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In my experience, I have learned that almost everyone is interested in a particular type of ministry. For some, it is the bus ministry; for others, it is printing or binding Bibles. Others seem to eat and drink foreign missions, while others give their attention to rescue mission ministries. I have known believers who will give a fortune for evangelizing one country and nothing for the country next door. -- even though they are the same people, culture, and language. Many emphasize funding children's work; in fact, entire ministries exist for them, like AWANA and Child Evangelism Fellowship. Fortunately, most of us, no matter our primary area of burden or concern, still like to give to other worthwhile and effective ministries. So, let's talk about youth for a few minutes. Over the past few years, many of you have helped to finance several youth camps and conferences in Pakistan. I was there in February and plan to go back again next February. I have never seen such fertile soil for the Gospel or such an earnest desire of the youth to follow Christ as I have witnessed there. And when I say youth, I am referring to ages 14-30. Today I received an email from our director there, Pastor Shaukat Siddique, informing us of his upcoming plans and why they have been developed. It is all the result of the youth camps you funded last Fall and this Summer. In John 15:1-7, we read about the concept of producing fruit for Christ. The succession is fruit, more fruit, much fruit, and fruit that remains. Of course, I am talking about the latter. In fact, his fruit not only remains but is already producing even more fruit. His backyard garden is becoming an orchid. Today, Shaukat is asking for help with three projects coming up in November. The entire cost is, in round numbers, $5,150. Here's what he has to say in his own words. I have started the Bible class in Lahore city; with many students who are members of Pentecostal, Catholic, and charismatic churches who attended our last camp. I have started a course on the Personality and Work of the Holy Spirit. They all are so inspired to hear the reality of false religions and the exposure of their own false doctrines that they requested me to organize a one-day, all-day seminar confronting their false doctrines. They don't want to argue; they want to learn and conform. It is an excellent chance to win many souls and show them the right path of faith. They all are insisting on me for a seminar, I have chosen the topic False Prophets & their Doctrines. They have a geographically centralized church building for our use. Everything is available there: sound, electricity, a generator, and chairs. However, being an all-day event, we need to provide food for 250 people and transportation from three areas where we can pick up and drop off the people. We need only $1700 for 250 people. I believe many people will see the real face of false prophets, and so I need your advice and help. One more city is Bahawalpur, which is 700 Km. (435 miles) away and is the home of some youngsters who joined us in the youth camp this summer. They also invited my team and me to their city; they want to organize a youth seminar there. In that city, the Only Jesus* cult is very active. When they attended the camp, we shared with them our faith statement, and they all were very inspired. They all wanted to share the reality of the Gospel with other people, so they invited me to meet them and organize a seminar in their city. *This is a religion based almost solely on Acts 4:12 and denies the existence of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. For that reason, they are called "Only Jesus." We are praying to meet that youth group in the second week on the 11th of November 2022. Six people from my team will go with me; we also need some funds for this seminar, the same amount should be enough ($1700). The number of youth attending will be a little less, but we have the expense of the travel. This is a good opportunity for these six to get experience traveling and working with me. Some day I pray we can afford to buy our own used van. The day after this youth seminar, we will go to the desert areas to meet again with all the newly planted churches and meet some new Hindu tribes. I believe we will win more lost souls and plant more new churches. We need $1750 for travel for the team to visit the Desert Churches. There are now more than ten of them. I believe God will answer our prayers and provide all our needs for these coming missionary works. I am so impressed by the work of this young pastor (about 36 years old), and I cannot comprehend how he has the time to do all he does and the excellent way he does it. Notice that all his requests are not for him but for his people. His efforts are spent on soul-winning, follow-up of new converts, discipleship, and giving his Timothies hands-on training. Amazing! If God let me, I would gladly move to Pakistan and serve with him for the rest of my life. I see in them the attitude and actions of the early church beginning on the day of Pentecost. And for that reason, I hope to raise an army of Barnabas' to fund them as they turn their world upside down. If you want to help me, please donate any amount as quickly as possible. You can donate on this page, or mail in a check and designate it to "Pakistan Ministry". The estimated funds needed for all three projects is $5,150. Any surplus will be given to Shaukat to help with his other ministry needs. Thank you. Jon Photo: Some of the younger “youth” who have converted to Christ and attend his classes. Notice the male-to-female ratio and ask yourself, when was the last time you saw such a marvelous thing? BTW, the three young ladies are Bible Institute students helping the pastor (in white) at his house church. Last Sunday, they had an attendance of over 200. Unfortunately, the house can no longer hold the congregation. They will soon look for property and make a building as a witness for Christ, which will, of course, contain a Touch a Life feeding center for the local children. 
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We would first like to wish you a wonderful and blessed Easter today! He is not here, but is risen (Luke 24:6) Did you know that “youth” in the third world generally includes all ages from 12-30? So though you may be married and have kids, you may be a deacon or a pastor, yet you are not considered fully adult until you reach the age of thirty. Until then, you are still classified as a youth. I know you look forward to sending your kids away to camp every summer! (oh, such sweet relief!) And what about the week-long Youth Conferences scattered across our country? They can have a life-changing effect on those who attend. Unfortunately, most Americans aren’t aware, but once you leave the USA, such opportunities for young people are virtually non-existent, until now -- and in Pakistan. Our team that traveled to Pakistan in February was very impressed by the overall ministry of Pastor Shaukat. I was particularly amazed at his success in winning the youth (ages 12-30) to Christ and motivating them to serve Christ as a disciple. Even his teenagers are planting churches that the experienced pastors oversee. In addition, he has dozens of Bible Institute young men and ladies who are eagerly and tirelessly serving in ministry as leaders of other youth – without any compensation. One way he does this is by conducting youth camps and seminars. You have helped fund his camps in the past. He sent back glorious photos that I have shared with you. But visiting him, I was able to see with my own eyes not only the fruit of his labors but the “fruit that remains.” And that is what our Lord prayed for our ministries to produce: fruit, more fruit, much fruit, and fruit that remains. The orchard of disciples he is producing is healthy, strong, and expanding. In the last week of April, he will be conducting a youth seminar in one of the churches I visited. It is in the city of Lahore, which is a vast metropolis where he already has several churches planted. This will be a one-day seminar to which he is inviting 350 young men and ladies. Among them are Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, and his youth and youth workers. The intent is to bring them to Christ and begin their life of discipleship. In this way, he can raise hundreds of more workers to reach Pakistan, a country where missionaries are not allowed. The seminar, discussing the second coming of Christ, will last from 10 AM to 7 PM, after which some will have to travel by bus for as much as twelve hours to get home. The cost of funding the seminar is $3,900. This will include four transport busses bringing the youth from different areas of a city the size of Atlanta and bussing in many from remote villages where he has established churches. The cost also includes water, juice, and the rent of the hall with chairs and food, at barely $10 per person. If you are drawn to youth ministries, this is an excellent opportunity to help reach a country you will never visit – in this lifetime. This is a great teaching time and evangelism opportunity – but it also gives our Christian young people hope. How? It is an opportunity to meet and fall in love with another devoted follower of Christ, thereby building up the churches for generations to come. So, I hope you can help us with this country-changing project. Jon and our Final Frontiers team -- here and in Pakistan. PS He also has a five-day youth camp in July that we want to help. It will be in the northern part of the country where the Taliban has more control. I’ll give you details about that in weeks to follow after we take care of this need. If you want to rush an offering to help, click here and select "Special Projects" and then "Pakistan Seminar". If you prefer to send a check, please email us and let us know the amount so we can expect it and make a note on your check that it is for "Pakistan Youth Camp". Please don't forget to pray for the seminar. In the photo, the screen states this is a Final Frontiers Youth Seminar for Pakistan. The photo was taken in February 2022 by Joshua Martyn. Mr. Roy Harris, who was part of our team, spoke to the youth, some 500 of them.  |
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