Footsteps Ministries in Pakistan - Project 032

Dear Siloam giving friends and ministry investors,

Next month October, Joseph and Rose Barkat will be returning to Pakistan for a visit to encourage their co-workers and develop their ministry. They will be taking with them two pastors from the UK who have a love and concern for the ‘Footsteps Ministries’ in Pakistan which Joseph and Rose head up and want to become more personally involved in exposing their ministry to other concerned believers.

Above: Providing water pumps where they are desperately needed by the Christian population in north Pakistan will prevent so many women and children from having to walk up to 3 miles or 5 kilometres a day to obtain water.

Pakistan Water Pump Appeal

One of the requests that Joseph Barkat has made, is to provide simple water pumps in villages where families have to walk over 5 kilometres daily in order to collect water.  I am sure like me you often see on the TV adverts featuring children carrying plastic containers down to the water holes and dried up rivers in order to get water for the family.  I am sure their support would be enhanced greatly if the TV viewers actually knew someone personally who is responsible for providing the pumps so that clean water could be obtained.

Above: Providing and installing a water pump costs just £150. Is anyone willing to organise a fundraising drive that will help Siloam provide 20 pumps in north Pakistan?

Persecuted Christians in Pakistan

Joseph Barkathas informed me that it costs roughly £150 to purchase and install such a water pump which would revolutionise the lives of many people they are helping in the Sindh and northern parts of Pakistan. 

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10

Indeed, it is reported that the Muslim community are definitely prejudiced against the Christians that ‘Footsteps Ministries’ are helping to the point where the Muslims actually refuse the Christians water and make it incredibly difficult for them to access it! At the risk of this statement becoming politically dangerous, I have to point out this matter and acknowledge that there is certainly blatant persecution of Christians in Pakistan as we are all aware.

Brothers and sisters, this is our Call for Action:

We need two generous benefactors who would be willing to donate £500 each which will provide £1,000.

Then, we need another two businessmen or generous donors to supply £250 each which will bring in another £500.

If we had four families or church congregations who would each commit to providing £100, that will account for another £400.

Then, if 10 individuals were each motivated to want to help young people obtain water without having to walk 5 kilometres or 3 miles by donating £50, then another £500will also be provided.

Let me continue, I am sure there must be 20 caring individuals who could commit to providing £25 each which will increase the total by a further £500.

Finally, just take 10 prayerful donors who perhaps don’t give that often, who could just pledge £10 each, that will provide the final £100 we need for a £3,000 total.

Do you follow my thinking?  If less that 50 people get behind this mini project appeal, we could surely provide £3,000 between now and the end of the year.  This will mean that it will prevent youngsters having to carry water for their parents from up to 3 kilometres away.  It would also mean they could have water on-hand ready for cooking as well as drinking and help the mothers by providing water for washing clothes and of course water for all for bathing.

Above: Even if you were unable to personally afford the cost of one pump at £150, perhaps you could find 9 others who, together with you, could provide £15 each?  That’s another water pump!  When we share together, great things can be achieved.

I am not asking for anything extravagant in this instance, just the opportunity to access water as and when required without having to endure a long walk to get it!  Please consider how you should respond and if you want to help Christians who are being persecuted, then please designate your gift to project: 032 when you go to our giving page or send your PayPal gift, Credit Card gift or telegraphic transfer.  Cheques will also be appreciated if you find that convenient, if your heart has been touched and you want to help. – Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Norton

Director-Siloam UK

P.S. Perhaps you could share this email with other friends in your personal network?  That would also help get this message out there?