Note: This web page is not public. Please do not post it, or the link to it, or my full name in text, in any public forum accessible to web search engines. Pakistan is an officially Islamic regime and, although the outlook for us as Christian American visitors is favorable now, and even getting more so with a new e-Visa system launched early this year and the return of missionary visas, it has varied in the past, I'm not betting that it will stay that way, and the government has access to the same web search engines that everyone else has. My name is also very unique and easy to search. So, I would rather stay as low key as I can.
This web page should be considered a supplement to our March 2019 trip, because we came back to do mostly the same things we did in March, except this time all in the vicinity of Lahore. So, there are a lot of repeated themes in this web page.
This time, due to the sheer quantity of places we visited, the maximum length of any seminar was one day with three, approximately one-hour meetings during the day. But again it was to a mixed audience where we could not be sure of people's understanding of the gospel, including having some Roman Catholics in attendance, so I had to start with the meaning of life and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. (In Pakistan, I learned that the word "Christian" referred to a class of people, although the true believers had an understanding such that they would be able to discriminate true believers from non-believers who were "Christian" in name only and just belonged to that class of Pakistani people.)
We accumulated 488 GB of videos and photos over the month that we were there. That is too much to put everything on this trip web page, especially since I repeated the same teaching themes over and over again in the various seminars, so I will show a representative subset covering the various topics I taught on, and highlights of the trip. If you are a Pakistani connected with one of the places where I spoke, and don't see it here on this web page, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I can retrieve and upload those particular videos for you. We did get videos of pretty much everything.
From our airport arrival we spent some time resting at the Akhtar home, then we loaded up to go to a night meeting at a new CSF location, which they have numbered "CSF #2," in Khaliq Nagar. The video has a Google Maps zoom sequence and some of Adriel's drone footage to show the location. From this point on we would have meetings every single day in Pakistan until the last day, when we took a full day off to relax and pack for the return trip home.
I spoke about the need for getting a Christian education, learning to read so that you can not only have better opportunities in this life but read and know the Bible, so that you can know the Word of God for yourself and accomplish things for the Kingdom of God, citing the ventures Javied had undertaken.
The next day I addressed a meeting consisting mostly of pastors. I start this video with Google Maps zoom sequence and Adriel's drone footage to show the location of CSF #1. I encouraged them about the importance of reading the scriptures and teaching others to do so also (2:59), about their responsibility to make disciples rather than promote themselves, and talked about certain religious words, such as pastor (5:10), overseer (11:08), elder (12:15), church (18:20), and what they really meant. I also talked about the fallacies of "tithing" (45:36) and "giving back to God," giving a funny illustration waving a dollar bill from my wallet, whereas money going from one pocket to another in the body of Christ is like taking money out of your own pocket and moving it to another pocket on your same body.
That evening on the second day, while demonstrating healing by Pakistani children, a woman came forward who was demon possessed. She fell on the floor, writhed around, and even laughed at one point with a mocking laugh. I was initially confused and taken aback to see this in Pakistan, also that there is little to no occult activity in Pakistan, only/mainly Islam. The scene and her behavior may be more common worldwide, but for a Pakistani woman to act like this is nearly unthinkable. Pakistani women are very reserved, ladylike, and exercise a great deal of propriety in their behavior. You will see the woman's companion repeatedly straighten out her clothing while she was rolling around around the floor, in attempt to preserve her dignity as a woman. At first I asked the children whom I was kickstarting to cast it out, but they moved away from the scene. Some others wanted to physically restrain her, but I told them to leave her and used the authority of the name of Jesus. So, I also used the situation to teach about that. After some time she got up, exhausted, but okay. Then I show a video of her with Javied eight days later (9:42). She testified that she had been set free and had no more demons problems since.
Here is "CSF #3." The Google Maps zoom sequence and drone footage shows the primary school operating on a rented rooftop. When it rains, there is no school. You can see from Adriel's drone footage and my rooftop-video footage the land across the street that CSF wants to buy to build a new school, church, and offices. Javied speaks about that briefly in this video.
I'm using the next three videos as a good example of the normal routine I would do again and again at each new place we went to. I had to condense the three-day seminars from March into one day. I would start out by challenging people to consider the meaning of life, why they were living as Christians, whether they were just pursuing the things of this world, including food, water, shelter, and having children, like the animals, or had a greater purpose. This progressed through the Rom 1:19-20 proposition that creation demonstrates a creator, so that men are without excuse (4:55), the fall of man (11:07) and resulting curse upon mankind (13:40), the coming of Jesus as only-begotten Son of God (14:39), payment for sins of the world (16:47), and salvation through faith alone (22:27). Then I question why some people today take their sins to a "priest" in a church to confess them (25:56), and discuss the Old Covenant Law of Moses where this was done, plus animal sacrifices and sabbath rests, versus the New Covenant (29:01). Then I asked why anyone would pray to the mother of Jesus, and showed from the scriptures in 1 Thess 4:13-18 that she was dead, buried, not yet resurrected, and couldn't hear a thing (37:00). Then I told them that they must test everything they hear against the scriptures, even what I say, and that they should read the whole Bible, and learn to read if illiterate (44:40). Then I ask how many people people hope and pray that Jesus will come back sooner and explain to them that they are only thinking of themselves if they answered yes (51:35). This ended with the point that the reason for continuing to live (as opposed to dying and going to heaven, a better place) was to reach the lost while there was still time to do so, that this was the heart of God and the heart of the Christian gospel message.
In the second session I would start with 1 Cor 2:4-5, explaining that there is more than just the message of salvation from the penalty of sins, but with a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. I then discuss the new creation (3:57) and how Jesus acted not like God but like a man filled with the Holy Spirit (7:04), so that we should act like him (10:39), including doing things like healing the sick and etc. I then discuss the authority that Jesus gives us to do these things and the mandate to do them. I then ask why people ask God to heal the sick (27:00) and proceed to my humorous illustration of a policeman calling up, in this case, Imran Khan (current prime minister of Pakistan), on the telephone to ask him to stop a crime. I then talk about children healing the sick (33:04) and actually show the video of three year-old Ellie doing that (34:25). Then I start challenging people in the audience who had never healed the sick before to come up and do it (37:28), and call two people up. I also recounted my calling up a young woman who did not even want to come up the previous day, and included a video clip of that (46:44). I then challenge people to be obedient to the call, step out in faith, have compassion on others and do these things.
In the evening I briefly recounted the first two sessions. Then, I called another woman up who had never healed the sick before (3:48). Then I talk about the mandate to make disciples (8:28). I then challenge them as to whether a person needs faith to receive (9:07). Then I talk about hearers only vs. doers of the word, using Matt 7:24-27 (21:30). I give the example about how going to McDonald's doesn't make you a hamburger, so going to church does not make you a Christian (24:25). Then I ask about whether sin will block someone's getting healed (27:23). Then I tell people that they should step out in faith and do something great for the Kingdom of God (30:44), and use Javied's mission as an example, citing the ventures Javied had undertaken so far. I then talk about Luke 17:5-10 where the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith and Jesus responded with the mustard seed illustration and the parable of the unprofitable servant (39:56), and how it illustrates how they should act like sons of God and take the initiative to step out in faith.
This video starts with a Google Maps zoom sequence and Adriel's drone footage to show the second CSF location, which they are now calling "CSF #4." This primary school was started shortly after we left Pakistan in March. These people are all brick kiln factory workers. I spoke again about the meaning of life, purpose for living as Christians, and the need for getting a Christian education, learning to read so that you can not only have better opportunities in this life but read and know the Bible, so that you can know the Word of God for yourself and accomplish things for the Kingdom of God, citing the ventures Javied had undertaken.
Most brick kiln factory owners do not want us taking videos at their factories, because they want to deter the potential outcome of our releasing their laborers through our efforts to reach out to them. However, this trip we got permission to video a brick kiln factory again. So, we went in with cameras, and Adriel's drone to add aerial video footage. We were able to visit the workers making the bricks, the brick kiln structure itself, and the families' residences. You will see the whole setup and process in this video.
I did two more teachings on water baptism this trip, one at CSF #2 and this one at CSF #1. Each time I emphasize that this is the responsibility of the person making disciples, not the one being discipled. See my web article on this topic.
We had one occasion to do water baptisms this trip, recorded in this video. Note: If ads appear on this video it is because the background music played in the CSF courtyard was flagged as being copyrighted and the copyright holder is entitled to monetize the video as a result.
We spoke to the children at CSF #1, and Garrett was given his first opportunity ever to speak in front of an audience. He spoke for about six minutes and then I took over after that. I encouraged them to study hard, learn to read, and read the Bible.
We also had an opportunity to speak to the children at CSF #2. This time Garrett spoke for another five minutes (2:35 - 7:30). I then spoke again, similar to what I spoke to the CSF #1 children, about the need for education and faith in Jesus Christ, and encouraged them to study diligently and step out in faith.
I opened up by asking the question of them, who of them wanted Jesus to come back sooner. That showed me who had heard me speak before. Again I spoke of the need to learn to read in order to read the word of God. I gave the example of when we spoke to the adults contemplating attending adult literacy class in 2014, wherein many of them were healed, and where one woman who said she didn't have the time changed her mind after seeing and experiencing the miracles (2:12). Then I question why some people today take their sins to a "priest" in a church to confess them (15:20), and discuss the Old Covenant Law of Moses where this was done, plus animal sacrifices and sabbath rests, versus the New Covenant (18:09). Then I asked why anyone would pray to the mother of Jesus, and showed from the scriptures in 1 Thess 4:13-18 that she was dead, buried, not yet resurrected, and couldn't hear a thing (31:27). This offended some women there who were Roman Catholics. Over and over again I told them that they must test everything they hear against the scriptures, even what I say, and that they should read the whole Bible, which requires them to learn to read. Near the end I asked them whether they would read their Bibles when they learned to read. My request was misunderstood, or else some people began to jump up in enthusiasm to come to the podium and read from the Bible for everyone to see that they could read. This was all captured on video (44:00). I closed by encouraging them to fulfill the commission that Jesus gave us to reach the world (51:10).
When we visited, CSF #2 was running a sewing vocational center. This is a video showing the women learning to sew. One of the machines was paid for with a specific donation by Adriel in March, and Javied points that machine out to him.
This was our last day of speaking, and many at CSF #2 had heard me speak before, but not everyone. This video starts with a Google Maps zoom in and Adriel's drone footage again. I started by inviting Adriel to speak (4:05), and this time he spoke for a little over twelve minutes. I continued where he left off, speaking of those who doubt in James 1:6, and Heb 11:6. Then I spoke of Heb 1:1-2, contrasting us to the Old Testament prophets (19:58). I repeated some of the things I spoke of before having to do with bringing sins to a "priest" (23:17) etc., comparing the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, this time quoting from Heb 10 (28:17). I brought up the story of Job and how he was under no covenant (34:29), allowing me to contrast the three scenaros (no covenant, Old Covenant, New Covenant). I showed that under the New Covenant we have the greatest authority and promises.
In the second session I spoke of Elijah, as documented by the reference at the end of the book of James, where it talks about Elijah acting like us (and not the other way around). This also leads into the definition of prayer being broader than the way it is defined in both English and Urdu, not just "talking to God," but προσευχη, a vow toward something. When Elijah "prayed" that it would not rain, he was making a declaration to wicked king Ahab, and that was before God spoke to him, which had nothing to do about the rain, but about his hiding in the Kerith Ravine and God commanding the ravens to feed him. See my web article and video on the definition of prayer. I then concluded by speaking again about the way Javied stepped out in faith and took the initiative for the Kingdom of God, and told them that they should do the same.
Because we were leaving the next day, they bought Christmas cakes for a Christmas celebration with us. The customs are quite different, with people feeding each other spoonfuls of cake. Keep in mind that the two Christmas cakes will be split up to feed everyone in the room after the video. The video just shows us cutting the cakes and getting the first few spoonfuls from them.
Our meetings were now over. We returned after this to the Akhtar house and would leave for the airport at the end of the next day.
This is a cute video of a little boy praying a prayer.
We like this photo. Adriel and Garrett are wearing their JGLM T-shirts that they were given at the last JGLM conference. It looks like they are providing security to the beautiful young Pakistani woman. She sings an a capella song at the end of my second documentary/promotional video at the bottom of this web page, to go along with the brick kiln footage at the end of that video.
This is just an improvement to the walk-through I posted of the Akhtar house, now adding some drone footage at the beginning and at 6:10 in the video, as well as an introductory zoom roll of Google Maps, showing the exact spot where they live.
I just took this video to show a typical gridlock on narrow urban or rural streets where there is not enough room for unimpeded two-way traffic. This happens routinely and everyone just figures out a way to get through.
The cattle use the same roads as automobile traffic. Here's an example.
99% of the dogs in Pakistan are wild, scavenger animals that roam the streets. Very few keep dogs or cats as pets. Most look pretty bad, but this one was pathetic. I asked them why they don't just take dogs off the street and eat them, to at least make some good of their existence, and the answer was that it was forbidden to do so by Islam, since they are unclean animals; if they did, they could get in trouble with the police.
We saw this girl in attendance at one seminar, and I wondered about her origin and asked about her. It turns out that this girl has normal, medium dark-skinned parents and no caucasions in her ancestry. It just shows how there is only one "race," the human race, and the so-called races were bred from Adam and Eve, who were likely also medium dark-skinned, or else one was very light and one very dark. In other words, Adam and Eve were not both white Anglo-Saxon protestants of European descent, nor was Noah's family, nor was Jesus, for that matter.
Here is a familiar church scene with music and singing. Most Pakistani Christian music is very foreign to what we are used to hearing, consisting of middle eastern and southwest asian harmonic minors, Phrygian dominant minors, also with quarter tones, but I picked this one because it had more of a western feel to it, with major chords.
The end of our third, month-long trip to Pakistan.
