Every Monday night, millions anxiously await the newest episode of“24”on Fox TV.We can’t wait to watch another suspenseful hour of Jack Bower defending America, outwitting the “bad guys”, narrowly escaping death, going on the attack, and ultimately overcoming to fight another day.Each episode of“24”represents 1 hour of the day, each season is 24 episodes, thus one complete 24 Hr. day.It’s amazing how much action can be packed into one single hour of the day.If you’re not hooked on the“24”TV series you probably know someone who is.
The following journal is an account of 24 Hrs. spent by HFC Founder/International Director, Jerry Tuttle, during his recent trip to Pakistan.Like many of you, through Prayer & Obedience, Jerry was defending the faith … building God’s Kingdom … and battling the “evil one”.While the weapons differ from TV hero, Jack Bower, (Jerry wasn’t wearing Kevlar, never fired a shot, etc.) the effectiveness of God’s “armor” is evident in the hearts of believers and those seeking Truth in a spiritually dark, dangerous land.One thing Jerry’s day has in common with Jack Bower, they both put in long days!
24 HOURS IN PAKISTAN
By Jerry Tuttle (Re-written by permission)
March 2010, Pakistan
Friday, 13:30:01
·We’re eating lunch earlier than usual, and are about to begin our 2 hour trip to Islamabad.Before backing out of the driveway, we thank God for the use of our vehicle (a 14 yr old Toyota Corolla) and fervently pray for safety.
14:00:01
·We refuel at a CNG station, just a few kilometers before entering the motorway (an Interstate-type toll road).CNG (condensed natural gas) costs about 40% less than petro and about 70% of the passenger cars and vans have been converted to CNG.The CNG tank occupies about ½ the trunk.When I say we are fervently praying for safety, this tank of CNG comes to mind.As the young station attendant (remember them?) is cleaning the windshield, I say “Khuda App Ko Piar Karta Hy Aur Main Bhi” … God loves you and so do I.“Shookria”, He responds, i.e. “Thank you”.
15:30:01
·Arriving in Islamabad, we immediately go to the home where a Gujranwala Pastor is staying while recovering from a stroke.He is about 5 hours from his home in Gujranwala.Pastor Youhanas while looking and acting normally, cannot talk as a result of the stroke.We have a warm relationship with Pastor Youhanas, who is naminga guest room and private bath he is adding on to his home in Gujranwala,“Jerry’s Room”.
·Where Pastor Youhanas is recuperating in Islamabad is in disarray from a construction project, a room addition for their recently married son and his wife.Stucco/plaster repairs are being made to the interior and exterior, however the host family still extends hospitality to their unscheduled guest in need.We’re led up a narrow, curving staircase (with no handrail) on higher than normal steps to a room where a daughter had just finished spreading a blanket on the floor for us to sit on.
·I was prepared to wash this brother’s feet, anoint him with oil, and pray for his complete recovery.After the customary greeting, with tea being prepared, I am watching and listening trying to determine what’s being said as nearly all of the conversation is in Urdu.As we’re sitting on the floor, Pastor Youhanas writes a few lines in Urdu and Reuben translates for me.I realize that Pastor Youhanas is expecting me to read Scripture.I ask the young man traveling with us to get my Bible out of our car, rather than use their English Bible, while I try to think of a scripture and encouragement for this Brother.My mind was blank.
·Two weeks earlier we visited this brother and prayed for him.Now he shares that, since our visit, God revealed to him that both he and his wife are to take the Gospel to the northern areas of Pakistan.This is a challenging endeavor for anyone whether in Kashmir, the disputed border area with China in the northeast, or in Northwest Pakistan, a Taliban stronghold.In spite of his circumstances, Pastor Youhanas is intent on answering God’s call.
·I’m still trying to think of just the right scripture to share and what to say.In faith I decided to just open my Bible hoping it falls open to an appropriate scripture.Thinking that I may find a passage in Isaiah or Jeremiah my bible opened to an entirely different place… 1 Peter 2:9-12.
o“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles (Muslims), that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
·I am exhorting Pastor Youhanas not to forget what the Holy Spirit is instructing him to do in northern Pakistan when healed.Then I washed his feet, anointed him with oil, and prayed for him.Later that evening he called Reuben, clearly speaking a complete sentence.Two weeks later he delivered the Easter message to his Gujranwala congregation.
·Saying good-bye, we “hit the road” again heading to a Christian community for an open air meeting that is planned.Along the way we stopped to refill at a CNG station.As we pulled up to the pump I noticed a Muslim man, behind an armed guard, kneeling on a matt for daily prayers while facing Mecca. I wanted a picture so I walked in his direction hoping to get a picture, but he was finished with his prayers and went to his car before I could get a picture.Approaching the guard and say, “Khuda App Ko Piar Karta Hy Aur Main Bhi”… “God lovesyou and so do I”.He looks astonished and grips the AK-47 in his lap even tighter.Merely waving to him, I walk back to our car.
17:30:01
Parking our car at the entrance to the Christian community, we walk about 200 yards to the Pastor’s home.Approaching Pastor Shakiel’s home, we observe men putting together a makeshift stage by placing several “coffee” tables together and putting sheets of plywood over them.The makeshift platform is positioned on a 20 foot wide concrete passageway between row houses.A sound system with loudspeakers, lights, pulpit and a few chairs are on carpet-type blankets spread across the platform and on the concrete walkway in front of the stage.These extremely modest row houses are within 50 yards of beautiful homes occupied by wealthy Muslims costing into the hundreds of thousands.Pastor Shakiel warmly welcomes us into their humble home and shortly thereafter hot tea and cookies are served.
18:00:01
·Outside the music is beginning and soon dozens of people arrive.They are sitting cross-legged on the blanketed area, women and children in front, men behind them.Had this happened several years ago, the men would have been in front.After my many visits to this area, the people know that I believe that women should have the best, or first place.In addition, they now serve communion to the women prior to serving the men.I keep reminding our Christian brothers that we need to treat our wives and daughters in such a manner that women from the Muslim community will notice and want to learn more about Christianity.While we are sitting in the Pastor’s home, several more pastors and church elders arrive.Among them is Pastor Samson, the senior pastor from Islamabad who planted this church.
19:15:01
·The Change in worship leaders indicates the beginning of the service.Throughout the evening the crowd grows to several hundred.
20:00:01
·We are being escorted to the platform to join the worship.
20:30:01
·It is time for me to wash the feet of Pastor Shakiel and his wife, Shabana.This tremendously moving event is leading to many tears by Pastor Shakiel and his wife, and the crowd as well.
·Beginning to speak, I explain to the crowd that, as a BABA-G (a grandfather), I hug my daughters.Hugging women in this culture is not considered appropriate, but tonight I am treating Shabana like my daughter or granddaughter.Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, as I put my arms around her, Shanana’s knees give way and she collapses to her knees.Other women begin gathering around her.Then I hugged Pastor Shakiel, he wept and wept.After regaining his composure, he took an offering saying the entire offering would go toward the need for a permanent church.He then introduced me.
While he was speaking, I noticed Pastor Samson taking notes.He jumped up and asked my permission to speak to the crowd.Right there, he began asking people to contribute 5000 rupees (about $60) toward a permanent church building or building site.(Compared to the average annual income in the U.S., it would be the equivalent of about $1,200 here.)Several people begin standing up.Reuben is interpreting what is going on for me since I cannot understand any of it.
21:20:01
·The service is being turned back to me and I step up to the podium to preach.Since everything I say must be interpreted, the service takes twice as long.At 9:45 p.m., Pastor Shakiel advices us that the electricity will be going off at 10 p.m.I begin my closing comments and 7 minutes later turned the service back to Pastor Samson who further expounds on my thoughts.Even after the electricity goes off at 10 p.m., Pastor Samson and Pastor Shakiel continue the service in the dark.
22:30:01
·The elders begin tearing down the pulpit and rolling up the carpets.Dozens of people want to shake my hand, many women and young girls ask me to lay hands on them, asking for healing for their infants sick with fever.
22:55:01
·About 25 minutes later, we head for the car, hopefully heading home after a long and fruitful day.Instead, we are escorted to a home in another part of the community where we begin an evening meal by candlelight, with about a dozen men.The electricity comes back on before we finish our meal.After prayer for special needs, and accepting gifts from these believers, we leave.
Saturday, 12:01:01
·Finally we’re heading home… wrong!Pastor Shakiel has a plot of vacant ground he wants to show me; a possible building site for a permanent church.
Friends, in humility I share this:this faithful group of believers believe that when I anoint a plot of ground and pray that God will provide the best permanent site for this congregation and the resources to build on it, that God will make it happen.
I anoint this plot and pray.It is in a poor location, facing a deep gully with a polluted stream of water running through it.The reality here is that Muslim landowners would gladly donate a small plot of ground for a Mosque, but will charge Christians up to $35 per SF for the same land.They are asking $33/s.f. for this 750 s.f. plot of scrawny ground.
When I return in October, Pastor Samson made me promise to go to another village several hours from Islamabad where he is planting another church.I know this same story will be repeated.
12:20:01
·Finally, we’re heading for home, it’s noon in the U.S. so I call LouAnn.
01:00:01
·Pulling into a CNG station we frequently use, an armedguard with an AK-47 looks on as a young man fills our tank.I tell him, “Khuda App Ko Piar Karta Hy Aur Main Bhi”, “God loves you and so do I”.Once again I didn’t understand his response in Urdu.We get back in the car and are on our way when Reuben tells me the young man asked if we would share a cup of tea.Reuben feels he may be a secret believer.After Reuben’s explanation, I advise him that if this is what God revealed to him, we should have scheduled a time to go back and have tea with him.Reuben agreed.
01:30:01
12 hours have passed.We are taking a different route home, even though it is slower and bumpier with more turns.At this time of night it’s best not to travel on the best, but isolated, highways where gangs armed with AK-47s are reportedly robbing vehicles and vans.Upon arriving home safely, we drop into bed.02:10:01
Arriving home safely, we drop into bed… exhausted.09:00:01
·Breakfast is served and we are spending time with Reuben’s family.
10:00:01
·Reuben & I, along with Reuben’s brother, are heading to the market to purchase a generator.Power outages have become long and unpredictable.The need for a generator has become critical.We’ve researched what we need and proceed with the purchase.While everything goes smoothly, things always are always take longer than expected here.After getting installation and servicing instructions, the generator is loaded into a small truck for home delivery.Reuben’s brother accompanies the delivery truck.
With Mr. Jameel, the shop owner, following Reuben and I out to our car, once again I say, “Khuda App Ko Piar Karta Hy Aur Main Bhi”.Knowing that Mr. Jameel speaks English, I repeat in English, “God loves you and so do I.”Muslims are taught to say “Inshallah” (Arabic for “If Allah wills), Mr. Jameel looks into my eyes and in clear English, distinctly says, “Pray for me.”Reuben’s perception of this event is that Mr. Jameel believes that Allah will give him credit for his response by saying, “Pray for me”.My perception is that God is at work in both the hearts of Reuben and Mr. Jameel.
12:15:01
Arriving home, the new generator has arrived and the installer is working on the project.01:30:01
·The electricity is off again … the generator is running …our 24 hours is over.
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24