A Church for Eleven Families in Pakistan

By Jack Stout, Oklahoma Conference Executive Committee Board Member and Founder/Director of Turn To Jesus Ministries International

When I stepped off the plane in Lahore for my third mission trip to Pakistan, I knew God had something extraordinary in store. Over the past two years, we have witnessed nearly 500 baptisms in this region, but what unfolded during this journey was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Reaching the Brick Kilns

Our first days were spent among the brick kilns—modern-day slavery sites where families toil endlessly to repay debts they can never escape. Many of these workers cannot read or write, yet their hunger for God’s Word is undeniable. By His grace, we distributed audio Bibles in their own language, allowing them to hear the gospel for the very first time. The transformation was immediate: despair gave way to hope, and faces once marked by exhaustion now shone with joy.

Preaching and Communion in Okara

On Sabbath, I preached at the Pakistan Union Church in Lahore, where believers gathered in unity and strength. The following day, we traveled to Okara to hold the first-ever communion and foot washing service for a fledgling congregation. It was a sacred, unforgettable moment—new believers humbly serving one another, embracing the fullness of Christ’s example.

The Seven-Day Crusade

Each evening in Okara, thousands crowded into a hall that quickly overflowed. Night after night, the everlasting gospel and the Three Angels’ Messages were proclaimed. By the final evening, more than 200 souls surrendered their lives to Christ in baptism. The Spirit was moving powerfully, and entire families were transformed.

A Village Steps Into the Light

Among those baptized were eleven families from a single village. One family shared that they had been praying for ten years for God to lead them to His truth. As they listened to the messages, the Holy Spirit confirmed that this was the truth they had longed for. Ten other families from their village joined them, and together, all eleven families were baptized. An entire community stepped into the light of God’s Word.

But now these new believers face a challenge: They have no church to worship in.

The Need for a Church in Okara

One family has offered a small piece of land and begun laying the foundation for a church. The believers are eager, united, and ready—but they cannot afford to finish the building.

The cost is modest compared to the eternal impact:

Bricks: $680

Roof: $1,045

Cement & Sand: $465

Concrete & Iron: $264

Labor: $350

Door & Window: $357

Total Needed: $3,161

This little church will be more than walls and a roof. It will be a spiritual home for eleven families—and many more who will come. It will be a place to worship, study, pray, grow, and be equipped to reach neighboring villages with the gospel.

The Harvest Continues

As I reflect on this mission trip, I am overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness. From baptisms in Kasur to the growth of new home churches, the fields are white for harvest. These believers are new in the faith, but they are committed, sincere, and hungry for God’s Word.

A church is not just a building—it is an anchor for new disciples. And right now, these families urgently need that anchor.

If the Lord impresses your heart, I invite you to join us in finishing this church. Your support will give an entire community a place where truth can thrive and where generations will learn to follow Jesus.

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