Approximately half of the population of Pakistan works on the land producing abundant cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane and other fruits and vegetables. Illegally cultivated opium and cannabis are also widespread. Despite the large areas of arable lands less than 25% of the national income is now derived from agriculture. Karachi in the south and Lahore in the north are considerable manufacturing centers, particularly in the area of textiles. Other industry includes petroleum products, construction materials and paper products. The country also has large undeveloped reserves of minerals such as copper, bauxite, phosphates and manganese. While rich in resources and with a strong economic base Pakistan still suffers from chronic trade deficits and debt burden because of massive funding of the military and nuclear weaponry. The government is an Islamic Republic with two legislative bodies known as the Senate and the National Assembly. Less than three percent of the population claims any religious affiliation other than Islam with 77% of the population being of the Sunni sect and 20% being Shi’a sect.
For that small percentage of the Pakistani population which claims the Christian faith life can be very dangerous and subject to persecution. Despite this fact there is a small but growing presence of the Stone-Campbell Movement within the Islamic Republic. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada financially support the National Council of Churches, Pakistan through Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan and are involved in a Christian Study Center. Initial Disciples’ involvement in this work began in 1955.
The American a cappella Churches of Christ have been active in Pakistan for some time through such workers as J.C. Choate, Parker French, Gordon Hogan, Charles Jones, Wayne Newcom in Lahore and Jim Waldron in Karachi. The Churches of Christ in Pakistan operate in five circuits, some tied to American workers and others with native preachers. Hadayat H. Din is a native of Pakistan who learned of the a cappella Churches of Christ and was converted to Christianity with a student at Indiana University in the United States. Upon returning home he was able to convert his wife and children and began to preach in his home of Sialkot. In 1987 Din formed a preachers’ training program and later a Basic Medical Aid program to help the sick. By 1993 an estimated 500 persons had been baptized into Christ but anti-Christian pressure is said to have caused about half of these to return to the Muslim faith. Presently there are an estimated 25 Churches of Christ congregations with approximately 250 members.
Among the American Christian Churches and Churches of Christ are those
who support the work of Saleem and Naylah Massey and the Pakistan Christian
Evangelical Services (PCES). Saleem was born in Pakistan and is a graduate
of Cincinnati Bible Seminary in the United States. He returned to Pakistan
in 1989 and began PCES with an effort in planting Christian churches
in Lahore. Since that time Saleem has planted eight congregations which
today have a combined membership of 3,000. Many of these congregations
also provide Christian schools for the children of their communities.
From time to time PCES holds medical camps at different congregations
to heal the physically sick and provide free medication. These medical
camps are often conducted with the aid of visiting medical teams from
the United States. Every May PCES hosts a leadership camp in Murree
Hills to offer aid to the PCES-planted congregations. Speakers for these
camps are often drawn from the ministries’ supporters in the United
Kingdom, Australia and the United States. One goal of PCES is to build
substantial church buildings for its congregations in prominent locations
as a witness in their respective communities. A Sewing Machine Center
and Adult Education Center were opened in Khadim in June of 2003. Saleem
Massey works with the congregations preaching, teaching, guiding the
pastors and encouraging the congregations. He also teaches at the Central
Bible College and has written a book “Fundamental Beliefs of Christian
Faith” in Pakistani-Urdu. A hymnal has also been produced in Pakistani-Urdu,
“Christian Evangelical Hymns.” Both books are presently
waiting funding for publication.
Other Christian workers active in Pakistan include Pastor Albert Naseem,
also of Lahore, who reported to the World Convention office of an evangelistic
crusade on May 29, 2003 in which more than one hundred people gave their
lives to Jesus Christ. Another Christian worker is Brother Yaqub Masih
of Lahore and Christ for Pakistan Church Ministries. One avenue of outreach
pursued by this ministry has been through conventions and conferences,
particularly at Christmas and Easter. In 2004 they plan at least three
“Journey of Joy” encouragement conferences for the wives
of pastors, elders deacons and other female Christian workers. An estimated
700 are expected to attend these conferences.
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Pakistan Christian Evangelical Services
Saleem Massey
420-Q Block
Model Town, Lahore, 54700, Pakistan
Email: massey@brain.net.pk
In the United States:
contact the Newsletter editor,
Cathy Richmond
Email: jcrichmond@att.net
In Australia:
contact PCES Representative
Tony Roe
Email: aaroe@optusnet.com.au