Land of The Pure
Pakistan – the mention of this name suggests danger, chaos and terrorism but the true meaning of the word in Urdu is the Land of the Pure. When I was first asked if I would be interested in going for a trip to Pakistan, I was very excited but I must admit fear ran through my thoughts. It did not help that on the week we were suppose to go; three bombs went off in the city of Lahore – the city we were going to minister in. Having been assured by Ps Lip that the trip is still on, I trusted the Lord that everything would be alright.
The moment we arrived at the airport all fear left when God miraculously saw us through immigration easily. The next six days turned out to be an unforgettable experience for me.
I met our local pastor and learnt from him how it all began. Truly it was God’s divine appointment to bring his path and ours together in 2004. A church was then planted in 2007 with just 8 persons and God has blessed the work in just 4 years that they have almost hit the 500 mark today. Now they congregate in a leased commercial building that sits 500 and they are already bursting on the seams.
The people in Lahore are hungry for more of God and the presence of God was very real in that place. God has brought Ps Lip and Ps Nicky for a purpose and I saw how they have added to the foundation of the church in just those few days. I learned by revelation how there truly is life and death in the tongue because as the pastors prayed and spoke the word, things happened and lives were changed.
In a youth meeting one night, there were 30 first time decisions of people giving their lives to the Lord! In a 2 day conference for pastors and leaders for the churches in Lahore, pastors and leaders were convicted of sins and healing and restoration took place! Then in a couples seminar, many men and women went up to confess their need to forgive their spouses and to commit to building a stronger marriage and family.
I believe that there is so much potential in Pakistan. It is a developing nation with a rich history. There is a saying that beauty is skin deep – Pakistan is a nation that is really worth seeking out. No tall, beautiful structures like those you would see in Dubai or Singapore, but there are certainly many beautifully decorated restaurants and good food, if looked for carefully. The people are sincere and hospitable; they made us feel at home most of the time. Pakistan is really like a gem hidden in the earth, waiting to be discovered. I believe the Lord is doing a mighty work in this nation and I believe we will have a part to play in shaping the future of this nation. I thank God and the leadership of the church for the privilege to be able to be a part of this great work.
Sam
