Pakistan: Tested in Faith

A map of Pakistan. Photo: Aid to the Church in NeedChristians in Pakistan find themselves at the centre of a crisis.

Amid growing extremism in a country buckling under political and social strain, the suffering is getting worse for the faithful.

Especially in the last 12 months, the trouble for Christians has escalated. In that time, they have suffered some of the bloodiest persecution in the country’s history.

As well as violent attacks, they face more calls to abandon their faith, more discrimination at work and at home, and more attacks on their livelihood than ever before.

Grief-stricken Christians mourn the victims of extremist violence in Gojra, PakistanChristian women praying in Lahore Cathedral, PakistanFaryad Francis and his wife Saiqa, trainee catechists in Khushpur, PakistanBishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, Pakistan, presides over the funeral of Christians killed in anti-Christian violence in Gojra in August 2009A young Christian girl in Model Colony, Walton Road, LahoreChristian women weep for the victims of extremist violence in Gojra, PakistanA Christian family in Saidan Shah Christian Colony in Lahore, PakistanRector Father Benjamin Shahzad at the new minor seminary under construction in Karachi, PakistanFather Emmanuel Asi with Children's Bible picture books funded by Aid to the Church in NeedChristians speaking out against violence and intimidation in Pakistan

Grief-stricken Christians mourn the victims of extremist violence in Gojra, Pakistan

Christian women praying in Lahore Cathedral, Pakistan

Faryad Francis and his wife Saiqa, trainee catechists in Khushpur, Pakistan

Bishop Joseph Coutts of Faisalabad, Pakistan, presides over the funeral of Christians killed in anti-Christian violence in Gojra in August 2009

A young Christian girl in Model Colony, Walton Road, Lahore

Christian women weep for the victims of extremist violence in Gojra, Pakistan

A Christian family in Saidan Shah Christian Colony in Lahore, Pakistan

Rector Father Benjamin Shahzad at the new minor seminary under construction in Karachi, Pakistan

Father Emmanuel Asi with Children's Bible picture books funded by Aid to the Church in Need

Christians speaking out against violence and intimidation in Pakistan

But there is hope.

Despite all the problems, the Church is growing fast. Vocations are booming. Churches damaged in extremist attacks are being fixed. Sisters are receiving vital formation. And the faithful are volunteering to become catechists to help teach the Faith.

Your help and compassion is nurturing this growth amid so much pain.

These pages explore the causes of the suffering, the reasons for hope which you are providing, and the action you can take to help.