First Baptism in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Pakistan has been called by CNN “the most dangerous country in the world”. The new church has just celebrated their first baptism.

Nousheen and Shazia baptizing Saba (with her mother looking on) into Christ in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Just a few weeks ago the world mourned as Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi. Bomb blasts and suicide bombings, kidnappings and riots are a daily occurence in major cities. Inside that nation there are growing churches of disciples in Lahore and Peshawar, with over 240 committed Christians who worship Jesus in the most difficult of circumstances.

Thanks to the BEAM Missions Fund the opportunity arose to plant a new congregation in Pakistan’s twin-cities capital of Islamabad/Rawalpindi. A brave team of 5 souls, led by Rasheed and Nousheen, went to Rawalpindi in November 2007. In spite of many challenges, remarkably these 5 souls had 143 people in attendance at the inaugural service on December 9, 2007! On January 15th, 2008 they had their first baptism as Saba (pictured above) made her decision for Christ. Two more people are studying the Bible and are nearing the point of salvation.

Introduction of the place and mission team–by Shakeel (Lahore)

“It is great to share with you the stories from the mission team in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi Islamabad is a capital of Pakistan. The majority of people are from different parts of the country. Some of them came to look for jobs and some came to live there.

In November, 2007 God heard the cries of the people of Rawalpindi and started to prepare the hearts of the disciples in Lahore to go and make disciples in Rawalpindi. A mission team of three brothers and two sisters was sent to Rawalpindi in the leadership of Rasheed and Nosheen. It was never easy for them to go and invite people for bible studies.

Because most of the Christian background come from religious families and they are not allowed to invite any non believer to their home or to the church meetings. If they do so it will risk their lives. But still these brothers and sisters went, their leaving their families and homes and jobs in Lahore to go and save the people of Rawalpindi.

Evangelism and Baptism

In the first months they went and invited people to meetings but no one really listened to them and paid attention to their message. In the meantime God was opening peoples’ hearts and preparing the ways for the mission team to be fruitful. Nosheen and Shazia during evangelism met one aunty and invited her to the meeting. She seemed to be not very fired up about this new church meeting but she said that she will send her daughters to the meeting.

Saba was one of her daughters; she is teen age girl. She is studying in school. She came to the meeting the next day and she loved the fellowship and liked the lesson and wanted to study the bible. Sisters started bible studies with her and she realized that she was not even a Christian and she wanted to become disciple of Jesus. It was very challenging for her to join a group of five people whom she was meeting for the first time in her life.

Her family persecuted her for leaving her old church and traditions. She was not allowed to go out and evangelize on her own because physically she is also weak and her one leg is not as strong that she can walk a lot to invite people. Even some times because of her weakness she fell on the road during evangelism. But that also did not shake her faith to become disciple. She came to study the bible and use to evangelize when ever she would go to school and when ever she would go to shop she always completed her challenges. And on Tuesday the 15^th of Jan, 2008 she got baptized and now she is our sister in lord coming every day to meet her discipler and to invite others to church. Now her sister Farah has also made a decision to study the bible. Amen!

Difficulties and Challenges

As God gave victory to the mission team we really appreciate the faith and the courage of the mission team who despite of all the persecution from the traditional churches and religious groups they kept on praying and helping people and relying on God every day.

First and far most challenge was to win the trust of people because they were new in the city and people did not know them. Some times they were doubted as strangers, and some times people refused to talk to them.

Political situation in the country was not favoring them. There were bomb blasts near the house. People were under heavy pressure due to instability in the country and especially in the city. Lot of looting and gun shots were heard almost every day. But they still kept praying and helping people. But all these challenges also could not shake their faith and they became victorious out all this.

Now God has blessed them with new studies and new visitors who want to learn the bible and want to come in to the fellowship. We have Farah, who is Saba’s twin sister, and Faisal Qaiser, who is an IT student, both studying the bible.

Please keep praying and supporting them so one day God can do amazing miracles in Rawalpindi. Amen!”

Nousheen, Shazia, and Saba are all heroes in the faith, as are Rasheed and the brothers. We especially appreciate Saba for her courage in the most difficult of circumstances to follow Jesus Christ and be forgiven of her sins, and now to reach out to others.