Leighton Medley our BPCA Outreach Minister has returned to Pakistan to reach new communities with the true Gospel of Christ and to continue discipling those who have been already been reached through our previous campaigns.
Leighton’s remit for this work is quite simple, he is to bolster the faith of Christians who have little access to regular church services setting up bible study leaders who will one day become ministers of the Gospel in rural communities, he is to bring revival and better understanding to larger Christian churches in Pakistan many of which have adopted a very legalistic theology and have forgotten the need for repentance, faith in Christ and the need to place our trust in Him.
Leighton has also been reaching out to Muslims and we hope that soon his work will provide a dividend by bringing others to the family of God.
He has been having great success with many believers expressing revival, churchgoers committing their lives to Christ, and Muslims taking an interest in the Gospel though yet to commit to Christ. We hope with further donations to make Leighton’s role a permanent one in a years time. For this we will need the help and support of those who was to see Christ’s gospel flourishing in Pakistan and seek you help to finance this important ministry. One of our costs is the purchase of bibles at £4 each. If you would like to help please donate by clicking (here).
Below is one of Leighton’s recent accounts during a BPCA’s trip to Clarkabad, on 4th February 2010:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is a God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Today we visited the village of Clarkabad, named after the famous missionary Robert Clark (1825 – 1900), who was one the first missionaries to be sent by the English Church Mission Society. He set up the first Punjab mission station at Amritsar, before becoming the first missionary to the Afghan people. It is a Christian village still today, with only 2 Muslim families living among them. It is a rural community, made up of mostly farmers and brick kiln labourers, so it is very poor.
This was manifest in the state of the Children we saw, who in the cold weather, were clearly not dressed properly and many of them sadly, are suffering fevers among other illnesses and we did pray for them. I am therefore putting out an appeal, not on behalf of the BACA as such, but for these children to receive at least some adequate clothing. If therefore, you have any children’s clothes that are unwanted, and can still be used, then please donate them to the BACA via their website or Facebook page. Me and Pana, my wife, will accept any donations from the Manchester area and send them by cargo freight to the most needy. [We have great experience of helping in the way already (click here)]
These are very poor people, but unlike other communities, they did not beg for money. Martha Gill, our host has done a marvellous job, with very little. She and her husband have suffered much hardship, particularly after what they had to endure in Thailand, when they lost all their money and possessions to unscrupulous visa racketeers. They promised them passage to another country, only to rob them of their money, leaving them virtually penniless. But by God’s grace, they managed to get back to Pakistan. Martha has started a non profit school here, giving education to the children of poorer families, free of charge and she and her staff deserve much credit, despite the difficulties they endure.
Our sermon is from Luke 18:1-8 and the parable of the persistent widow. Sister Mehwish Bhatti translated well and we were able to get our message across. We focused on 3 points; firstly we looked at the life of a Christian, which must be a life of action, not merely passive. God helps those who help themselves and the widow here is helped by an unjust judge, because she constantly takes action. Second, we see the character of God, how he is faithful and just and that he never fails in his promises.
Finally, persistence pays off; are we persistent in prayer, in our requests during our trials and suffering. Do we have faith? Remember, our God hears and he is not silent, he hears us no matter where we are and he will act, despite the fact we may have to wait sometimes. We must pray continually and back it up with action. We are not victims, nor should we have the victim mentality. We are called to be over-comers. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Take heart beloved, with God in Christ everything is possible. So avoid self pity, and have joy in Christ instead, because through him we can overcome the world.
Brother Leighton
