Pastor Rizwan

Rizwan is the lead pastor of the largest church in Lahore, Pakistan. He is marked with compassion for the least of these – so much so that he intentionally planted his church in the heart of the brick market with his heart set on reaching those who are, with their families, trapped in generational slavery in the brickyards. His vision is to liberate them from bondage, secure their freedom by providing meaningful avenues of contribution to society, and ultimately, share with them the transformational hope and reality of the gospel.

Together with River House Global, Rizwan has implemented an income-producing model called the Freedom Farm. This farm harvests a crop four-times each year and yields enough wages to pay the debts of approximately four families per yield. Upon being set free, these families then have the opportunity to be employed by the farm, ensuring their financial security upon liberation and setting them up for holistic flourishing in the same community in which they were enslaved – a powerful testimony of genuine gospel redemption if there ever were one.

In the last few years, Rizwan has not only seen his church grow from 170 members to over 5,000, but has also funded the liberation of 16 families from brickyard slavery – through the financial yield of the Freedom Farm and the outright payment of debts both.

As he looks ahead toward what is to come, Rizwan’s passion is to continue spreading the message and reality of the gospel, proclaiming its power over the most impossible situations in Pakistan, and to see the complete liberation of all who are enslaved by the brick market.