Home Group Ministry

Construction Launch 2006

Two services in Islamabad

Our congregation in Islamabad continues to grow steadily and has set a new standard in our model church plants.  We are holding two services on Sunday, which is very unusual in Pakistan.  This is now the fastest growing church in the country.  Though we are only 3 1/2 years old, we have become the largest congregation in the Islamabad area.  There are well over 1,000 adults in attendance each Sunday and 24 strong house groups.

Over 1,000 Believers in Three Years

I will never forget the spring of 2005 when we launched this church.  Bev and I traveled to Islamabad with $50,000, and within one month we had purchased property and were holding our first Sunday service.  That outdoor meeting was attended by over 800 adults.  From that meeting the church was born. One year later in the spring of 2006, we began construction on our first building.  Those were thrilling times and through the nine months of construction, the congregation continued to meet in the open air.  Some of those services were held in the rain but the Lord was gracious.  Many times, during the rainy season, it would rain all day Saturday, stop raining on Sunday, and resume on Monday. In 2007 we completed the building and in the dedication service the 800 seat auditorium was packed!  It has been filled every Sunday since then, and I expect that the second service will be filled by the end of 2009.

Self-Help Projects Launched

Pastor Safeer, the young Pakistani we trained to pastor this church, has started a sewing center and has purchased five sewing machines with their own resources.  They have 14 young girls in daily sewing classes.  The leaders spend two hours in prayer each day and he will be launching branch congregations in neighboring communities this year.  As we did with our leader in Sri Lanka, I plan to bring Safeer to the States for two weeks in the Spring of 2009 to add to his leadership development.  Thanks for all you have done to help us serve Pakistan.

Rick

changing the world...one congregation at a time