Greetings all,
We have been keeping a close eye on the developing situation in Pakistan with the conflict. Pakistani pastor Zeeshan Sadiq reports that none of our ARP brethren have been injured and our ARP ministries (schools and hospital) are about several hours away from the conflict. That being said, he gives this report:
Dear brothers and sisters in the ARP Church of America, we urgently request your prayers as tensions escalate between Pakistan and India following last night’s attacks by Indian forces on our soil. Our hearts are heavy with concern as Pakistan’s National Security Council has now authorized our armed forces to respond if necessary, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across our nation. As Christians in Pakistan, we stand as peacemakers in this troubling time, yet we worry for the safety of our communities, churches, and the vulnerable among us. We are especially troubled by our young generation who, having never experienced war, make light of the situation on social media without understanding the true devastation conflict brings. Please pray for their eyes to be opened to the gravity of these tensions. Please join us in fervent prayer for divine intervention, for cooler heads to prevail among our leaders, for the protection of innocent lives on both sides of the border, and for a peaceful resolution that reflects God’s will for reconciliation rather than conflict. May the Prince of Peace comfort our worried hearts and guide our nations toward dialogue instead of destruction.
In addition, Keith Ackerman, the Christian Hospital Sahiwal (CHS) Director, and his wife, Rhoda, are attempting to return from a trip to Pakistan following the CHS board meeting, but the closure of the airports due to the conflict is necessitating them to remain in Sahiwal. World Witness Cooperative Missionaries, Randy and Allison Lieuwen, who recently had a child, Geneva, at the CHS hospital, are also attempting to return with them. Please see their update below:
Please pray for traveling mercies during the coming hours and days as we work to get the expat team out of Pakistan. We have all been waiting and hoping for a calming of the tensions surrounding the country during this difficult time. Pakistan and India are openly exchanging aggression, and our Pakistani brothers all agreed that it would be for the best if we could adjust our travel plans and leave a bit earlier than we had originally planned. God graciously allowed us to complete the ladies’ conference as well as the Spiritual Retreat for the hospital staff. Our hearts are heavy as we depart from Pakistan, as we leave our Pakistani hospital family to face the uncertainties of the future. Please pray for strength and protection through this most difficult of times. We have been so humbled by the extra care and concern that the staff have expressed on our behalf, thinking of our well being ahead of their own. God has blessed us with a truly great team and we so deeply appreciate their love and concern for us.
God was very gracious in working out all of the many details to get the proper paperwork, passport, and exit visa for little Geneva. Randy and Allison, along with Geneva and Allison’s mother will be traveling out as well. God answered prayer and little Geneva is all set with the proper documentation for travel. Truly the hand of God working out the details for our emergency travel plans.
We are all safe and thankful for God’s protection and hand of mercy over us and appreciate all that have been holding us up in prayer. Please do pray for the Christian community, here in Pakistan as they face the unknown of what tomorrow might bring. Pray for peace to be known and most of all that Jesus can be seen in and through the work of Christian Hospital Sahiwal.
Thank you for your prayers!
Alex Pettett, Executive Director