Pakistan christian evangelical services october-december 2013
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Pakistan Christian Evangelical Services “ For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation. . .” (Romans 1:16) October to December 2013 Greetings to our brothers and sisters around the world who support the Gospel through the ministry of PCES. By the grace of God the message of the Gospel is producing fruit as it is spread by many means into more remote areas and the members of the churches grow in faith. Special Edition for the International Conference on Missions Great Trials for Pakistan A series of great disasters have struck different areas of Pakistan in the last weeks. Your prayers are sought for those who have suffered. Floods in Kasur September 16 In the first week of September torrential monsoon rains brought heavy flooding in seven villages of Kasur near the Ghandha Singh border. PCES evangelistic and church planting work is going on in the Kasur district. On September 16, 2013 PCES, with the co-operation of IDES, conducted medical and eye camps and distributed relief in the Kasur villages affected by flood, in Sahjra and Kamal Pura villages. People from other villagers gathered there for help. In the medical camp, Dr Robin and Dr Farhat treated 509 patients who are were suffering different diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, worm infestation, iron deficiency and urinary tract infections. Dr. Ethsham treated 247 eye patients who were suffering eye diseases like cataracts, bacterial and viral infections and corneal scars. Food packets were distributed among 1235 Christians and Muslim families. The majority of the people were very poor and depressed, but it was wonderful to share the love and compassion of Christ with them. Dr. Saleem Massey & Mrs. Naylah Saleem Dr Farhat discusses a patient's X-ray with Dr Robin (standing) Dr Ethsham examines a flood victim's eyes Brother Saleem assists to distribute food relief to flood victims
Pakistan christian evangelical services october-december 2013
Pakistan Christian Evangelical Services For I am not ashamed of
the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation. . . (Romans
1:16) October to December 2013 Greetings to our brothers and
sisters around the world who support the Gospel through the
ministry of PCES. By the grace of God the message of the Gospel is
producing fruit as it is spread by many means into more remote
areas and the members of the churches grow in faith. Special
Edition for the International Conference on Missions Great Trials
for Pakistan A series of great disasters have struck different
areas of Pakistan in the last weeks. Your prayers are sought for
those who have suffered. Floods in Kasur September 16 In the first
week of September torrential monsoon rains brought heavy flooding
in seven villages of Kasur near the Ghandha Singh border. PCES
evangelistic and church planting work is going on in the Kasur
district. On September 16, 2013 PCES, with the co-operation of
IDES, conducted medical and eye camps and distributed relief in the
Kasur villages affected by flood, in Sahjra and Kamal Pura
villages. People from other villagers gathered there for help. In
the medical camp, Dr Robin and Dr Farhat treated 509 patients who
are were suffering different diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, worm
infestation, iron deficiency and urinary tract infections. Dr.
Ethsham treated 247 eye patients who were suffering eye diseases
like cataracts, bacterial and viral infections and corneal scars.
Food packets were distributed among 1235 Christians and Muslim
families. The majority of the people were very poor and depressed,
but it was wonderful to share the love and compassion of Christ
with them. Dr. Saleem Massey & Mrs. Naylah Saleem Dr Farhat
discusses a patient's X-ray with Dr Robin (standing) Dr Ethsham
examines a flood victim's eyes Brother Saleem assists to distribute
food relief to flood victims
Terrorist Attack on Peshawar Church Sunday September 22
PESHAWAR, Pakistan A suicide attack on a historic church in
north-western Pakistan killed at least 78 people on Sunday in one
of the deadliest attacks on the Christian minority in Pakistan in
years. The attack occurred as worshippers left All Saints Church in
the old quarter of the regional capital, Peshawar, after a service
on Sunday morning. Up to 600 people had attended and were leaving
to receive free food being distributed on the lawn outside when two
explosions ripped through the crowd. Interior Minister Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan, who arrived in Peshawar on Sunday evening, said
that 78 people had been killed, including 34 women and 7 children.
Such an attack on women and children is against humanity, he said.
Akhtar Ali Shah, the home secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,
said that more than 100 people had been wounded. Mr. Khan said that
37 of those were children. The dead included two Muslim police
officers who had been posted outside the church. Witnesses reported
scenes of mayhem as rescue workers ferried victims from the church,
which was scattered with body parts, shrapnel and bloodied
clothing. Shafqat Malik, a senior official of the bomb disposal
squad, said in an interview that evidence collected from the church
confirmed that two suicide bombers had carried out the attack. Each
bomber carried six kilograms of explosives, he said. Details from
The New York Times Peshawar is in the north of Pakistan near the
border with Afghanistan. This event has shocked and terrified all
Pakistani and International Christians because of the martyrdom of
innocent children, women, men and the cry of helpless, harmless and
oppressed Christian community in Pakistan! Saleem's report I
travelled from Lahore to Peshawar, about 7 hours journey, and
reached the site where the suicide bombs were exploded. As I
entered into the church what I saw was shocking and horrible. The
walls of the church were covered with blood and flesh. In front of
church door there were tiny shoes of innocent children who have
gone to be with the Lord but, their shoes give witness to their
martyrdom. Afterwards, I went to Lady Reading Hospital to visit the
injured men, women and children. It was very sad to see their
wounds which I found very shocking. The grace of God is abundant
and gave me strength to meet with my brothers and sisters. I prayed
with them and shared humble financial gifts for the glory of the
Lord! Friends, I would request please keep praying for the
Christian community in Pakistan. Let us make a plan to celebrate
Christmas with the Christians who suffered this terror attack by
sharing gifts with them. I am thankful to all of my Pakistan
Christian Evangelical friends and supporters who are praying for
the victims of the attack at the Peshawar Church Earthquake
Tuesday, September 24 A massive earthquake, centred in Awaran
district, one of the poorest in Pakistan's most impoverished
province, Baluchistan caused chaos in the area on Tuesday September
24. More than 3 million people are affected Rescuers struggled to
help thousands of people injured and left homeless after their
houses collapsed as the reported death toll rose to 355, with
nearly 700 people injured. The quake flattened wide swathes of
Awaran. Most of the victims were killed when their houses
collapsed. Men, women and kids were sitting in makeshift shelters.
Doctors were treating people, but due to a scarcity of medicine and
staff, they were mostly seen comforting the residents. The
remoteness of the area and the lack of infrastructure have hampered
the relief efforts. People who lost limbs in the quake will need to
be sent to hospitals in major cities of Quetta, the capital of
Baluchistan province, and Karachi along the Arabian Sea. Houses
made mostly of mud and handmade bricks have collapsed, walls and
roofs caved in and people's possessions are scattered on the
ground. Two rockets fired by militants narrowly missed a government
helicopter on Thursday surveying the scene, as survivors complained
that aid was not reaching far-flung areas. The attack underscored
the dangers authorities and aid workers face in helping victims.
The people who survived the earthquake are dying now because they
have no food or water Two days after the tremor struck, rescuers
were still struggling to help survivors. The area's medical
infrastructure has struggled to care for the hundreds of injured
who were crushed beneath mud brick houses when the quake struck.
Details from various news sources. We seek your prayers that God
will be glorified among the poor people who have suffered greatly
in this catastrophe. Pray that as He sends His people to assist
they will be given His wisdom and protection as they work. At Lady
Reading Hospital in Peshawar, a grieving wife cares for her husband
injured in the attack. Saleem offers help to a young victim of the
attack.
Ken Marshall writes his impressions of Saleems ministry in
Nottingham UK July 2013 I had met Saleem whilst serving at the
United Christian Hospital Lahore some five years ago, have visited
his home and preached in one of the churches. It was a privilege to
welcome him for two weeks in July. Two hours after meeting, he was
engaged with a rural Methodist community in their worship and
fellowship through the courtesy of their pastor. The following day
Saleem taught on The God who comes to us in Christ Jesus from
Romans 8, at a Baptist church with Spirit-filled Roman Catholics,
Baptists, Anglicans, Methodists and others. Outcomes for Saleem
included invitations for teaching on prayer, friendship, dialogue
and studying Scripture together. In one church, a single teaching
session on Islam, led to a request for a series of seminars on
Islam in 2015. That evening, Saleem was welcomed to a home group
meeting. The members explored how they could best pray for Saleem,
his family and the churches. Sunday 21st July saw Saleem preaching
and teaching in 4 different churches, across the denominational
spectrum. His message of More than Conquerors was well received.
Saleems underlying gifting as a church planter, Christian
psychologist, and lecturer was a constant asset. His humility,
love, passion and integrity are joined by evidence that he is a
good steward of God given resources. He left us all with some big
challenges: The financial needs of phase 1 of the Kasur Hospital
building project; the running costs for the new sewing machine
centres for young women, to get them out of the 1,000 mud bricks a
day slavery; 2,000 by Christmas 2013 for a roof for Nash- E-Mann
church. May our Living Lord Jesus guide us in all our responses!
Impressions of PCES Pakistan David Damron I serve as missions
mobiliser for Team Expansion; and that means I help move people and
resources toward the places in the world where the Gospel of Christ
hasnt been preached or is opposed or resisted. In Lahore I visited
churches that Saleem had planted. In each congregation, over a
hundred men, women and children gathered, welcomed us with songs
and flowers, and then worshipped together. I preached with Saleem
translating. The people were so attentive and receptive to The
Word. The Lord endeared many people to me, and we shared a lot of
experiences. The six pastors had become close friends. Please
remember in your prayers, Younas, Emmanuel, Palous, Riaz, Patrus,
and Manzar. They are heroes in the Faith! My final days in Lahore
were spent visiting congregations and seeing the land where Saleem
plans to build a Christian hospital. Bruce Camp Founder/CEO of
DualReach www.DualReach.org It was my privilege to address men and
women from several churches at a week-long leadership retreat in
Pakistan to prepare people for a life of ministry and abiding in
Jesus. The audience was attentive and appreciative of my
presentation. It was an honour to speak to them. I was impressed
with Saleem's concern for their spiritual lives and their desire to
learn. May God raise up more people like Dr. Saleem to help
shepherd others in their walk with Christ. My prayers are with him
as he continues this God-honouring ministry. Thanks again for the
opportunity to be with you in Murree. Wolfgang Detsch Missionary in
Pakistan and Director of Operation Mobilization. In June, I visited
a Bible Camp organised by Saleem Massey in Murree and had the
opportunity to share a devotion with the participants. I have been
very encouraged by their zeal and enthusiasm. They were mostly
younger people who were eager to apply their knowledge to their
churches at home. It was good to see how Dr. Saleem invests in the
leaders of his churches to equip them for effective ministry.
Jochen Brand Since I met Dr. Saleem Massey at a Pastor's conference
in Lahore in April 2013, I have had the opportunity to see the
great work God is doing in his ministry. It was my blessed
experience to see so many believers coming faithfully to listen to
the gospel and to respond with open hearts. I had a special
privilege to participate with Dr. Saleem and Pastor Dave from USA
in laying the foundation-stone for a new church in Nash-e-man town,
Lahore . Praise the Lord! I preached at the annual family-camp in
Murree, Northern Pakistan . This time of discipleship-training is
very important and encouraging for all participants: pastors,
elders, leaders and the pastor's wives and children. I saw the land
PCES has purchased near Kasur to build a hospital. Let us trust and
pray that Dr. Saleem will be able to succeed with this big project
for God's glory and that all the funds will be provided to complete
this important hospital. Bruce Camp Jochen Brand Wolfgang Detsch
David Damron Ken Marshall
James Kirby James travelled with Saleem to Kasur to visit
churches and see the hospital land. It was exciting to see what God
is doing through Brother Saleem. God has been good. God has
provided the land for a hospital and bible training centre. May God
give you the land on the other side of the road so you will be able
to accomplish businesses to provide incomes and housing for God's
people. I hope to see the construction of these facilities begin in
the near future, as God provides. I enjoyed the welcome we received
from the two churches we visited. The attendance was fantastic,
especially the young people who really impressed me. It was great
to see so many in attendance. Other news of PCES Sewing Centres Our
Sewing machine Centres are very effective and fruitful in helping
to liberate girls who normally have to work in the brick kiln to
learn skills to uplift themselves financially and free them from
the tyranny of their employers. Praise the Lord with the
co-operation of the Church of Christ Dapto, we are currently
running a Sewing Machine centre at Theeng village where brick kiln
girls learn skills to liberate themselves from Muslim landlords
slavery. Can your church support a sewing centre in another
village? Your support All of the work of PCES depends on the
support of those God has guided to provide the needs of our
brothers and sisters in Pakistan. In guiding your support, He
promises to provide all your needs, too! God provides so that you
may, in His Name, provide for others. Consider the projects
described in this newsletter and seek God's guidance as to what you
can do! Our prayers should lead to action. Family News Saleem and
Naylah's youngest son, Simon has passed his 12th grade exam of the
Government Lahore Board and will attend Cincinnati Christian
University Bible College USA where his brother Samson and sister,
Sabreena currently study, in January 2014. We request the PCES
supporting churches to sponsor his studies. We give thanks to God
for the opportunity this enrolment presents to Simon. Late News On
Friday September 27 militants bombed a bus carrying at least 70
government employees, killing at least 19 people and injuring 44
others, media reported. Most of the dead were government employees,
police said, adding that the death toll would likely rise. Between
12 and 15kg of explosives was planted in the rear of the bus and
connected to a timed device, KP Bomb Disposal Squad Chief Shafqat
Malik said. "Ball bearings were also added to the explosives to
cause more casualties," he said. The powerful blast threw bodies
into nearby fields, Rahim Gul, an eyewitness, said. Several
government employees regularly rode the bus to and from work,
officials said. A similar attack killed 21 in June 2012. It was a
planned terrorist act and the police are assessing the situation,
Inspector General of KP Police Nasir Durrani said. Lady Reading
Hospital received at least 26 of the injured and 11 bodies,
hospital spokesman Jamil Shah said. The rest were taken to the
District Headquarters Hospital in Charsadda. Pakistani political
leaders have been promoting the idea of peace talks with the
militants in recent weeks, but the rash of terror attacks since
then is causing some to question the wisdom of that. Mian Iftikhar
Hussain, former KP information minister, accused militants of being
hypocrites who demand dialogue while launching devastating attacks
on innocent civilians. "The anti-peace elements are active," KP
Senior Minister Sikander Hayat Khan Sherpao said. "They want to
sabotage the efforts to peace launched by the government." Source:
Central Asia Online - By Zahir Shah and Javed Aziz Khan Please pray
for this troubled country, its leaders and its people. James Kirby
Simon with Samreena Ladies of Theeng village attend a sewing class
run by PCES
You can help in Pakistan by praying for these needs: 1. Please
pray as the people of Pakistan face the consequences of flood,
terrorist attack on churches, government employees and a major
earthquake. May God's mercy be clearly shown in the assistance
given. 2. Please pray for Gods hand of protection over Saleem and
others who are speaking out on behalf of Christians and other
minorities in times when Islamic extremists are expanding their
activity against them. Islamic extremists are expanding their
attacks on churches and the Christian community as they did in
Joseph colony and Peshawar church. 3. Please pray for Brother
Saleem's trip to Canada and USA as he will be preaching, teaching
and presenting the work of PCES to different Bible colleges,
churches and the International Conference on Missions in Kansas
city, Kansas, USA. 4. Please pray for our Christian sister Martha
Boota as she faces difficult struggles because of the Blasphemy
accusations, and for wisdom in what PCES can do to help. 5.
BHAGIANA VILLAGE: We praise God that the cross now proclaims its
message from high atop the church building. 6. NASH-E-MANN: Please
ask the Lord to provide funds for the construction of a church
building and parsonage. Praise the Lord that a foundation stone has
been laid. May the Lord provide sufficient funds to complete church
and parsonage project. 7. LADHI CHURCH: We need to construct a
boundary wall around the property of the church to save it from
fanatic Muslims. 8. VEER KAY NAU: When we started new evangelistic
work there the Muslims made threats. There is a great need to
construct a boundary wall around the church land so the
congregation may feel secure to worship. Praise the Lord! We have
won two cases in the court and by his Grace will win the third case
in order to build church and exalt the cross in that village. 9.
GHOHAR VILLAGE in Kasur: Evangelistic work is going well in these
un-reached villages. The Sewing Machine Centre is teaching girls
skills so they will not have to make bricks as bond servants. 10.
HUSSAIN KHAN WALA: Praise the Lord who provided funds to complete
building the church and parsonage. Give thanks for the sewing
machine centre which has started in this village. 11. KASUR
HOSPITAL We have a vision to build a much-needed hospital in the
Kasur area, where we have treated many patients in free medical
camps. Please pray for Gods guidance and provision. Give thanks
that the Lord has provided so that the land has been purchased. 12.
We are thankful to our friends and supporting churches who support
the studies of Saleem's children. Please pray as his youngest son
Simon is to attend CCU in January 2014. Give thanks that Dr.
Samreena passed the second step examinations in her qualifications
to study in the US. She now awaits an offer from an appropriate
hospital. 13. We are thankful to the Lord for our PCES board
members, churches and friends around the world who support the
Gospel in Pakistan. Saleem Massey 420-Q Block Model Town, Lahore
54700 PAKISTAN [email protected] Newsletter Editor and
Australian Contact Tony Roe 8 Carlyle Close Dapto, NSW 2530
(Australia) 02 4261-3766 or [email protected] In the United
States, if you wish to support the work of PCES, please make checks
payable to PCES And mail to: PCES c/o Christian Church of
Litchfield Attn: Lowell Chandler, Treasurer, P.O. Box 45,
Litchfield, IL 62056 USA For Australia, contact Tony Roe for
support details.