We now have more than 3,000 brothers and sisters in Pakistan, with hundreds of baptisms in the past six months and the establishment of many new ecclesias.
Because of the large number of preaching opportunities, the work of the ACBM in Pakistan is undertaken by two area teams: one serving the Punjab region in the north, and the other serving Karachi in the south. The Karachi ecclesias are generally more established and concentrated within the city, whereas in Punjab there are many newer ecclesias, with much of the recent rapid growth driven by the formation of ecclesias in rural locations.
Preaching is very active in both areas, but the challenges are different as ecclesias are established and grow into maturity. Pastoral support is provided by regular Bible Weeks with local and visiting speakers, weekly Zoom contact, and Bible classes.
In the Karachi area there are regular study and preaching days run by the local brothers and sisters. In December, a graduation evening for Bible students who had completed the Urdu Bible Course was attended by several hundred contacts and brothers and sisters.
In the Punjab, recently there has been a focus on teaching the recorders about the first century model of ecclesias. A course was run during March in two locations covering the Bible principles of one body with many members, and a focus that recorders are not masters, but servants who serve without salaries, and with absolute honesty and accountability, faithfulness and responsibility.
Other topics covered included how to run memorial meetings and Bible studies, establishing a firm foundation for ecclesial growth, and a more coordinated approach to running Sunday schools.
One of the largest ACBM funding commitments is the annual Bible Weeks held in July, where studies are delivered by both local and visiting brothers. Although two Bible Week events are held for both Karachi and Punjab, funding constraints mean that only around one-third of the total brothers and sisters are able to attend each year.
In light of the rapid growth of the work in Pakistan, funding demands have risen in tandem, and we earnestly appeal for your support.
