Riaz House
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Need - $13,500
Received and pledged - $2,935 (as of 11/6/2025) Reading time about 4 minutes. One of the greatest, perpetual blessings of my forty years as a missionary is meeting incredible Believers around the world. That joy increases when I learn of a need they have and can share it with others, strangers to them, yet see it fulfilled in the purity of Christian love. Such is the case with Brother Riaz and his wife, Sonia. I met them in Pakistan about five years ago, and our hearts were knit together. His entire family calls me "grandfather," and I call him "grandson," though he is only a few years younger than my own kids. That's the relationship we have. When I am in Pakistan now, I am always accompanied by several cars filled with military and regional police, and Riaz, who himself is always armed. I cannot take a step out of the vehicle without him and the others surrounding me and our team. The reason is that along the Pakistani and Indian border, there are two al-Qaeda training camps. On my last trip, though my advisors had warned me to avoid those areas, I became aware that we had unintentionally strayed into them, and they had sent out teams to find us and capture me. Everywhere we went, people would report us and drag their thumbs across their necks as if to say they would cut our heads off, but we would always leave the area before the enemy could catch up to us. After spending days together, the police and military personnel developed a strong attachment to my wife, Nolin, due to her kindness towards the children and the elderly, and allowed us to begin a strong witness to them, which I hope has borne fruit. Still, it was their responsibility as Muslim military and police to protect an American Christian Missionary (they had never met one), but Riaz did so out of his deep love for us. And if necessary, take my bullet. [With me were Pastor George Bell, Ryan Pledger, and Rayan Silie, who is now working with Final Frontiers in Honduras and elsewhere.] We often come to you for help with such needs, so this time, we waited to see the outcome. I don't want to have the reputation of a beggar, but there are two things you should know: First, I don't share a need with you until we and the brothers abroad have done all we can, and a need remains. Second, when I do ask, it is for others, not for me. I joke about being a "moochinary." It saddens me that I have to rely on others to finance this ministry; still, I know you want to help and are blessed by doing so. My "grandson" has a need. It has come to my attention from his pastor, Shaukat Siddique. A few months ago, Riaz was severely injured in an accident. While pouring concrete for a construction company, a wall fell and crushed him, seriously fracturing his skull. He was in a coma for several weeks and was not expected to survive. Still, believers prayed for him around the clock. (Pakistan, like most countries, does not have workers' compensation or the opportunity for lawsuits. The injured are abandoned in their feeble condition to survive as best they can.) After nearly a month in the hospital, Riaz was released, though partially and temporarily crippled. 
And to make matters worse, his little mudbrick, two-room house was destroyed during the recent monsoon season. The walls have large cracks, and the roof has been mostly destroyed. His family is now living in a very difficult situation, without proper shelter or safety. Riaz's heart is heavy, but his faith remains strong in the Lord.
His church family is praying earnestly for Brother Riaz. They desire to help him rebuild his house so that he and his family can live in safety again. He relies on their prayers and financial support during this challenging time. They, in turn, trust that God will touch the hearts of His people to stand with this faithful brother in Christ, helping him recover and restore his home. Wanting to help the family in any way possible, I (Jon) asked Pastor Shaukat what exactly was needed. He replied by saying they have two options: Either way, they will have to demolish what remains standing and rebuild from the ground up. Fortunately, bricks are very inexpensive in Pakistan. The first option will cost approximately $5,800 to build a two-room house for the family (not two bedrooms, just two rooms). No bathroom, no kitchen, no running water or heat. Just protection from the rain and sun. The second option would be a larger house for their growing family. It would include at least one additional room, plus an enclosed bathroom, and a kitchen with running water and electricity. Such a mansion will cost around $13,500. With those funds, we can also provide them with fans for the heat, several beds, a table with chairs, a refrigerator with a small freezer, and a stove/oven. If any funds remain, they can be applied to clothing, sheets, and other household needs. The last time I visited Pakistan, Riaz would not leave my side. He held my arms as I walked up and down stairs and walked in the muddy, uneven streets. He wanted to ensure I did not fall. I love this young man, and I believe you would too if you had the chance to meet him. One day, I asked Riaz if I could visit his house. His wife wanted to cook for us but insisted on bringing it to the pastors' house where we were staying. It seemed logical to go to his house, but he refused, with his face showing an expression of humility and shame. When I asked the Pastor why, he told me that they are so poor that they don't have a table or chairs for us to sit, and he is ashamed to have us in his house. That broke my heart. There was nothing special about me, Nolin, or the men with us. Riaz and Sonia, along with their children, are the ones special in our Lord's eyes. I want to honor them now by demonstrating just how special we believe they are to us and to the Lord. Will you please help me? I am asking us to splurge a little on this family and provide them with the full amount for the best, healthiest, and safest living conditions we can give them, $13,500. In the 43-second below, someone walks through Riaz and Sonia's house to show its current condition. If you have never been in a Pakistani house, you will enjoy this. They took time to clean up the debris, but you will still clearly see their situation. |
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