Meet Shahzad and Irum Fateh, our National Directors in Sri Lanka. Shahzad and Irum were both born and raised in Pakistan. In Pakistan’s culture Christians experience discrimination and persecution. Despite these social stigmas and risks Shahzad and Irum were determined to openly express their Christian faith and to minister to children. “Years ago I visited the village of my ancestral family and saw starving children wandering the streets,” recalls Shahzad. “The Christian community was paralyzed by fear of persecution, and was doing nothing to help. The Lord continued to speak to us about helping the street children in the village, and throughout Pakistan.” Shahzad and Irum began to minister through Bible Clubs, an orphan boy’s home, and humanitarian relief efforts. In a country that is predominately muslim and anti-christian, Shahzad and Irum were eventually forced to flee Pakistan for their lives. They are currently in Sri Lanka and have just received official refugee status from the UN. They await and trust in God patiently for their next steps. In Sri Lanka they have continued their ministry: sharing the Gospel, providing orphan homes, disaster and persecution relief, medical care, prayer and vocational training to the local community. They seek to bring the gospel message to all they meet.