In 2005, if you were watching the news then you were watching one of the worst earthquakes to take place around the world hit Pakistan. Seeing and living with the devastation of the earthquake, our senior pastor called daily asking for assistance from American Christians. Pastor Albert is on the frontlines of evangelism. When asked how he was doing after the earthquake, he replied, “Our house is barely standing, the roof is leaking, but praise God we are safe.” But he also stated that many of the Christian pastors are suffering. Families are missing and many thousands have died. Pastor Albert and his family delivered food, water, supplies and other items of dire need to the earthquake victims. Using a tent for shelter, the team ministered to the injured and homeless while sharing the gospel. He said, “It is important right now to share with them about Jesus, because they need hope. But they also need food, and warm clothes. We shared with them the message of salvation, but it’s also important to show them through our actions, that He loves them and fellow Christians care around the world care.”
The earthquake that shook Pakistan with a magnitude of 7.6 struck Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on October 8, 2005. More than 81,000 people were killed and 3 million left homeless. About half of the region’s capital city, Muzaffarabad, was destroyed. The disaster hit at the onset of the Himalayan winter. Many rural villages were too remote for aid workers to reach, leaving thousands vulnerable to the elements. Pastor Albert reported that, “People are alive, under buildings.” From the Government Girls College building, he heard the shouting of the girls who were still under the collapsed building waiting for help.
This scene was his eyewitness: “Government High School for boys and Banks Building. No one is bringing them out. By the Grace of Lord, we will go in the above-mentioned names of the villages and we are requested by many people to go there as no one has reached these places, not even the government’s rescue team. Please Pray for my team.” The need was urgent. Our pastors were able to go distribute sweaters and aid to a small portion of these villages. “The need was so great, it was overwhelming. We are missionaries to own country”, one of our pastors reported. Pastor Albert told us that the devastation was worse than anyone could have ever imagined. The children ran up to them begging for food, water anything that they might spare. The masses were begging. With your generous love offerings and support for the Pakistan Relief Fund, we were able to purchase medicine, blankets, water and sweaters for children, but years later their needs still linger.