Westminster Biblical Missions to Pakistan - February 2007
Sardar Ahmed Din, Missionary
Dennis E. Roe, Interim Field Chairman
Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that this letter finds you well and rejoicing in the grace of our Lord.
Please note the change of address for the mission below. Recently the board appointed Mr. Arne Wilkening as treasurer. Mr. Wilkening, a board member and former missionary in Nepal, lives near Rising Sun, Maryland where we have located our post office box for the mission. Also, if you’ve sent anything to the old address, it will be forwarded to our new address.
Below is a summary of the report on the work that I recently received from Rev. Din. I hope you are encouraged by it. He reports the following:
Report from Rev. Sadar Din
Educational Ministries:
Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Students
Sunil Samuel finished his period of 3 years in April 2006. Zafar Maqbool, Emmanuel Khokhar and Nazir Masih finished their courses in December 2006. We now have four students after the graduation of the other students. Presently enrolled are: Javed Afzal Bukhsh, Javed Akhter Sardar, Ziawar Rasheed, and Maqsood Boota. These men have an excellent testimony. When they preach the people are amazed to learn the Word of God from them. Pray that the Lord will send more students.
Our Recent Seminary Graduates
Nazir Masih started a work for the Bible Believing Lahore Church Council, Lahore (BBLCC, Westminster Biblical Missions) in his village, Chak # 179 G.B., Gojra 30 miles on the west side of Faisal Abad. Sunil Samuel has gone back to his mission group and is pastor of a newly built church in his area. Zafar Maqbool and Emmanuel Khokhar have started preaching in the city where they are from (it is not with BBLCC, Lahore).
The Pastoral Work in BBLCC, Lahore (WBM)
We have added another congregation with our new graduate, Nazir Masih. Our pastors are preaching in their respective areas and are giving us good reports on their labors.
Calvin’s Academies
Calvin’s Academies are educating people from Christian backgrounds and building them up in the Word of God. We are noticing a real change in the lives of the children and a change in their families through them. Thank you for
your prayers, thoughtfulness and giving for this work.
Educational Project
We visited Islam Abad and the Salt Mines of Khewra located there. On January 27, 2007 we took the first group with one hundred students and teachers from Calvin’s Academy–CA #1 as well as our seminary students and faculty. Then on February 10 we took another group of sixty five students, teachers and staff from CA#II and CA#III to the Salt Mines at Khewra. Our people were very blessed to see such things. The Lord led us to do this for the children of Calvin’s Academies in order to increase their vision and to introduce them to sites with historical importance. These Salt Mines, which were first explored in 326 B.C., are said to be the second largest in the world.
Bible Literacy Project
Thank you donors. What a blessing! Many people are learning to read the Word of God which they then read in their homes. This program has helped our pastors be self-supportive by more people coming to church and giving for the support of the pastor. We have three inspectors who report that this program is going well.
Deaconal Ministries
Church Building
We are in the process of constructing a church building which will seat 400 people. We are now putting roof on it. We did this by donations from local congregations. The BBLCC, Lahore (WBM) congregations raised all the funds locally. We need to raise $10,000 to finish the entire work of this church. We have started a campaign for this purpose.
Medical Clinic #1
We praise the Lord for our donors who are helping to supply the medical needs of the people in the area, both Muslims and Christians. We are happy to report that the Muslim patients are thankful that Christian people in the area pray for them and they have thankful hearts for these donors. The Muslims patients appreciate the Christians showing them love in their miseries and have developed soft hearts for the Christians around our seminary.
New Medical Clinic #2
We have started building the medical clinic at Muridke. The Muslims are very happy that our mission group is going to provide medical help for them and so the Muslims are showing great interest in the building of this clinic. Here are
some details:
- The water was two feet deep over the plot. The Muslims arranged the draining of this water by using machinery fromthe city government.
- We made a contract to pay Rs.750,000 = $12,500 in total ($834 per month). The landlord gave R.50,000 discount at the time of payment.
- The measurement of the land for which we contracted to make payment for was 79ft. x 50 ft. = 3950 sq. ft. But the plot measured 83 x 52 Ft. = 4316 sq. ft. It was 366 sq. ft. in excess, so he donated this land to us!
- The Muslims met with our Christians in the area and said that these Christians have such sympathetic hearts. So this clinic is already building good relationships with the Christians and their Muslim neighbors. Please pray that the clinic will be a very good witness for Christ.
NOTE FROM GENERAL SECRETARY: The total construction cost of the new clinic is approximately $60,000. We thank God for a sister mission’s agency, Middle East Reformed Fellowship (MERF) and Rev. Victor Atallah, which graciously contributed $30,000.00 for this project.
Sewing Project
We are excited to report that the girls are learning excellent skills in cutting, stitching, embroidery and knitting, etc. We give them sewing machines with electric motors after they finish their course. The sewing machines are a blessing for their families. The girls teach their sisters and mothers to sew. They then are able to generate income for the family. The machines cost $60.00 in the local market. So for only $60.00 a family is able to work and to provide for itself.
Matters of Prayer:
We thank God that from August 2006 to date we have been able to accomplish the following:
- Paved the whole area in front of the new building. The area where we hold our Bible conventions is all paved. We have built bleachers to seat 600-700 children and adults in the same area.
- We have renovated the shed adjoining the seminary kitchen in order to park the new van in it.
- We have built a sewing classroom on the east side of the medical clinic.
Pray for the success of the Lord’s work in Pakistan. The Pakistani church needs to teach the Reformed Faith and build the people up in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is much false teaching being spread in this land. Pakistan is a needy country for the Word of God. There are many attacks on the doctrinal teaching of the Bible. These attacks happen 24 hours a day on the TV channels. Furthermore, many so called Christian churches have grown in liberalism and apostasy.
Pray for the Lord to show us how to best prepare the people to resist these temptations. We need to build strong people for the Lord through His Holy Spirit and through the blood of the Lamb. Pray that they would be consecrated to offer praise to Jehovah God. Pray that we would be able to train them for spiritual purity so that Christ’s followers will keep away from apostasy, liberalism, false doctrine and will remain loyal to Jesus Christ alone. Pray that the Christians will not be afraid even if they face martyrdom, knowing that God is in control and His triumph is certain. We need to train those men called of God in the seminary, who will be willing to put their lives on the line for the testimony of the Gospel. Pray for the Lord to send those He has chosen to our seminary.
Please pray for existing Calvin’s Academies and future ones. In Calvin’s Academies we teach and provide a Biblical foundation for the children and their families. Pray that we continue to work without government pressures and other outside influences against our academies.
Please pray for our various ministries. The Sewing Project (we need to buy knitting machines for the sewing class), the Bible Literacy Project, the Free Medical Clinics, and for faithful preaching and witnessing to those captive by false religions and liberalism.
We praise the Lord for your help through Westminster Biblical Missions. May the Lord continue to bless you all.
Yours In His Service,
Sardar Ahmed Din, Emmanuel Gill and Nasir Lal Din
Update on Rev. Emmanuel Gill’s visit to the U.S.
We are still working on Rev. Gill’s visit to the U.S. Please pray for everything to come together so that he can arrive here in the middle of April. We plan for him to stay here and visit our supporters for several months. As I noted in the previous newsletter, Emmanuel is an able preacher and if you would like him to come to speak in your church or to present the work in Pakistan, please contact me as soon as possible.
It a joy and privilege to have Rev. Din share with us the triumphs and trials of the Lord’s work in Pakistan. I believe it is also a privilege that you and I can share in this multifaceted work of taking the Gospel of Christ to the people of Pakistan both in Word and in deed. Thank you for assisting us through your gifts and prayers.
In Christ’s Service and Yours,
Dennis E. Roe, Interim Field Chairman
Phone: 530-273-6280 / E-mail: gensecy@wbminc.org
Please send gifts to:
Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc.
P.O. Box 212, Rising Sun, MD 21911
Please address gifts to:
Westminster Biblical Missions Designating your giving Pakistan-Lahore Ministry
Posted on March 22nd, 2007 by Rev. Dennis Roe
Filed under: Newsletters, Pakistan
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