We would like to begin by reiterating our profound gratitude for all the support we have received this financial year. Your contributions have enabled us to facilitate over 445 individual resettlements, with 104 individuals finding refuge in Australia. In 2023, you helped us assist approximately 2,000 individuals from over 11 countries and territories.
Born into a Christian family in Pakistan, Pastor Mall* has followed in his father’s footsteps, dedicating his life to serving as a pastor since 2006. He is married to Abigail*, a medical staff nurse, and they have one son, Aaron*, who is 16 years old.
Mall’s pastoral journey began at a church in Lahore (Pakistan), where he strived to foster a peaceful coexistence between Christian and Muslim communities.
“I believe in the power of prayer as a way to connect with a higher power and seek guidance, comfort, or strength.”
– Pastor Mall
His ministry attracted the local community, including some Muslim families. However, in 2013, during a worship service, 5 armed men stormed into the church and brutally attacked Mall and Abigail with iron rods. Abigail fainted, sustaining severe injuries and breaking her teeth.
Church members rushed them to the hospital. When Mall reported the incident to the police, they refused to intervene due to religious tensions. They warned him against returning to the village for his family’s safety.
Tragically, later that year, the same group who attacked Mall brutally murdered a Muslim woman who had been attending his church service. They continued to search for Mall, forcing Abigail to stop working and Aaron to quit school out of fear.
Desperate, the family sought refuge with relatives, but they turned the family away out of fear of associating with them. Their home was targeted by gunfire, and they hid inside, terrified. With little money, the family fled to Malaysia, where they applied for UNHCR protection and lived in limbo, uncertain of their future for 9 years.
Local police harassment and racism made their situation incredibly precarious.
With the help of Philoi, they have found protection in Australia. Mall and his family are immensely grateful to Philoi for assisting in securing Protection Visas.
“My family was really struggling in the beginning because we had visa issues. I met a brother from Philoi and told them about my entire situation. They helped me with the entire process of getting the Protection Visas, and I really thank God that we received our Protection Visas on 8 April 2024, within 6 months. I am also really thankful for their help.”
Their journey has been fraught with danger and hardship, but they remain hopeful for a future where they can live in peace and continue to worship Jesus freely. We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with this family on their journey to safety, and we are so grateful to those who have partnered with our ministry to make this possible.
*Names changed for security reasons.
Ongoing Need for Support
We ask for your continued support and prayer during this time so that we may continue to work with those in need. Financial support for our work has been significantly affected, which will impact our ability to respond in the 2024-2025 financial year. Despite our limited resources, we feel blessed to assist those suffering from persecution, and we greatly appreciate your support and prayers.
As the end of the financial year approaches, we invite you to consider a financial donation; any donation of $2 or more to Philoi before the end of the financial year is tax-deductible. By donating to Philoi, you are helping to change the lives of persecuted minorities by providing them with relief, relocation, and resettlement services. Please remember that donations must be made by June 30 2024 to be eligible for current financial year tax deductibility.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
$75 can provide a refugee family with emergency food rations, covering their basic needs.
$50 can fund a month’s worth of school fees or supply a school pack for a refugee child.
$150 can assist a refugee family with rent or cover medical expenses.
$9,000 can support a refugee family’s resettlement application or cover flights to a safer location in their home country.
Reach out to us for more information or any questions you may have. To give, click here.