Church Growing in Pakistan

American and NATO Helicopters whipping down on the Pakistan/Afghan border – it’s a sound the Taliban and Islamic extremists hate to hear and see.

There’s only one thing that upsets them even more – the baptism of one more Muslim deciding to become a follower of Christ. It’s becoming a more frequent occurance these days in Muslim dominated Pakistan.

For nearly five years, Christians discipled a man we’ll call “David.” He told CBN News he has decided to follow Christ even though he knows it could cost him his life.

Islamic militants recently recently shot a man we’ll call “James” 11 times because the convert was sharing Christ with Muslims. Miraculously he survived the shooting but his left arm had to be amputeated.

“The doctor was surprised I had survived because I only had 1 ½ pints of blood left. I told him God’s power within me gives me life.” James said.

Some Pakistani Christians fear radicals may target them for attack because of the Government’s crackdown against Islamic militants. Nearly 300 people were killed by suicide attacks and other bombings in Pakistan after the army’s seige of Islamabad’s Red Mosque.

Christians are viewed as allies of America and the West. While most would prefer a democratically elected president, many Christians say President Musharraf has done a better job than his predecessor of protecting them.

Protecting his political future may be more of a concern fo rMusharraf prior to elections this fall. He’s seeking another five-year term.

The United States Government is pushing him to aggressively pursue terrorists and extremists within Pakistan’s borders. If not, American troops may be deployed. Pakistan’s Prime Minister doesn’t like the idea and he’s saying “thanks, but no thanks.”

“Pakistan can handle its own requirements for troops. We don’t need any other troops from anywhere to come and help,” said Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan Prime Minister.

While many Pakistanis support the government crackdown against Islamic extremism, public support could vanish if militant reprisals kill more innocent civilians or if U.S. Trops get involved.

Musharraf has already suffered one major political blow this month. The Pakistani Supreme Court ordered that suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry be reinstated. Musharraf had forcibly removed Chaudhry from office Last March 9th.

Despite ongoing unrest and politcal uncertainty in Pakistan, Christian Evangelists like “james” say they’ll press on. They prefer to confront the Taliban and other Muslim extremists with Bibles rather than bullets.

“James” insists the attempt on his life and loss of his arm will not deter him from sharing the Gospel.

“God is providing me with a new arm. I am very thankful. I will work for the kingdom of God.”

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Missionaries’ Sacrifice Results in 25 Churches
August 1, 2007

Watch Low Band

Joseph is a missionary called by God to a desolate, unreached area of Maharashtra, India. For years he has preached the gospel message this hostile area, enduring beatings, stonings, insults and deprivation. Despite the hardship, he continued to preach and minister to the residents of that area.

His breakthrough came when he discovered one group of people who were eager to hear and respond to God’s message: children. By holding outreaches for children, he led many to Christ, and as those young ones brought their new faith back home, their parents and siblings began to accept the message of the Gospel.

Today, Joseph has planted 25 thriving churches and 28 mission stations where the gospel is preached regularly. He is one of 16,500 Gospel for Asia missionaries working in Asia.

You can watch his story in the player above.

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Korean Missions in Wake of Hostage Crisis
August 3, 2007

CBN News
Watch Low Band

South Korea’s churches send more missionaries than any other country except the U.S. and many of them go to the Muslim world.

Some are asking how the crisis in Afghanistan will affect their work.

A Passion for the Gospel

South Korean missionaries share a passion for taking the gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth.

The Korean church has sent about 14,000 workers to some 160 nations in recent years. Out of these missionary groups, 30 focus solely on Muslim nations.

Sadly, the kidnapping and murders of South Korean workers in Afghanistan are a reminder of the dangers they face.

Click Play to watch part of this report and to hear Dr. Pat Robertson interivew with the president of Christian Freedom International Jim Jacobson.

“There’s always a greater risk and those who are planning on going and serving in those areas need to take that into account and be willing to count the cost,” said a missionary who wishes to protect his identity.

He has hosted many short-term mission teams and says the best way for them to stay out of danger is to rely on the advice of local Christians.

“Going to areas such as Afghanistan, I would say you have to rely on those people 100 percent, because they know what’s going on on the field; they know what’s going on on the ground,” he said. “Only go to the places the local workers know are as safe as possible. So they shouldn’t go into places where the teams that live there would never go to.”

Teams can also keep a low profile by traveling in small groups.

“If you go in large numbers you are going to draw a lot attention to yourself and make the nationals uncomfortable, because they don’t know what your agenda is,” he said.

There are few hard and fast rules, and he says the key to making good decisions takes a divine wisdom.

“It changes from time to time, to place to place, from situation to situation.all those guidelines, basically you have to have the wisdom of the Lord to know what to do,” he said.

Churches Under Fire

Since the abductions, Korean society has sharply criticized churches for being too aggressive.

“Religious groups should realize once and for all that dangerous missionary and volunteer activities in Islamic countries, including Afghanistan, not only harm Korea’s national objectives, but also put other Koreans under a tremendous amount of duress,” said one editorial from the Chosun Ibo newspaper.

Park Eun-jo, pastor of the Saemmul Church has apologized to the Korean public for the crisis.

He said the group’s work was misinterpreted and they were only there to help in hospitals and schools.

Park has suspended volunteer work, but it’s unclear if other Korean missions agencies will curtail their work in Muslim countries.

Many missionaries believe that God sometimes puts people in dangerous situations to fulfill a larger plan.

Park said, “Whether it’s for the purpose of demonstrating the devotion, the sacrifice, that Christians, that believers are willing to give in order to spread the gospel. but I hope that’s not the case, we want these brothers and sisters to live and to come away with great stories and testimonies.”
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Thanks for caring and praying for the persecuted.

In His Service,
Christian Breaking News Team

REPOSTED BY PERMISSION OF CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS
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