I've been sharing with you about the desperate plight of Christians in Pakistan. On Good Friday, an entire community of Christian families faced direct persecution for their faith -- their homes were burned to the ground. It's part of a long pattern of persecution against Christians in Pakistan.

+ + Desperate cycle of poverty and attacks

Sadly, thousands of Christians are trapped by what is essentially indentured servitude. Our partners visited one of the brick factories where entire Christian families -- father, mother, children and even grandparents -- work to produce 1,500 or more bricks every day for less than two dollars pay. Those funds aren't enough to pay back the "loans" they've received from the brick owners. It becomes a cycle of indebtedness they cannot escape.

Then, on Good Friday, these families returned from a long day of work to discover that their homes were destroyed. Burned to the ground by anti-Christian zealots.

+ + We're helping persecuted families...

Mercy Chefs is standing in the gap for these families. Right now, their most urgent needs are food and a place to sleep. We found a partner who is able to supply them with tents for temporary shelter. Our team is providing families with food to sustain them through this crisis along with basic cooking essentials -- a stove and a pot.

I want to do more. That's why I'm turning to friends like you.

Will you help Mercy Chefs stand with Christian families in Pakistan who are facing such horrible attacks and desperate conditions? Go here to help persecuted Pakistani Christians while we continue other vital efforts:

This is a desperate situation. These families need immediate help to survive this attack and longer-term support to break free from this desperate cycle.

Please pray. And help as you can.

God bless,

Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs