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 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, Walton Colony, Karachi:
On Thursday the 15th March we visited Walton Colony, where we visited victims of persecution, namely the children of Shahzad and Shama Masih, who are now orphans. In case you didn’t realise, their parents were burnt alive in November 2014, for supposedly desecrating the holy book of Islam, the Quran. The real reason being, that their employer a local brick kiln manager, refused to set them free after Shama was raped by his accountant because of their Christian status and contracted debt. Two of the children, Sonia and Suleman were witnesses to this heinous crime, and have been severely traumatised as a result.
They along with Poonam, the youngest are living with their grandfather Mukhtar Masih in a house run by the BPCA in Walton Colony Lahore. The children overall were in good condition, although Sonia is being treated for an allergy and after an initial quiet opening, the children began to open up. We share a cake with them and open up their children’s bibles where Poonam kisses every page with Jesus on it. I am reminded of that famous Scripture where our Lord and Saviour tells us in Mark 10:15 “verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” It is a marvellous thing, the faith of a child.
In fact Poonam is quite keen on my bible, an old King James Version and playfully despite her 4 years of age turns the pages. The other 2 open up also, and we find out they are enjoying school and their favourite subjects are Urdu and English. They are attending church and Sonia particularly enjoys the Sunday School that they attend. Suleman shares with me his love of cricket and he tells me he loves batting. As I’m a bowler, I guess I must bowl to him someday.
We must pray for these children, they are the future and if they are to have a future, then their welfare must be our prime concern. I am concerned at their lack of daily fellowship and it is my intention to do a return visit and maybe take them out for a day, to give them something special to remember. I’d like to thank personally, all those who have contributed to the welfare of these children, whether that be financial or by other means. Let us pray, that as they grow, they may grow in the Lord.
Brother Leighton
You can read an update on Shama and Shahzad family (here)
