God's Life-Changing Work

Kumb

Shakeel was preaching to people from the village of Kumb a week or so ago about the sower and the seed. A man came after the meeting to give Shakeel a gift of $1.00 (US) as an expression of thanksgiving for the teaching he had just heard. Shakeel says, "I know this is very small amount on earth, but is big in the eyes of Lord because it was given willingly and happily. My heart was crying when I prayed about the money because the Word which was delivered has done the work."

Nothing touches a pastor's heart like knowing that God is working in what he preaches. God's Word has the power to change hearts and encourage generosity and loving sacrifice. One dollar - not a lot to you and me, but probably equal to the widow's coins Jesus observed when He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others." - Mark 12:43b

Khairpur

Things were difficult in the outreach areas in Khairpur because people are busy with the cotton harvest, an important source of income for them. But it requires temporarily moving their entire families to the cotton fields, so when Shakeel and Rustam came, there were only a few people left in the village. Shakeel commented, "It made me a little sad to be worshiping with such small groups, but I gave thanks to our Lord Jesus who knows our actions and works and reasons."

Sukkur

After being discouraged in Khairpur, Shakeel says he was encouraged by The Holy Spirit when he ministered in Sukkur.

For more than two years, the pastor of Bat Hasda Church in Sukkor had heard about Shakeel and his work with RTN in Khairpur. Recently the two had a chance to meet at a Sunday School program in Hyderabad. The pastor asked Shakeel if he would come to teach the youth of his church and Shakeel always welcomes the opportunity to share God's Word with those who are ready to hear.

He taught from Ecclesiastes: 11:9-10, 12:1, teaching his listeners the importance of turning to God at a young age.

Qandar Bux Burdari

Shakeel and Rustam had a time of fellowship this time with two families who remained behind in the village of Qandar Bux Burdari while the others were off picking cotton. At the end of their time, they prayed for all the people there as well as for those who were away from their homes during the harvest season.

Mirwa

Mirwa is a new outreach area for Shakeel and Rustam, so the time with them was spent in opening doors to understanding the Christian faith. Shakeel says,

"These are very new people to us and are of the Hindu faith, but they don’t know where they will go after dying. I directly and very frequently asked 'Where will you find yourself after dying?' The answer was always 'we don’t know'.

"Then I asked Rustam to share his testimony of believing on Jesus Christ, how he received Him, and how Jesus has done blessed works in his life.

"There was another man with us who is a believer I asked him to share his testimony also. He told them 'No statue will answer your prayers and no idol gods will save your lives. Only Jesus Christ the Son of God will save you and bless you'. "

Shakeel describes the people of Mirwa as living in small villages where there is no medical care and no shops available for purchasing basic needs. Shakeel and Rustam gave them two mosquito nets, but they are in need of many more. The men will revisit Mirwa to follow up with those who are interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.

Shakeel closed his report with this promise from Scripture:

“But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit. " – Jeremiah 17:7-8