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 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 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 two 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 of a trip to Sangla Hill:
The outreach in the Sangla Hill region lead by BPCA Outreach officer Brother Leighton Medley was a great success.
The Sangla Hill Outreach was one filled with joy and encouragement, and despite tensions due to Asia Bibi’s recent appeal the attendees gathered in an outside courtyard under tapestry shelters to shade from the sunshine.
I must confess, I did harbour thoughts of postponing this trip because I felt lousy with the flu, but I’m so glad I didn’t, because the welcome we received was overwhelming. This was our second visit here, and my oh my, did they roll out the best despite what little they have. The whole community turned out, which was for them, a special occasion. If your not already aware, the BPCA helped a young girl here, 12 years old called Elisha, escape a forced marriage to a Muslim man, whose family had kidnapped her. The scars of this are still evident, and regrettably with no Pastor at hand, there is a lack of counselling in this area, making this community very vulnerable and isolated.
We are treated at the beginning of the meeting, to a special dance performed by the young girls of the village. Then a musician brought in, played for us a special song out of his repertoire. All of which sets us up perfectly for the sermon, which is from Luke 13:18-21, the parable of the mustard seed.
These people are a farming community and visiting them is a little bit like going back to the land that time forgot. Very little electricity and stand pipes for water. You really feel and believe you are in an age past. The sermon goes well, with Brother Shahan helping in his translation, to make things easier for them to understand. We explain that the growth of the Kingdom is gradual, but it does grow and will be magnificent. The emphasis is also stated, that it is God who makes it grow, not us, for it is the plan of God unto salvation. If you consider now, how great and big the church is all over the world, yet it all started with just a few believers, that power and growth could only come from the Holy Spirit.
Speaking of the yeast in the parable, which the woman took and mixed into about 30kg of flour, until it worked all through the dough. This yeast describes the Pakistani Christians, who although only a small minority in the nation of Pakistan, are being mixed in with the work of the Holy Spirit, until the whole yeast works through the whole country. Thus we see the Kingdom of God grow in Pakistan. We say, trust in the Lord and He will make that growth happen and He will strengthen them continually, that they may be the light in the darkness, in this part of Pakistan.
We enjoy and pray for many members of the community. I can’t help noticing how many of theses villagers, the children especially have infirmities and disabilities of sorts. There is I believe, a dark spiritual force at work here, these villagers are frightened and with their meeting place being right next to the Mosque, I can’t help but feel and sense the danger they are in. Folk Islam and black magic are practiced regularly here, and curses are often put on Christians, either to kill them or convert them by making their lives a misery. Our prayer for these communities, should be increased protection and a Pastor/Bible teacher to help them in their faith. I am the first foreign missionary to have visited them, and since only one or two of them can read, we must pray that we can help them in this area, so they can grow spiritually and in faith. Remember these people please, they are the salt of the earth and I’m so glad and privileged I came to worship with them and I hope and pray that others may come also.
Yours in Christ,
Brother Leighton
