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 BACA’s trip to Youhanabad, Lahore on 17th February 2020:
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
Without doubt, this was probably one of the most difficult sermons I will ever do. You may remember in 2015, 2 churches were bombed here and many Christians were tragically killed. The fallout was just as tragic. The Christian populace then rioted, destroying public property, all of which led to the death of 2 innocent Muslims, who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I know within my audience this night, there are some who were involved in that fiasco.
Our host for this evening, was Pastor Nasir from New Covenant Church, a growing Pentecostal Church, who seem on the face of it, to be genuine and want to help their people, but I do get the impression that money is really what they are after. Sadly the norm, among many churches in this locale. Despite this, the premises over all, are quite impressive and if the will is there, good work could be achieved.
The topic of teaching is one we have done many times before; that being the way of the cross and the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18:21-35. Forgiveness, as I’ve said before is a mindset. We must understand and I do try to make it plain to our audience, that 2 wrongs don’t make a right. If we retaliate as many did in Yohanabad, then we are no better than those who perpetuate acts of persecution against us. To support this view, I share a testimony from Iraq, where some Christians helped a wounded Islamic State Soldier. They found him bleeding on the roadside and instead of leaving him there, even though he had attacked their village, they took him in, cleaned his wounds, fed and watered him and gave him rest. Sounds like the parable of the Good Samaritan doesn’t it. When the Soldier woke up, he saw a cross dangling from the top of the tent and asked them why, as Christians had they helped him. They said, we forgive you, because our father has forgiven us. I tell you, salvation came upon that tent that day, as the wounded soldier gave his life to Jesus.
You see, what greater witness is there than that. The Bible says we should love our enemies (Matthew 5:44) and this is very hard in practice, but is essential in the Christian life. We are not to judge, because we also will be judged, (Matthew 7:1) and we are to let God judge on our behalf (Romans 12:19).
I know this audience are deeply challenged, but we all should be. It’s easy to strike back, it’s against our nature to forgive, but we must, because we are commanded to. My prayer is that this community can now move on, there needs to be some serious repentance done among these people and much soul searching. Let us ask God that they also be forgiven, and that they too, would know and understand forgiveness from their own hearts. Blessings on you all.
Brother Leighton
