Western Border | Snapshots of South Asia
Before talking about our trip to the western border, we wanted to start this update off with some prayer requests. Just this last month, believers in Pakistan have lost their homes and churches due to extremists. Over 25 churches were burned and hundreds of Christian families had to flee for their lives.
Please keep them in fervent prayer,
If you would like to help the Pakistani believers who have been impacted by the recent attacks, you can do so by check made out to "Ambassador Bible Fellowship". then write on the memo line "For Missions Fund: Pakistan".
Ambassador Bible Fellowship
ATTN: Karen Cotter
3327 N Eagle Rd Ste #110-53,
Meridian, ID 83646
The funds will be sent directly to provide for the many needs including food, clothing, blankets, school supplies, songbooks, etc.
Some other personal prayer requests would be:
Tim’s upcoming trip to Myanmar and the Philippines (Sep 26-Oct 9).
health and safety and for Tim’s preparation for training of pastors and preaching in churches.
The Western Border
The next leg of our journey took us near the western border to to visit Pastor A. and an unmarked church that meets above his home. This is the same town that held a Christmas outreach event last year where Tim spoke about the virgin birth.
This area is restricted to foreigners due to the large number of extremists in the area. Due to the heightened risk, we needed permission from the government to travel there, which we were given because the police chief had heard Tim speak at the Christmas outreach and invited him to come.
The police even wanted to take our picture after the church service, and we continued to thank them every time they escorted us anywhere and checked for bombs around the buildings.
Amazingly, the police chief invited Tim back to speak in person for the Christmas event and they would be happy to offer him protection again.
Prayer Request: Pray for the police chief and his men to be saved through these interactions. Pray for the hearts of the leadership in this city to be turned to Jesus.
During our time there, Tina was asked to speak with the women of the church. They held the session on the same night as their outreach sewing class, where women from the community learn to embroider detailed designs and sew special dresses that are unique to that part of the country. The women from the sewing class then had the option to hear Tina speak on 1 Peter 1 and the great hope we have in Christ. This is an incredible and rare outreach opportunity as many women are not allowed outdoors without an escort.
Tina was the first American woman that they had met, so they were very interested in seeing her and taking pictures with her. After she taught, Tina got to see their sewing projects and hear about their goal of giving a sewing machine to every graduate of the class.
This outreach not only has been providing opportunities for the women to hear about the good news but has also provided uncommon opportunities for relationships in the community. The husbands and families of the sewing class ladies have been inviting them into their homes because the church is providing opportunities for income that otherwise the families would not have. The love that is being shown is opening doors.
Prayer Request: Pray for the relationships being built through this sewing class and that God would keep providing sewing machines! Thank you to all who participated in giving sewing machines on this previous trip.
We also heard from those who suffered a church bombing during the Christmas service a few years ago. Many were injured and also lost loved ones to this extremist attack. Others told us of a gunman who shot up their church service in another attack. We were able to listen to this sobering news and pray with these persecuted believers whose hope is still in Christ while they suffer here.
If You Wish to Support Us
If the Lord leads you to support this ministry, you can do in several different ways:
Credit Card: go to our GMI link. Note that GMI covers all online expenses so that 100% of your donation goes to our support.
Direct Deposit: print out the form from this link and follow its instructions. The missionary/project name is “Tim Carns”.
Check: make it payable to “GMI” and write “Tim Carns” on the memo line. Then mail it to Grace Ministries International, 13248 Roscoe Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352.