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Brick Kiln Ministry
Background: Many families in Pakistan suffer under the weight of modern-day slavery, particularly in the country’s brick kiln industry. Many of the children are born into bondage because their parents, desperate and without options, took loans from brick kiln owners. In exchange, families are forced to work in the kilns, shaping and carrying heavy bricks under the scorching summer sun (temperatures reaching 113°F). When parents are unable to repay their debts, the burden passes to their children, trapping them in a cycle of generational slavery. Some of the children at this factory work alongside their parents every day, while others are orphaned and stuck in this endless cycle of forced labor and poverty. 99% of enslaved people are Christians, who are already the most oppressed and poorest caste in the country.
What makes this even more devastating is that the workers are rarely, if ever, told how much they still owe. The debt becomes a moving target, manipulated by the owners, keeping families in permanent servitude. This practice is illegal under Pakistani law, but it continues unchecked in many rural areas, where oversight is limited, and accountability is rare.
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Born Into Bondage: A Child's Cry for Freedom
For children working at brick kilns in Punjab, a survey was conducted by the Punjab Labour Department. According to the latest figures of the survey, the department identified 10,347 brick kilns in Punjab and a total of 126,779 children were seen at these sites.
Child labour in Pakistan
Current: These children should be in school, playing, and dreaming about the future, not working all day, in harsh conditions. But even in this hazardous and challenging environment, the children still dream, play, and smile. They dream of being teachers, doctors, cricket players, and soldiers. Our team feeds and clothes the children, all while teaching them about Jesus.
Funds raised in 2026 will cover the expenses outlined below. Then we hope to initiate phase two of the program, providing more shelter for the children and determining how we can move them toward freedom. The goal is that the research we do during this time, while meeting the kids’ urgent needs, will allow us to shape the next phase. We know from organizations like International Justice Mission that you cannot just pay for their freedom and move on for many reasons. We will connect with other organizations during this time to help us establish the next steps.
By standing with these families and their children, we reflect the heart of the Gospel message by sharing about our God, who sets the captives free.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. - Galatians 6:9-10
Cost: $11,000 for 2026
We are raising funds for 2026 for our ongoing program. The funds will cover:
Funds raised over the year will cover phase one expenses listed above. After that, we’ll hopefully begin phase two, expanding to more sustainable support for the children to provide better shelter and continue food and supply distributions. We will also work toward long-term freedom. This phase will include research to shape our next steps and connecting with other NGOs. As organizations like the International Justice Mission have shown, simply paying for freedom isn’t enough. We’ll collaborate with other nonprofits, especially those already working to free slaves in Pakistan, to guide our approach. In phase three, we aim to free children and families and support them through housing, microloans, education, job opportunities, and legal aid. These are ambitious goals, and we pray for God’s guidance and for Him to connect us with organizations already doing this work in Pakistan.
An Existing Foundation
This gallery captures glimpses of the work E4 is already a part of at a brick kiln factory in Faisalabad, Pakistan, where children and families live and labor under harsh conditions. Aroob and her family visit these children regularly, bringing food, offering encouragement, and sharing the hope of the Gospel. These images reflect the challenges they face, but also the joy, dignity, and light they possess as children of God, created in His image.
