October 7, 2003

Praise items

• Praise for an amazing turnout of about 90 inquirers and new believers for Group 1 in spite of our workers’ efforts to keep numbers down. All but 10 were old enough to prepare the lesson pictures and learn the Bible story. A keen group of teen-aged Marwari boys took an active part and three well-known Saraiki singers/religious leaders enthusiastically learned several of the 50 new Saraiki hymns that Haima, Keval, and other young men have composed recently. Their skill in singing and playing instruments added so much to our times of worship. About 20 were women, determined to learn along with their children. Although several had to sleep on the floor or on rugs on the grass without much bedding, many promised to return. Due to the cotton harvest there will not be a Group 1 meeting in October. Pray that interest will continue strong.
• Praise for a good village tour to check our eight literacy centers. Wonderful that security restrictions have been lifted and people are unafraid to be hospitable again. Good progress has been made in the seven Saraiki classes. They are proud of their language and eager to learn both Saraiki and the national language, Urdu. Each evening we had worship, learning new Saraiki hymns with their catchy choruses. It was encouraging to see the good progress the classes are making and the enthusiasm of the villagers for worship.
• The Marwaris have an unwritten language and are less motivated to learn it. They already have quite a few hymns which they like that have been translated into Marwari from other languages. Pray we¹ll find new Marwari musicians, motivated by the Holy Spirit to compose new hymns to indigenous tunes.
• Praise that George and Gail McBane are officially appointed by the PC(USA) and making progress in getting support for themselves and the Meghwal Outreach. Praise for much needed funds that arrived the morning we were to give out September salaries! Many thanks to those of you who have given so generously. (By the way, contributions to the Meghwal ministry may be sent to: Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289. Write the title (Meghwal Ministry) and the ECO number on the subject line (ECO #040075) of the check and put it on your cover letter, too. Send a copy of the cover letter to the Office of International Evangelism at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Or click here to give online.)
• George is planning to come the end of October for several weeks. Praise that a suitable house has been found for them.
• Praise that the closing of the New Life Center, contrary to our expectations, has turned many of those who opposed us into advocates. They feel that a facility built to reach out to Meghwals should be used for them, and they are eager to see it reopened. The receptive attitude we are finding gives us hope that we are on the verge of a sizable ingathering among the Meghwals.
• Praise for Amir, our literacy teaacher, who was going to the Land Office with Rs.10,000 to pay for a plot to be allotted to his family. A car with three men in police uniforms offered to drive him to the office. Instead they drove out of town, bound and gagged him with his own turban, stole the money and talked of killing him. I Cor.10:13 kept running through his head: “He will provide a way of escape.” Suddenly the men dumped him out in the desert and drove off. He was able to work the turban loose, report to the police (who took no notice,) and make his way home deeply thankful for God’s “way of escape.” He was also able to visit Lahore and get his son’s artificial eye adjusted, as is occasionally needed.
• Praise for the consultation last week that was primarily called to think through ways to help converts relate to the Punjabi church. Both Hindu and Muslim converts experience prejudice, criticism, and often painful rejection when they try to integrate into local churches, which have little cross-cultural understanding. Positive plans were made to provide such training to key Punjabi laypeople. Tribal leaders also resolved to take more “ownership” of their own tribal outreach, not allowing the Punjabi set-up to hinder them. The fellowship enjoyed among those Punjabis who attended and the Hindu and Muslim converts encouraged us all to be enriched by diversity as we continue to pursue unity in the Body.
• Praise that Heeri gave birth to a healthy daughter. Pray for her husband Pelad who has started treatment for tuberculosis.
• Paul Stock with his team worked out Christian funeral rites to be used to replace the Hindu rituals used for two weeks after a death. Recently their team was able to try these out for two deaths in Christian families. Members of their team attended each night trying to anticipate Hindu customs and bring Christian substitutes in first. For instance when they pick up the bed carrying the body and start for the graveyard, they chant "Ram, Ram" all the way. One Christian leader called out: "Lord Jesus" and the group chanted "Sat Nam" or "The True Name" as they processed. The family distributed a special portion of the food that had been cooked to some of the children instead of offering it to the dead person at the grave. Praise that these new rites have been prepared and are finding ready acceptance.

Prayer items

• Pray against an infestation of caterpillars that is ruining the cotton crop in much of our area. Due to unusual rains, plants are tall and lush. We anticipated a bumper crop, but caterpillars are eating the flowers, destroying the main cash crop for this fall. Pray that poor villagers who face lean months ahead may find help.
• Pray for the ARP World Witness Board meeting in South Carolina, October 7-9, as the board considers an application by a fine Pakistani Christian organization to lease the New Life Center in Rahim Yar Khan to be used again for outreach to Meghwals. Pray the lease will go through and all details will be guided by the Holy Spirit.
• Pray for Kyle Scott as he leaves his family in Albania (October 19) for three weeks to take residential courses for his M.A. at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Pray for new friends and a happy adjustment to Albania for Lois, Kristen, Jesse and Isaiah. Their email address is: kscott4801@aol.com.
• Pray for Ruth and Mark Stoscher as they are on home leave until the end of January, centered in Hollywood, California. Ruth is homeschooling Abi (8) and Beka (5) with the "help" of Jamie (3) and Stevie (9 months). Mark will be busy traveling to share about their work. Email is: MRSt8scher@aol.com.
• Pray for needed permits (held up by red tape) for Sara and David Treece to begin relief projects for earthquake victims in Central Asia.

Pray for the following programs that are planned for October:

• October 7 - Visit to encourage evangelists working in Dale’s former parish in Tando Mohammed Khan, who are experiencing much opposition.
• October 9-11 - Village tour with Evangelist Lazar to conduct worship and show films in several centers.
• October 16-18 - Timothy group with new students taking "Abundant Life" and advanced students starting "The Life of Christ #1.”
• October 23-24 - Music Committee will meet to prepare a new hymnbook to include recently composed hymns.
• October 29-31 – Workers’ Meeting to plan for November programs. Pray for deepening fellowship.

We are genuinely grateful for your prayers and encouragement! We love hearing from you when you have a moment to write.

In Christ,

Fred and Margie Stock

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 162