Update 2 Pakistan

Dear Brother/Sister in Christ!

Greetings From Pakistan

I hope all is well with you this moment and pray that this email meet you well in Christ. I?m still praying for you, just very busy with God?s work and ministry. I hope all is well with you this moment and pray that this email meet you well in Christ. Please reply me urgently as you finish reading this email. We will share with you Church Fire Case information.

The Minority Christians in Pakistan have increasingly become victims of humiliation and persecutions through
false allegations made under the Blasphemy Law by Muslims people through Church fire, attacked, false cases and Muslims people religious leaders and religious denominations, congregations, organizations and especially sections 295C to 298B of the Pakistan penal code which carries a mandatory death penalty for anyone found guilty of blasphemy.

The common experience of abusing and misusing of the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan has led to physical violence, damage, destruction of properties and loss of life within the innocent Christian minority over the years. It has been reported, for instance, that between 1988 and 2009, the authorities in Pakistan charged 697 people under the Blasphemy Law. Please convey & sharing our prayer request with other Ministers of God, religious leaders, Churches, Denominations, Congregations, Organizations and especially religious, burdenful Christians families living in your areas, country. Please continually pray for Poor Pakistani Christian Communities.

Do you know this is our duty's responsibilities pray for each-other as a servant of Christ? We know that God knows better our patient, diligent, honestly, sincerity, loyalty, hard working for God and God give us victory,
freedom, prosperity, restoration and give more opportunity provide favor, protection as well as boldness in witness and much more give opportunity to us we are willingness to sacrifice for others in the
end-time.

Pakistan Update on Violence

"The Church Fire Case in Jaithikey-Sambrial Silkot Pakistan
Friday September 11, 2009 4:44:05 PM"

A mob protesting against alleged desecration of Holy Quran by some Christian youths torched a church in a village near Jaithikey-Sambrial, Tehsil District of Sialkot Pakistan. Some 30 KMs away from as Friday after noon, on the eve of the 9/11 (on the eve of
eighth anniversary of 9/11).

It was the second such nasty incident of burning Christian church in Pakistan after the burning of the houses and churches of local Christians in Gojra-Pakistan on July 30, 2009. According to reports reaching here, Muslim girl Hina (15) daughter of a local farmer Asghar Ali was going back to her home after getting religious education in a
local mosque in her Jaithikey village, when five accused Christians forcibly snatched a Para (copy of Holy Quran) from her and threw it into the local drain.

A large number of villagers armed with bricks, stones and sticks attacked the church and set it on fire. Rescue 1122 personnel rushed to the place and extinguished the fire. All markets in Sambrial and adjoining areas were closed and police patrolled the village to avert further violence. Gujranwala Commissioner Hashim Tareen, acting DCO of
Silakot Tariq Zaman, DPO Waqar Ahmad Chohan and local legislators visited the village and held talks with leaders of religious groups.

The DPO told reporters that the father of one of the accused had been detained and the people involved in the incident would be arrested soon. Local Christian leaders condemned the burning of the church. Emanuel K. Gill, Bishop Samuel Pervaiz and Javaid Silvestre told reporters that the situation was alarming and the government had
failed to protect minorities and their places of worship. They demanded that those who attacked the church should be arrested. Senior police officials claimed that the attackers were local people. There are more than 100 houses of Muslims and 30 of Christians in the village. All the Christians have left the village to save their lives.

The accused fled away. This nasty incident created harassment amid fears of sectarian violence as the mounted gripped the areas. The local Muslims became infuriated after the desecration of Holy Quran by four Christians. A mob of the people armed with bricks, stones and wooden sticks attacked on the church. Later, they stormed into a local
church and set it ablaze by sprinkling patrol and kerosene oil in the church and outside the church. No Christian was reportedly present in the Church. No casualty or injury has yet been reported. Rescue 1122 staff extinguished the fire in church after a great struggle.

All the shops, markets and bazaars were shuttered down in Sambrial and surrounding areas after this nasty incident in a bid to avert any further untoward incident. The agitating mob of the people led by local Ulema took out the agitational processions there after the Juma Prayers, demanding immediate arrest of the accused Christians for
desecrating the Holy Quran. All the scared villagers (thousands in the number) took shelter in their homes by locking their doors. After this nasty incident, all the Christians left this troubled area instantly to save their lives from the infuriated people. A huge contingent of the police from entire Gujranwala Division besieged the area and
started patrolling in the village to avert any further untoward incident.

The personnel of police and Elite Force Commandoes took the positions on rooftops, shops and other buildings to ensure peace by sealing the area. Commissioner Gujranwala Division Hashim Tareen, acting DCO Sialkot Tariq Zaman, DPO Sialkot Waqar Ahmad Chohan, local MNAs, MPAs and other public representatives were also present there on the spot asking the infuriated mob of people to remain peaceful. They
negotiated with the protesting people during which the PML-N, Shabab-e- Milli, Sunni Tehreek, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamaat Ahle-e-Sunnah leaders gave a dead line of 24 hours to police for the arrest of the accused Christians. DPO Sialkot Waqar Ahmad Chohan told the newsmen that the accused would be arrested within the next 24 hours. DPO said that the police have arrested accused?s father who is (50), in this regard.

Dear Brother/Sister in Christ! I'm greatly blessed to know that you have introduced us to many of your friends around the world so that they in return help the ministry. Thank you very much once again for allowing me to pour my heart before you closing in the precious love of our lord Jesus on the cross for us so that we establish the kingdom
of our lord in the heart of the most neglected poor Pakistani Christian community. Do you know the member of Christian people was almost killed in a Muslim uprising in Pakistan, Nigeria, India & around the world? It is true that Christians are to be peaceful, but also true that we should defend ourselves and our families. Is it time for Christians to stand up and fight if necessary for their lives, but more importantly for the gospel of Christ? There is a war raging now around the world between Islam and Christianity. Can we just lie down and not defend ourselves? May you find rest, inspiration, joy and peace as you sever Him? Please keep in touch with our ministry. We love you in Christian love and pray that above all I will prosper, even as our soul prospers. It is wonderful to keep you before the
Throne of Grace and to know that the Lord will watch over you and bless you and the ministry. May God grant you a great harvest as you plant and water for Him!

Yours Brother in Christ!

Turmoil in Pakistan! Pray!

Dear Friend In Christ,

Just this morning I came to know that Muslims attacked Christians again in another village in Sialkot, Pakistan. Below is the report.

Jhethe Key village is in sub-district Sambarial of Sialkot where Christian and Muslim had been living in harmony over a century but today Muslims of same village took out weapons and sticks and attacked on Christians after Muslim cleric made announcement from mosque to kill Christians and burnt their homes.

The Muslim cleric (molana) announced from mosque loudspeaker to gather all Muslims from where procession marched to the homes of Christians. On their way they put Village Church administered by Church of Pakistan on fire.

Meanwhile Christians fled from village to safe their lives and called for police help. The heavy contingent of police have encircled village and no one is allowed to enter in village.

It is feared that situation in this village could be worst than it was in Koriyan and Gojra when Muslims mob burnt 7 Christians alive on blasphemy accusations.

This is the third incident during the last 2 months when Muslims burnt our homes, churches, schools and even burnt alive some of the Christians.

I have questions:
- How do you think we Christians in Pakistan can live in peace and harmony with Muslims who are continuously attacking and burning our homes, killing our people? What is the solution?
- How can you who are in Christian countries help Christians in Pakistan solve this problem?

Need your counsel, please send it. Thanks.

Pray for Myanmar Pastor

I am very busy visiting to the outreaches to oversee the
local churches. Now tomorrow we are going to hold salvation training
with 80 pure Buddhist peoples. Therefore you please uphold me with
your prayer.

Thanks.
Paul.

Prayer for Haitian Minister

Please pray for Jean David in Haiti. I have been in contact with him for some time now. Below is an email from him after I contacted him recently. He needs a job, funds, and food.

Dear John,
This is good to hear from you. There was a long time I didn't read your emails. Praise the Lord for your ministry and Becky.

My job is running out. It is very difficult to find a job and I'm feeling very weak. I need your prayer.

  In His service, David

Your Prayers Are Needed In Pakistan

Here is another post from a contact in Pakistan

Dear we thanks God who given us ministry and he use us for his work.Yesterday night my all team went with me to GOJRA were unknown peoples burnt more then 100 house and they also burnt four peoples and two children.

This is five hours drive from Lahore city we loaded all the house hold things and things for eating and went to distribut among them.

The journey was very long and we all become tried but this was God grace which strenthen us and we came back.

We saw sarrow and tears in those peoples eyes who lost thier family members.

Many childrens have nothing to wear we distributed some clothes among them but those were few but still yet most of them need Clothes and many other things to meet daily needs.Please pray for them they need all of your prayers and attention.

we are preparing next trip to go and help those peoples again.

I hope above pictures will give all of you idea about the present situation in GOJRA.

God Be with all of you

Ashknaz silas

President Youth Promotion Gospel Ministry of Pakistan

Cordinator of BIBLE OF NEEDY PROJECT PAKISTAN

www.youthpromotion.org

Youth Quests Prayer Line

I wanted to pass on a prayer request from Pakistan for your prayers.

Dear Friend,

As you know I have asked you to pray continuously for my wife, Mahreen, because she has been having so many medical problems since her pregnancy.

We had some basic tests yesterday that doc gave, and found out that her HB (Hemoglobin) is 7.9. It’s too low. Normal is between 12-14. For women, 11 is also fine but 7.9 is too much low. She also has Hernia and some other medical problems.

Doctor gave the date for her cesarean operation at the end of this month which is only a week away. She also referred to a big city because we do not have necessary facilities in our city as it’s a very small town.

Just two days ago my sister in law died after giving birth to a son. We found out that it was due to doctors’ mistake. So we are so much afraid.

We will have to go 80 KM far from home for about 1 week and have the operation there in a reasonable hospital. Yet, it’s so much expensive than what we can afford. In fact, we have nothing in hand to take a step. I am so worried, but I am waiting upon the Lord to provide the need for hospital charges, our stay and our travel.

Please pray so that the Lord may provide the necessary FUNDS for my wife’s operation. Please pray as our need is so URGENT.

Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Let God be magnified!

Your Brother In Christ,

Evangelist Shehbaz Jalal

Pakistan

Our Return From Eastern Asia

I wanted to thank everyone who was praying for us while we were out in Eastern Asia. The Lord was with us in so many ways and His protection and guidance was amazing.
We saw many things become fruitful. Thank you so much for your prayers for our whole team and continue to pray for the people we came into contact with while we were there.
There are opportunities for us to continue our work there and we would appreciate your prayers in this matter for the Lord's guidance and provision.

Calling On All Those With A Heart For Eastern Asia

The current prayer focus is Eastern Asia. We are calling on all those with a heart for Eastern Asia. There is a team leaving for Eastern Asia soon and they deeply need your prayers. The team will be gone for approximately three weeks with a great task ahead of them.

The plans are for them to meet and tour while coming together as a team with prayer and training time in the evenings. They will be preparing for the character training camp they will be teaching during the last week of the trip.

The character training camp will be to teach true character qualities to many children from the ages of 5 to 15. The specific character qualities that will be taught are Love, Compassion, Gratefulness, Obedience and Humility. The team will be doing this in cooperation with a private school in Eastern Asia. Already several students have signed up to participate for that week. Saturday will focus on an all day seminar for the parents dealing with effective parenting skills.

We know this is a great opportunity the Lord has opened at this time. We believe this team will be the lead team of many more; including even opening doors to establish a permanent presence in Eastern Asia.

Here are some specific prayer requests:

• The health and safety of each team member
• That there will be no one sick on the plane for flight over to Eastern Asia. This would cause delays for the team if there is anyone sick on the plane. (This is due to the problems the Swine Flu has caused worldwide.)
• For each team member to grow in the grace and mercy of the Lord and that their personal relationship with Him will grow exponentially on this trip.
• Finances for each team member
• Prayer support for each team member
• The Lord will prepare the way and make the paths level and straight for the team
• The Lord will prepare the hearts of the youth and adults that the team will be working with.
• The Lord will give an abundance of Wisdom and Favor to the leaders with God and man.

Bhutan - A Closed Country

This week I want to introduce you to Bhutan, a nation that is closed to the gospel and a young man with whom I have been in contact.  For his safety I will call him Joe.

Joe contacted me regarding mission trips and ministry some time ago while he was away from home and his country getting an education.  He had many questions and wanted prayer support and encouragement.  After graduation, he returned home keeping in communication with me for a while.  Suddenly he dropped out of contact for quite some time until this last week.

Bhutan is a closed nation in many ways even beyond religion and evangelism.  Another man that I have also been in contact with even longer than Joe, told me that an outsider can only visit Bhutan as a tourist with one of the Bhutan owned tour guide companies and you are limited to their agendas and locations.  In further conversations, I was told something that really struck a cord in me.  You know how many young people, and I was one of them, would go camping or back packing to get away to do what you wanted in peace and not be caught by the law or authorities?  Well this pastor told me that that is what they have do to have prayer meetings and worship services.  They all back pack into the mountains and meet together for prayer and worship.  The thought came to me how we used to do this to do ungodly things and they have to do this to pursue God and pray together. 

I have included Joe’s message to you in this post, which I have edited, so that you will be able to pray for Joe, the House Churches and Christians in Bhutan.  Please also remember they are in need of Bibles as well. 
John, I am sorry for not being able to keep in touch with you.  I had been to a very remote part of our nation, Bhutan, where there is no motor roads.  We have to walk and carry our things on horse back to get to these very remote villages where there is not electricity or internet facilities and etc.  Despite difficulties, we have begun a house cell church with 15 members. This is the first fellowship in this area of Bhutan.  Previously to our arrival no one had heard what and who Jesus is, but now more people are coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Please keep praying for these new believers. 

New Prayer Request From India

Thenlal Kipgen has sent you a message on Youth Quests - Christian Social Network - Teen Missions - Trips

If God Willing I will be moving into a new mission field in the eastern part of New Delhi. Please pray for me that God will prepare and open the heart of people to receive the Love of Jesus Christ.

When we work we work, but when we pray God work.
In Him
Thenlal Kipgen

Pray for the Needs of India

India is this week’s Prayer Focus, but first I wanted to share something with you.   When Becky and I were praying together in the morning last week, the Lord gave us both a vision about a strategic prayer focus plan.  We both saw a map and certain countries highlighted which we know we are to specifically focus our prayers on at this time.  These countries were India, China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Kenya.  I don’t know what the Lord is doing, but we want to be obedient.  I do know we have received many prayer requests and requests for help from these countries.  Please keep us, these countries and the pastors and missionaries there in your prayers. 

 

Following are specific prayer requests I have received from India.

 Dear Friends, Missionaries and Believers in Jesus Christ,

We started an orphanage by the vision and call of our savior and LORD Jesus Christ, James 1:27, " Pure and undefiled religion before God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". To provide food, accommodations and education, medical needs clothes and books for the orphans, semi-orphans, poor children and rag-pickers. These children used to spend their childhood by picking rags near dust bins in the streets and habituated to all kinds of bad activities which spoil their lives. Some are orphans, and others are very poor, their parents are unable to take care of them. Along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are very active in church, praying, singing to the LORD and regularly attending Sunday school.  With much effort and burden we are going forward with the great Mission to the Glory of the LORD. We invite all our friends in Christ to share our Vision and Mission.  Can you spend your time with our children in the homes, support and pray for us?

Sincerely,

Rev. J M

 

Greetings from India,

I am not a stranger but I am one of your brothers in Christ carrying out His last Commission and also showing the love of Jesus to the orphans, street children, poor and needy deserving children. 

I am a young man who finished my high school graduation, studied junior college and then studied three years in an Indian university and received my Bachelor of Arts Degree.  After I finished this schooling I went to USA and studied three years bachelor of Divinity at West Lenoir, School of Ministries, Lenoir, NC, USA. After finishing my studies I promptly returned to India and started my ministry independently.  God laid the burden in my heart to win my own Indian nationals and specially to evangelize children.  Now I am in India. I am sending this email from India.

When I started going round the villages to preach I happened to see so many orphan children sleeping under the trees and begging.  Some village elders requested me to feed these children.  As a trial and with compassion I brought home some children and started feeding them with a single meal per day.  I have good accommodation so I am providing free house, electricity with water.  I have very spacious buildings, which were given to me by my father.  These buildings can accommodate even hundred children.  But I have no means to feed them.  Most of these orphan children are five years to twelve years of age both boys and girls.  I started the orphanage and now there are about fifty children in my home.  Just I am providing single meal for them.  With that they are contented. 

After knowing the news that I am running an orphanage every day many orphan children from different villages are coming and requesting me to find out when they will be admitted.  I don’t have money to admit them.  Even for these children I am facing many difficulties I am trying all my level best to help as many orphans as I can.  But in India it is highly impossible for a Christian preacher to run the orphanage.  The local people are in an impression that I will change these children to Christianity.  So they don’t like to come forward to help them.  I spent several days in fasting prayer and finally I decided to request people like you for help.

I am very much interested in evangelizing to children.  Kindly help me and encourage me to win the children to Christ. 

Thanking you,

Sincerely, 

Kalyan

 

For more information regarding these prayer requests or to find our more about our vision please check out our Short Term Missions Programs

Pray For Our Eastern Asia Team

We have several young people in the middle of raising support for their trip to Eastern Asia with us in July.  Please pray for them to be encouraged, blessed and that the needed funds will come in.  If you have a desire to help with support for these team members please write me at info@youthquests.com

Pray For Pakistan 1

Our Missions Prayer Focus of the Week is for Pakistan,  we  have been in contact with many pastors and workers in Pakistan over the last couple of years, but there has been in influx of requests for prayer and assistance from many Christians in this country.  I have included one of the most recent letters from Pakistan for you.  Please join our missions Christian Social Network to communicate and pray for the lives of these brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Dear Brother John. I hope you are well and safe and in God hands.  Brother  I accepted  Jesus  Christ as my personal  savior and start serving him, But  before I was  this time I was very sinful and  addicted of  many bad things in  my life. God opened my eyes and showed me what is right and what is wrong.  Since  God  has chosen me from that time to now, He has  changed  me and He  made me  to be more Christ  like.

What I am going to write to you this is my personal experience since I started serving Lord.   I have done  many thing in ministry especially  with Youth Ministry and people  like I was,  because I am very  young and  serving lord and  heading up many responsibilities.  Well I have  many  Muslim friends,  I always  go to their families and I always freely talk about Jesus Christ and they  do not mind.  So  I can say that I am happy that I am a Pakistani and I was born here and I  do not feel ashamed to be a Pakistani.  But some places in Pakistan they are many pressures and many challenges for God servants. As  I told  you we have some  ministries  on location at the  bricks factories where  Christian people are  spending their lives like Israeli did when they were in Egypt.  Christian Young girls work all the day in sunshine for 150 rupee.  Our Young Christian boys are working n Muslim land lords fields.  Our Christian women’s are working in Muslim land lords homes.

This is not easy to start a gospel ministry at the brick factories, because the brick factory owners do not want the people living and working there to get any holidays or Sundays off, or they go away without his permission.

I still remember  when we started  ministry first time at the brick factories it was very dangerous for our senior pastor, A. E.,  they tried to  shout him at night time, but thank God  who saved him. I cannot forget then happen.  Christian lives are not good because they do not have good jobs, the reason why they do not have good jobs because they are not able to pay the bribery to get good job or that they are Christians.

If maybe in the future God will bring you to Pakistan to share good news of Christ I will take you to visit our ministries at the bricks factories, you will amazed to see  how peoples are living and where we are serving for our lord Jesus Christ in this modern day Egypt situation.

Brother, I  don’t have many contacts in West because I believe our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in the West appear to believe things and people in Pakistan are nonsense, but we know what God is really doing here.  I have invited limited Westerners, but they are only staying in my contact list and not come or helping us in Pakistan, but I have strong relationship with Christian churches or youth ministries who seem to be all in Asian countries.

I hope my relationship with you will last very long time. I appreciate you doing such a great work for our living and loving Lord Jesus Christ.

If you still have any questions or if you want more information regarding Pakistan and Christianity in Pakistan I am here for you. 

Holding you in prayers,

A. S.

Myanmar - 2

This week please pray for Paul W and the ministry in Myanmar.  Here is a letter from him.

I would like to introduce by myself. I am Paul W; a senior pastor of a mission I founded this since 31st of May, 2004 and now the mission will be 5 years in operation soon. We are especially doing church planting in the new areas in where there are no churches yet established and we focus the fisher community, the uneducated and unreached groups who are living along the seaside and riverside of southern Myanmar, where the cyclone, Nargis, devastated the communities..

We have a focus of five mission field:

(1) Rakhine State
(2) Ayeyawaddy Division
(3) Yangon Division
(4) Mon State
(5) Taninthayi Division  

We set up our vision to penetrate till the whole islands of Myanmar. Now there are 14 churches we have been able to plant and 250 members increased within five years of the ministries beginning. There are a lot of rural fishermen communities who never heard the gospel in the islands and coastline. They only think about to catching fish and selling it, but their heart and living style are very simple and honest. When we reached to their places they accept us with good hospitality, listened to our witnessing about Christ and they wanted to hear more about Christ. Actually they are as Buddhist, but their life is like paganism. Therefore, we do need more to penetrate them with the gospel till village to village because this has been an effective outreach and ministering style to these communities.

According my research if we can find a home or a place for a house of worship and do ministry with the Jesus film, they will easily come and change their life.  After that we will follow up them all who are converted, baptized them and following with biblical teaching of the bible story, recitation and Burmese translations so that they all may learn and read themselves. An after that we plan to train those who are sharp and have potential out of the converters as a disciples or church planters so that they might work church planting among their own peoples.

That is all about our mission plans and strategies we are continually processing toward.  Therefore we do need your involving with us in prayers in this.

Today in our church we celebrated the one year anniversary memorial service of Nargis cyclone victims in Myanmar. As soon as we started praise and worship and we sang "THE SONGS, AMAZING GRACE AND IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL" and we prayed and kept silence for a minute and when I spoke on behalf of all the members regarding how we are sad and remember the many terrible victims of this cyclone, all church members cried and I asked them all who will submit life for them who are the remained to preach the gospel,  All the members both small and great shouted together loudly, yes we will go to the places to share the gospel. 

We pray to go soon to the area in where the cyclone has victimized badly to take the gospel and crusade. Please pray for that program.

Yours in His service