Many Ways to Reach Out in Sanghar

Shahzaib has developed a great youth ministry in the area of Sanghar. Here we see him sharing the Word of God with young men at a nearby church.

The goal is to engage the attention of these youth in both fellowship and teaching so they can become strong followers of Christ.

Shahzaib tells of two young men, both of whom are Hindus and each of whom have asked Shahzaib for a Bible. He was happy to give them Bibles and is praying for them as they seek to know truth. He sent us their pictures, but we are choosing not to post them in consideration of their privacy.

Shahzaib has asked that we all pray for these men and others like them - that they would come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Shahzaib and his wife Anita have a great ministry as they pray for the sick who come to their house meetings. They are seeing many answers to prayer and deliverance from evil influence.

Shakeel says, "God is using them and we give thanks to God for their commitment to praying for those who are in need."

Two new believers and two baptisms in Sanghar. This time it is a mother and daughter. We are always thankful to hear about those who are coming to faith in Jesus as the Gospel is preached.

Please pray for Shahzaib and Anita as they continue many aspects of ministry in Sanghar and areas near there. God is blessing their work.

"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4

Challenges in Sindh

Pakistan is a country of extreme weather: Drought or flooding, heat or cold. These days our friends in Pakistan have been facing extreme heat with temperatures often well over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It is so hot that cell phones overheat and don't work, and everyone has trouble sleeping at night.

Shakeel reports that Rustam had been sick due to this hot weather and the problem is made worse by ever-present power outages in the areas of Khairpur and Sanghar where Rustam and Shakeel are ministering.

But the work continues. As the picture above shows, they meet in the early morning before it gets too hot. They meet under trees or wherever they can find a shady spot and always have water on hand to quench thirst.

Speaking of water, tensions are high because water sources have been rerouted, causing water shortages for many. People have been coming out for more than two months to protest these changes and their presence causes huge traffic jams which sometimes hold up travel to ministry locations by hours.

Now there is new village that Rustam and Shakeel are passionate to reach, but it is remote and difficult to get to. Believing God is calling them even to hard-to-reach places, they go. The last part of the journey is on foot.

Shakeel says, "This village is a new place to reach and share how God loves the world in hard times. These Hindu families are seeking peace in their lives."

We can serve God with our whole hearts, but that doesn't mean it will be easy. Please pray for Shakeel and Rustam as they remain faithful to evangelism, preaching, teaching, and helping even when it's hard.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all"- 2 Corinthians 4:17

Accident in Punjab

Our sisters and brother in Pakistan need your prayers. Just over a week ago, Mehboob, Abraham, Irfan, Rehana, and an associate named Mirium were traveling in a rickshaw on their way back from an evening prayer meeting when their vehicle was struck by a passing bus. The rickshaw overturned and the passengers were thrown out.

Mehboob and Irfan suffered minor injuries, but Rehana (RTN's literacy teacher in Daska) and her husband Abraham (who works with Irfan and Mehboob in the Daska ministry area) and Mirum (a Sunday School teacher) were quite severely injured.

All three were taken by ambulance to a hospital in the Sialkot area where they were evaluated, tested, and treated. They are now recovering at home and are continuing to receive medical care. Rehana has a head injury. Abraham has suffered arm and leg injuries, and Mirium has some abdominal injuries.

We have pictures of them in after their injuries, but in consideration of their privacy, we are not publishing them. Instead, we are showing you pictures of Abraham and Rehana, active in ministry. We pray they will soon be able to be teaching and preaching once again. We do not have a photo of Mirium.

All three of those most severely injured are being treated by doctors. In addition, Mehboob's wife, Maria, is a nurse and is helping to monitor their care and recovery. We are grateful for her, her expertise, and her support of these workers in God's kingdom.

Please pray that Abraham, Rehana, and Mirium will recover with no long-term effects from this accident. When we saw the picture of the rickshaw and heard about the speed of the bus driver, we were immediately thankful to God that no lives were lost. We are praising him for his protection.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6