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August ’11 Partnerletter
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 | GJITCM Partner Letters
August 2011
Dear Friends,
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.”
- Acts 8:5-8
I pray that this letter finds you experiencing God’s awesome presence and Kingdom power in your life. It is important to understand that in the world we will experience trials and difficulties; but throughout such times, always remember that God is faithful and Jesus won your victory – You will overcome and win, if you keep in faith and believe!
Christina and I are back in Bangalore after a very relaxing three weeks “home leave”. We have been living overseas for close to 16 years, and in all honesty it is not easy living in foreign lands –especially in “hardship” places like India. But we also know that it doesn’t matter how we feel about it because we are called to foreign lands; and it is where our calling and destiny lies, along with our grace, favor and blessing. God has called and chosen us, and He has confirmed His calling with bountiful fruit that you are partakers of as our friends and partners. This past month was the same with various GJITCM projects going forth and impacting nations. Firstly, as will be the routine every month going forward, I am preaching two Sundays every month at Great Joy in the City Church of Bangalore. The church is learning about Kingdom truths (for the first time), and already I can see spiritual change within the church members as they understand their Kingdom role in reaching the city of Bangalore as empowered ‘citizens of Heaven’. I expect over the years to impact the city through such Holy Ghost empowered Believers!
Kingdom work went forth in Pakistan last month through our Great Joy in the City churches that are located around the nation, the mentoring and discipling of 2,500 pastors and church leaders (as well as nearly 4,500 pastors and church leaders in India and other Asian nations) and the following special projects that were conducted in the month of July:
Rev Tahir Rafiq, GJITCM-Pakistan Country Director and Pastor Asif John Gil, GJITCM-Pakistan Deputy Country Director (who is the chief organizer for all our events and meetings in Pakistan, as well as being the pastor of one of our Lahore-based churches) flew to the major city of Karachi for a set of meetings, as well as did some preliminary investigation for planting a new GJITC Church. It gives me great joy to report that Rev. Tahir has done an outstanding job this year in personal ministry, as well as leading and elevating the profile of GJITCM nationwide in Pakistan. I have known Tahir for about 9 years, and have discipled and mentored him over that time, watching him grow into a powerful Man of God. He is very obedient and dedicated, and has taken my spiritual “boot camp” training with grace and humility. He is a highly intelligent, educated and gifted young man who has learned (sometimes through some “tough love”) to keep under control the “youthful cockiness” – as is the nature of most young gifted people – and has become a true servant of God who has grown up to become one of the most anointed preachers in the nation of Pakistan.
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As the ministry trip to Karachi unfolded, it became self-evident that we were going to the city during a dangerous time. Karachi had been experiencing very perilous times with a number of terrorist and fundamentalist bombings and killings, as well as protests and strikes. When Tahir and Asif arrived at the Karachi airport, they were given safe passage to their local accommodations by our Karachi representatives because the city streets were so dangerous. As a result of the Kingdom of Darkness ruling and reigning over the city, although we planned and were expecting some 350 seminar participants, we ended up with some 200 pastors and church leaders attending the two day seminar due to the rampant violence and riots throughout the city. Those who did attend were truly blessed by the Kingdom teaching and by the confirmation of the Word with signs following during ministry time. We received 35 new members of Bond Servants of Christ Ministerial Fellowship; and Tahir did such a great job that pastors and church leaders arranged some meetings for him; and all participants voiced their desire for GJITCM to hold another seminar in Karachi in the near future.
Tahir was invited to speak at one of the foremost male nursing schools in Pakistan – St. James Male Nursing Institute. He taught a message on faith that was well received by the nursing students; and at the end of the meeting gave an altar call where 30 nursing students, as well as the school director, received Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
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Finally, Tahir was invited to preach at an evangelistic street meeting in a Christian neighborhood, as well as speaking Sunday morning at one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Karachi. I am impressed that Tahir took a street meeting under such daunting conditions within the city; but nonetheless, he took the meeting and brought Kingdom light that overpowered the prevailing spiritual darkness. There were some 280 people who attended the street meeting, and through the Kingdom Word preached some 60% of the people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior – Praise the Lord! During the Sunday service which was attended by over 300 Believers, Tahir taught on being delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness and translated into the Kingdom of Heaven. He reports that the Word was received with great joy and many Believers were touched by the power of God.
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The ministry trip to the city of Karachi was a great success; and I want to tell you how this is such a fulfillment of what the Lord told me when I started our ministry work in the nation of Pakistan. There is a BIG spiritual difference between a western Man of God like me, ministering in Holy Ghost power and Kingdom impact within a nation like Pakistan; and when the Pakistani Church leaders and Believers see a local Man of God like Tahir, ministering in Kingdom power and impact. The main calling of GJITCM is to teach pastors and church leaders how to operate in ‘Last Days’ Kingdom power and impact, by adhering to Faith in God’s Word and developing a heart’s attitude of servanthood and humility. When Pakistani Church leaders and Believers see Tahir, or any other of our (young) staff – male or female – operate in Kingdom power and impact, it just confirms what we are commissioned to do; and it opens the door for Pakistanis receiving our ministry. We give God all the praise to be used in such a powerful Kingdom way!
The GJITCM Women’s Ministry was also busy during the month of July, with a powerful ministry trip to the Afghanistan border city of Quetta. Rev. Mehwish Shahid, Country Director of Women’s Ministry and Sister Sana John (who has just been promoted to Director of our Prayer Department) flew to the city of Quetta, with Rev. Tahir Rafiq, GJITCM-Pakistan Country Director accompanying the two women. This was Rev. Mehwish’s last ministry trip before the birth of her baby in a few months; traveling becoming too arduous for the mother-to-be. I have instructed Mehwish to stay in Lahore, conducting a local seminar for women ministers who want to learn how to flow in Kingdom power; and to spend the rest of the time studying and praying as preparation for a higher level of national ministry after the birth of her baby.
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GJITCM-Pakistan’s Women Ministry reached over 700 women during the trip: with 475 women attending our Women’s Faith Seminar (the largest women’s meeting ever held in Quetta) – we had originally planned for 300 women to attend; 100+ women at a meeting at the Brethren Church of Quetta; 70 women at our GJITC Women’s Church; and 60+ women at a meeting held at the Gospel Vision Church of Quetta. All the meetings were very powerful with the Kingdom teaching well received, and Kingdom power confirming the Word taught. 30 new Bond Servants of Christ Ministerial Fellowship members were received from the women ministers attending.
Great Joy in the City Ministries thanks all of you for your prayers and support as we bring the Kingdom message to South Asia. You can see the powerful fruit of our ministry; and Kingdom confirmation of our commission to “prepare the way of the Lord’s return” – Praise the Lord!
Till next time -
You are loved and blessed of God – and by me,
Dr. Will Pantin