona aid channelled through the Pakistani government, Christians are mostly forgotten. This is not always deliberate, but because discrimination is so 'normal', it fits a pattern. Someone from Pakistan said, "Not all Muslims and Muslim organisations ignore Christians, but most do. A video on social media went viral showing an imam saying he had converted a non-Muslim so that he could receive food.
We, as diaconate CGK, give aid to churches and church organisations. There are three million Christians in this country, but out of the total population of 193 million, this is only 1.5%. We work with the church organisation Youth Welfare Association YoungsonAbad in the city of the same name. Check out this organisation's Facebook page. This is a church fused with this city, 150 kilometres east of Lahore. With much appreciation, they mention the name of the founder of this city and the church, missionary Youngson from England. At this YouTube video This organisation tells something about their work. See in this YouTube video An impression of the mayor.
However, this organisation does not adapt their methods to what is customary in this country: emergency aid is given to Christians and non-Christians. The manager then quotes the word of Jesus Christ in Luke 6:31: Treat others as you want them to treat you. In doing so, he says from his experience in the Pakistani situation: this love and teaching is only available in the Bible. That does touch you immensely then.
Stories like this inspire us to continue this good work. Will you join us? You can also give at the coronanood help page.
Rev Erjan van der Linde
