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Samuel Paul, GRN Director in South West Asia, talks about an outreach last year.
Things rarely go as planned! For months we had been preparing to go on an outreach to the Megwal people with a Christian worker we knew who worked among them. Then almost at the last minute he pulled out and suggested the time was not right! We continued to pray.
Soon after we met Pastor E. in an evangelism seminar. It 'just happened' that he lived in an area where there are many Megwal people. We shared our vision with him and we agreed to pray. As we prayed, the Lord gave us peace that we should go ahead with our outreach plans with this pastor.
The people of the Megwal (Meghwal) tribe are originally from Marwar in Rajasthan. These days they are also found living near the Pakistan border. In Pakistan, Megwals mostly live in Southern Punjab. In Pakistan, the word Meghwar is used in the place of Megwal. Most Megwal are Hindu and some are Muslim. (From Wikipedia)
There were 5 of us on the team. Two from GRN, Pastor E, his son and a driver. The 'target area' was 2 days drive from Lahore where we live. Our focus was the Megwals but God had other plans also!
The Megwal are mostly Hindu and their houses are full of pictures of their 'gods', but there are some believers among them and a few evangelists also. We worked closely with some of these evangelists and it contributed greatly to the success of the mission.
We visited 6 Megwal villages, going house to house. In some we were able to share the Gospel, pray and hand out cassette recordings. Some people did not want us to share the Gospel but they received tapes and sometimes let us play the tape to them. More than 200 cassettes were distributed.
We did not see many Megwal come to faith but the Lord encouraged us in other ways and encouraged the local Megwal believers also.
Swaran is a Megwal believer who was very sick. As we were worshipping the Lord with him and his family in his home, the Lord revealed to us he had disobeyed God by not reaching out to his own Megwal people as the Lord had instructed him. He confessed that this was true. He repented before the Lord and the Lord touched and healed him. The next night he invited us back to his home and called in his neighbours also!
In Swaran's neighbourhood is a Muslim family. A young man in the family suffered from evil spirits. As they heard the songs, his mother came to us in tears telling us the problem. All the local believers (10 of us) gathered around the young man and prayed for his healing. The Lord touched him. He stopped shouting and asked us to keep praying for him. Swaran will keep in touch with this family.
The Megwal outreach was funded by special gifts given through the Sydney office in 2006. The gifts also covered the cost of replacing the tyres on the four wheel drive vehicle, so necessary for getting around in the rough conditions.
A Christian lady we visited told us of a Muslim friend who had some particular needs. We had the opportunity to share with this friend. The Lord opened her heart and she gave her life to Jesus.
In Pastor E's village, a Megwal believer invited a Hindu social worker to our house meeting. After the message he responded, 'I did not know that the Bible contained such great teaching about human relationships!'
In one place, local Punjabi Christians arranged a meeting and invited their neighbours. Five of them (nominal Christians) came to the Lord! Elsewhere 180 tapes were given to a Megwal evangelist who will distribute them in his area.
Please pray for ...
1. The impact of the word of God whether spoken or heard on tape.
2. For the new believers from all different backgrounds.
3. For protection of Pastors and evangelists who work among the very needy Megwal people and that their ministries will be effective. Pray especially for Swaran.
4. For Christian Megwals that they will be encouraged and share the Good News with their neighbours.
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