Learning to Read and Write

There are many (especially women) in Pakistan who are not given the opportunity to learn to read and write. Reach the Nations has tried to address this need by establishing three literacy locations in Islamabad and one in the Sialkot area. We want to give you a brief pictorial report on each area.

Sister Zarish had the first class in Islamabad in 2022 and has been teaching since then. She also has helped to establish two other sites in Islamabad. These first pictures are from her class which meets at Prayer Tower Church.

There are 32 students studying with Zarish now. Seventeen are in early stages of learning to read and write and they others are graduates who are in the Bible reading class.

Zarish is an accomplished teacher and guides her students to success in learning to read and write and to do basic math.

Brother Sikender's literacy class in the G-8 area of Islamabad is also going well. He has 22 students, all of whom are expected to pass their tests and graduate in May or June along with the graduates from Zarish's class. Here are some pictures of his class:

The third location in Islamabad is lead by Brother Waris: He has 21 students who are looking forward to graduation in a few months. His class is pictured below:

Then in Daska, Rehana leads her class and has students including men, women, and children. A few are soon going to be ready to receive their certificates and then will move to a Bible reading class.

Please pray for these teachers and their students. Many testify to changes already in their lives because they have been given the opportunity to become literate. They are happier and have a more positive outlook as they look to the future. And most are very excited to be able to read the Bible for themselves!

". . . those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

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Ministering Among Christians in Pakistan

As Gary Finkbeiner and Peter Negron finished up their ministry this past week in Pakistan, they have provided some quick updates:

This picture and the one below show the latest class of students studying at CLTI in Karachi where Gary has been teaching for the past two weeks.

These are all Pakistani men called to ministry and seeking additional training in the Bible and in various pastoral skills and leadership. Gary reports that these are committed students who are working hard at their studies and are passionate about sharing biblical truths with others.

While Gary has been at CLTI, Peter has been ministering in churches in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi.

He participated in a unity conference as Christ Church in Rawalpindi last week. And as you can see in this photo, there were representatives from Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches, all seeking fellowship and unity as they share the message of Jesus Christ in the world around them. Immediately to the right of Peter in this photo is Rev. Rashid Manzoor who is the Associate Vicar of Christ Church and a friend of Reach the Nations Ministries.

Peter spoke at the Friday evening session of the unity conference. Standing to the right of him is Rev. Samuel Titus who translated Peter's message.

Attendees from the community joined in the service and the singing.

Both Gary and Peter are thankful for your prayers as they have shared in this time in Pakistan and now as they get back to their ministries here in the U. S.

"The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 121:7-8

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Training and Encouraging

Gary Finkbeiner and Peter Negron, both on the U.S. leadership team for Reach the Nations, are ministering in Pakistan in these days, and they ask for your prayers.

Gary is teaching a class at Covenant Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) in Karachi, and he reports that the students, who are young men called to Christian ministry, are working hard at their studies and learning much. Shakeel, an RTN leader from Hyderabad, is also teaching at CLTI.

Peter has been ministering in churches in and around Islamabad. This picture shows him at Prayer Tower Church. Translating for him is Pastor Babar and they, obviously, enjoy ministering together.

Peter shared from God's Word from Monday through Thursday last week at Prayer Tower Church.

He had opportunities throughout the week to pray with many people who had specific needs.

He also visited literacy classes and in the picture above is shown with some of the students and with Manzoor Masih, as well as Pastor Babar and his wife, Zarish, who is a literacy teacher and leader of RTN's literacy program in Islamabad.

Peter says, "On Friday night I spoke at Christ Church Rawalpindi with Associate Vicar Rev. Rashid Manzoor at a unity meeting with Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Pentecostal bishops, priests, and pastors. God is moving in a great way among these believers."(slightly edited)

There are many who need encouragement, or a deeper understanding of God's Word, or training to be able to teach others. Pray for Gary and Peter as they do all of that during this time of ministry in Pakistan.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"- Ephesians 4:11-12

#reach #nations #reachthenations #missions #global #pakistan #leaders #training #churchplanting #church #outreach #evangelism #discipleship #prayers #Peternegron #Islamabad #Karachi #Garyfinkbeiner #literacy #Shakeel #Babar #Zarish