Growing Churches in Punjab

Mehboob and Irfan continue their work in Daska, gathering families together each Sunday to worship, learn, and grow in their Christian faith.

We were so happy to hear from Mehboob that several people have given their lives to Christ recently. Here's what he said about Easter Sunday, "During the Easter meeting some people repented and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. People are very happy and thankful to God who gave His beloved Son for the salvation of human beings".

And in DhamaKay, Adnan continues to lead the congregation established there. He has a worship team working with him and the congregation is enthusiastic about their worship and fellowship.

Adnan is faithful in preaching the Word of God, training disciples, and sharing the Good News with those who are ready to hear.

Pray for this Reach the Nations team and their faithful ministry in Punjab.

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Celebrating Jesus

Shakeel and Rustam have been visiting groups of believers and seekers in the villages of Sindh during the past several weeks.

Kairpur

Shakeel shared a Gospel message with the congregation at Khairpur where Reach the Nations has a building and a church that meets there under the pastoral leadership of Rustam.

Kotri

These pictures show the Christians of Kotri celebrating Palm Sunday. The outreach into Kotri was begun about a year ago and Shakeel's goal is to establish a church in this location when the time is right.

Korki

Shakeel preached an Easter sermon at Korki, teaching about the Kingdom of God. Then he tells of an old man listening to the teaching. Shakeel knew he was a Hindu religious leader and that he had been faithful in attending the Christian meetings for some time.

This time was different. Shakeel says, "On this visit he heard the whole sermon and asked me 'Let me take with you in the kingdom of God that touches me', and I responded to him 'Believe on Jesus Christ and he will let you in the kingdom of God'."

Pray that this Hindu seeker will truly understand what it means to be in God's kingdom and that he will respond to the invitation Shakeel gave him.

After the service, a distraught father brought his sick baby to Shakeel and asked him to pray for the child. Shakeel is shown here praying that God would return the baby to full health.

Kumb

Shakeel and Rustam engaged the people in Kumb in a discussion about eternal life, then followed up with clear teaching on Ephesians 2:8-10 (see below to read these verses).

Shakeel has a great desire that children learn to know Jesus. Here he is in a selfie with some of the boys from Kumb.

Here are a couple of pictures from Setharja and Theri as welll:

Keep praying for Rustam and Shakeel and as they go to these villages to preach and to teach, making disciples in hard to reach places.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10

Pakistan Ministry in Pictures

We have been trying to keep you up to date on the recent visit to Pakistan by Gary Finkbeiner, Timothy Peng, and Peter Negron. We have focused on the teaching both Gary and Timothy have done at the Covenant Leadership Training Institute in Karachi.

But there's more . . .

When Gary and Peter first arrived, they spent two days meeting with members of the Reach the Nations team in Pakistan. The picture above shows them in discussion with Mehboob, Adnan, and Shakeel.

When Gary left for CLTI, Peter stayed in Islamabad with Manzoor and Rashid and was involved in several ministries there, including teaching at Zarephath Seminary, preaching in a church, and meeting with the leaders of the RTN literacy program. You will find more on those events in earlier posts.

After returning from CLTI, Gary, too, taught some students at Zarephath Seminary in Islamabad. Rashid served as his translator.

In addition to his teaching at CLTI, Timothy preached in a church in Karachi and participated in Palm Sunday events as well.

And, below, a couple of pictures just for fun!

Timothy and Irfan took a respite from study in Karachi to enjoy a rickshaw ride through town.

Any no trip abroad is complete without a good burger!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."- 1 Corinthians 10:31