Page 7 - August 2025 - Truth & Tidings

spread the gospel. This was a dangerous elders. The saints were encouraged and
task in a country known for the persecu- delighted to know that believers in “the
tion of believers. West” prayed for them and were inter-
When we first met, Sohail was work- ested in them.
ing with three groups of believers. They It is tough to be a believer in Pakistan.
gathered regularly to pray and shared the Every year, many are saved, but equally,
gospel where and when possible. Souls many die as a result of their faith in the
were being routinely saved, but they had Lord Jesus. When a person is saved, they
minimal idea about how to gather. They are often rejected by their family and com-
had a Breaking of Bread meeting once a munity and have to be moved to a safe
month, the only reason being that they house in a new city or town. Christians are
had seen online that other churches oper- frequently accused falsely of blasphemy,
ated on this basis. and the local police do their best to protect
We spent a couple of hours each week them and ensure that justice is done, but
looking at the Scriptures. We started in 1 often, their hands are tied by other strong
Corinthians, then the Acts of the Apostles factions in the country.
and eventually 1 Timothy. Sohail began to The Lord has opened the door to take
discover fresh truth and it confirmed that the gospel into nine prisons. Amazingly,
his understanding was correct. The thrill the prison governors admit that those who
on his face was an unforgettable sight as are saved behave better than the inmates
he rejoiced in the delight that God had from other religious backgrounds. Many
designed the Church for His glory (Eph of those who are saved will be in prison for
3:21), and that it (the Church) had been years, and so they gather each week within
purchased by the blood of Christ (Act the prison to remember the Lord and to
20:28). We take so much truth for granted, preach and teach. When the believers are
failing to let it thrill us as it should. These released, they go back to their communi-
believers (as Sohail then taught them) ties with their newfound faith, and so the
were discovering that God is a God of gospel continues to spread.
order, the Church is the body of Christ
(with a local expression), it is led by elders, Final Comments
men and women have specific roles, and Today, there are over 30 assemblies in
we are privileged to be part of it. Space this region of Pakistan. Many elders are
will not permit me to recount the various still learning and need help and support
times when the impact of God's Word as they seek to feed and serve the people
was evident in Sohail's life and the lives of God. I am sure this also was the case in
of those he was teaching. Acts 14 when Paul and Barnabas revisited
Assemblies in the Punjab Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.
A constant supply of Bibles, audio and
Region of Pakistan printed, is required. Over the past seven
I made my first visit to Pakistan to meet years, we have had various Bible teaching
the believers in 2019. By then, there were books translated into Urdu and given to
eight assemblies, all learning to func- young people, most of whom can read,
tion according to the NT pattern. It was and older saints and elders to help them
thrilling to meet Sohail and many of the understand Scripture.
Continued on p. 245
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