Newsletter for June 2025

Dear Friends,

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8-9

As June begins, we are reminded of our calling to stand for justice and mercy.

The words of Proverbs urge us to raise our voices for the voiceless and protect those trapped in hardship. With that spirit, we bring you vital updates from our ongoing efforts to aid persecuted Christians across Asia.

Thanks to your compassion, many lives have been touched. Yet the needs continue to grow, and sadly, our latest appeal brought in just over £3,000 —far below what’s necessary to sustain our outreach.

This month, we must raise £10,000 to continue providing emergency aid, legal support, safe housing, and more. Every gift you give—big or small—helps keep this mission alive and delivers real hope to those facing persecution, poverty, and fear.

We are also standing with UK families whose lives have been shattered by the use of unsafe RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in their homes—materials approved decades ago through cost-cutting decisions that were never disclosed to them. Now, through no fault of their own, these families face bankruptcy and homelessness.

This is a crisis that demands both compassion and action.

As one of the of affected homeowners, I’m reaching out to you personally. The UK RAAC Campaign Group have launched an official UK Government petition calling for justice and support for those impacted. While nearly 6,000 people have signed so far, we urgently need 10,000 signatures by June 17th, 2025, for this issue to be formally considered in Parliament.

Please stand with us. Sign the petition [Here] and share it widely. Together, we can help ensure these forgotten families are finally heard.

You can learn more about the situation on this Sky News report [Here] and this RAAC blog [Here].

Together, let’s continue to speak up, lift up, and show up—just as Scripture calls us to do.

Brutally Murdered on Mother’s Day – Christian Farm Worker Tortured and Killed Over False Theft Allegation

On Mother’s Day, a Christian farm worker was allegedly accused of stealing a mobile phone and brutally beaten to death. The helpless mother demands justice for the blood of her beloved son. The culprits inhumanely bruised his body and pierced nails into his private parts. The BACA team visited the grieving family to stand in solidarity with them and ensured legal and financial help to fight for justice against the brutal murder of the innocent farm worker.

Spreading God’s Love in Cholistan: BACA Delivers God’s Word to the Marginalized

On 2nd May 2025, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) embarked on a faith-filled journey from Lahore to the remote region of Cholistan in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Our mission: to share God’s love through His Word with one of the most underprivileged and overlooked Christian communities in the nation.

At the heart of this journey was a call from local evangelist Jamshed Masih, a tireless servant of the Gospel who has dedicated himself to reaching isolated believers scattered across Cholistan. He reached out with a humble request – for printed and audio Bibles in Urdu – so that Christians in these distant areas could grow deeper in their walk with Christ.

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Donors: How Your Support Gave Shabir Masih a New Lease on Life

The British Asian Christian Association (BACA) has stood beside Shabir Masih through unimaginable tragedy. In 2021, Shabir lost his wife Yasmin Bibi and son Usman Masih, who were brutally murdered by an intolerant Muslim neighbour (click here). The brutal attack left his two granddaughters, Gul Janat and Asma, without parents, and plunged Shabir into a deep well of grief.

We are pleased to share a heartwarming up date to the story of Mr. Shabir Masih, who has finally found relief from months of debilitating pain following a successful inguinal hernia surgery—made possible through the timely intervention and support of the British Asian Christian Association (BACA).

Christian and Hindu Families in Sindh’s Alam Choudhary Village Appeal to BACA for Clean Drinking Water

In the heart of Sindh, Pakistan, the Christian and Hindu communities of Alam Choudhary village, located in Khadro, are enduring a daily struggle to access one of life’s most basic necessities—clean drinking water.

New Child Marriage Law in Pakistan Marks Progress, But Cultural and Legal Hurdles Remain

Pakistan has taken a major step forward in the fight against child marriage. On May 30, 2025, President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, establishing 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage across the country. The law bans any nikah registrar from solemnizing marriages involving individuals under the age of 18 and sets penalties including up to one year in prison and fines of PKR 100,000. Adult men marrying underage girls may face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment.

For human rights groups, minority communities, and activists who have long campaigned for this change, the bill is a long-overdue lifeline for vulnerable girls at risk of being robbed of their childhood, education, and agency.

Tragedy in Faisalabad: A Minor Accident Ends in the Murder of a Christian Teen

IA Christian young man aged 19 yrs brutally shot to death by an insolent Muslim man in Faisalabad.Enraged by a minor contact with his motorbike, the murderer pulled out his gun and shot the Christian man, leading to his death. The widowed mother cries for justice and seeks help from the British Asian Christian Association

IMAGE: Gulfam Masih RIP

On 6th May 2025, a senseless act of violence stole the life of 19-year-old Gulfam Masih, a young Christian man from Faisalabad, Pakistan. While returning home with a friend around 4:00 PM, Gulfam’s motorbike lightly brushed against an oncoming bike near a local garment factory. The rider of the other bike, Rana Ijaz (aka Jaji), flew into a rage over the minor contact and resorted to brutal violence.

Some appeals remain unsatisfied due to a shortage of donations, which may be attributed to our recent email delays and an increase in the number of appeals. We're sharing our last newsletter with you again (here), inviting you to review and consider contributing to any outstanding appeals. Your support is greatly appreciated in helping us meet the needs of those we serve.

"We’ll be sharing updates on Sunaiha and Saba Shafique's progress in our next newsletter. We’re currently experiencing a very busy period and sincerely thank you all for your continued patience and support.

Deprived Children in Peru (sorry I added the Challenges Abroad main donation link last time)

In addition to my work with BACA, I am traveling abroad with my university’s Challenges Abroad team to support deprived children in Peru. This follows the impactful experience in Thailand I had last year, where I gained valuable insights into how charities uplift vulnerable children. I hope to build on that knowledge to enhance BACA’s work in supporting disadvantaged communities. 

To help cover the costs of this program, the Challenges Abroad team has launched a Chuffed Campaign (click here), and any donations would be deeply appreciated. Your support will allow me to participate in this important initiative while continuing my mission to bring hope to those in need. So far, I have raised £40 towards the £2,000 needed for the volunteer experience, and I hope more of you will join me in supporting this cause.

Your generosity enables us to fight for justice, safety, and freedom for those who need it most. Please consider making a donation—every contribution helps us continue this vital work.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” — Psalm 82:3

With gratitude and blessings,

Hannah Chowdhry

British Asian Christian Association

For more ways to support our work, please visit our donation page. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.