This past July, our Matthew 10 team had the privilege of returning to Pakistan. It was a beautiful time spent alongside Pastor Rehan and his team, meeting with local believers, worshiping together, and witnessing firsthand the many ways God’s Kingdom is growing throughout Pakistan.

The main places we spent time in were the brick kiln communities, meeting families who have been trapped in generations of forced labor. For many, the cycle began long before they were born, with debt passed down from parents and grandparents and what can feel like endless years of making bricks with little hope of ever escaping. During our time there, we had the incredible privilege of stepping into the stories of these families and helping set them free.

One family from this trip has stayed especially close to our hearts.

When our team arrived at a brick kiln in Patoki, fifteen families had received a phone call that morning — one they had been waiting years, and in many cases generations, to receive: their debt was being paid. They were going free!

For most families, freedom day is filled with overwhelming joy. But among the celebrations that day stood one family whose day looked very different. Nasreen was there with her four children (Marry, Sager, Daud, and little Jessica). Tragically, just seven days earlier, her husband, Sadiq, had been killed for his faith — a true martyr for Jesus Christ.

The Sims family sponsored their freedom, and after four generations in the brick kilns, Nasreen and her children were finally free!

We wish that Sadiq could have been there to witness that monumental day with them. But we can only imagine the far greater joy he is now experiencing in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

“I am sure that because of his [Sadiq] death, the church in Patoki has come together like no other, especially for the family, and his death will continue to be a great witness for generations. What an honor to lose your life for Christ!”

As for Nasreen and her children… their grief did not disappear that day, and their story did not suddenly become easy. But one burden that had followed their family for generations was finally broken. No more debt to the kiln owner. No more bondage. No more bricks. A new chapter had begun!

Jace Sims, who was part of our July team, had already heard about Sadiq’s death before arriving at the kiln. But he did not realize that the grieving family standing in front of him was Sadiq’s family.

Jace tells us of his experience and thoughts from that day…

“As many families gathered for their best day, Nasreen and her family's faces were marked by grief and mourning.”

Then Nasreen’s 12-year-old son, Sager, walked up to Jace.

“Sager looked up at me and slowly moved his finger across his throat, as if to explain to me that it was his dad who was just killed. I don’t think I will ever forget this moment.”

Sadiq had spent his life trapped in generational brick kiln slavery. His family was now in its fourth generation of bondage. Before his death, Sadiq had shared some of what had driven their family deeper into debt. One of their sons had died during delivery, leaving Nasreen seriously ill and requiring costly medical treatment. Later, their son Daud became seriously ill with leukemia and needed ongoing monthly blood transfusions — care that his father had been helping provide.

Now Nasreen was not only grieving her husband but also facing an uncertain future with four children.

And yet, in the middle of unimaginable loss, something beautiful happened. Preston asked Jace if his family would like to sponsor Nasreen and her children and pay their debt. Jace immediately fell to the dirt, sobbing, as he felt the gravity of the moment and the weight Nasreen and her family had been carrying. It was a great honor to be given the opportunity to sponsor them. He spent the rest of the day simply sitting with the family, especially Sager. Slowly, he watched their walls begin to come down.

“Throughout the day, they opened up to us. Not in words or stories as much, but in a deep bond that I felt grow. I saw them slowly begin to laugh and smile more throughout the day.”