The gospel is advancing in Pakistan
In December 2012 Ingebrigt Hoset
visited the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the first time. The
purpose of the trip was to have evangelical campaigns in places where
the gospel of Jesus had never been preached before. A local pastor in
the city of Sialkot, Punjab, who have contacts in Norway, was our host
and the one responsible for the program. The program would change the
lives and eternity for many Pakistanis. About 730 Muslims ! surrendered
their lives and received Jesus as Lord. Three new churches were
started, and Jesus confirmed his word with mighty miracles and
healings.
Ingebrigt Hoset is welcomed to Pakistan by the Christian leaders.
The protection
During the stay in this Islamic
republic, Ingebrigt had armed bodyguards to ensure his safety during
the meetings, and protection from violent Islamists. They also used a
body scan to make sure no one brought weapons to the meetings. This was
a brand new experience for Ingebrigt. He would preferably not have
bodyguards, but safety comes first.
Ingebrigt Hoset enters Crown Hall in Sialkot, surrounded by the bodyguards.
This
picture was taken after the service in Crown Hall. The bodyguards
wanted to make it clear that no one unwanted could get close to
Ingebrigt. And no one did.
Hunger for the gospel
We started off
with one meeting in Crown Hall, Sialkot, to reach the people in this
city with the gospel of Jesus. This was a powerful meeting, and around
200 received Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Afterwards we prayed for
the sick, and Jesus confirmed his Word by healing many.
People seeking salvation in Crown Hall, Sialkot.
After Sialkot we started what lies closest to
Ingebrigt’s heart; to preach the gospel of Jesus in places where
it has never before been preached. These villages had a handful of
believers, but the gospel had not been preached to the inhabitants. In
one of the villages, Abdali, there was only one Christian. 40 people
got saved her, including eight from the Christian man’s family!
It was a great hunger for the gospel in these unreached villages.
People also traveled from other places to come and hear about Jesus.
In the village Ali Pur Chatha 250 received Jesus. In the picture Ingebrigt is praying for those who came forward to be saved.
The miracles
Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today and forever more. He cannot change, and he has said
that he will confirm his Word when it is preached. And he does it in
public. Here are some testimonies of what Jesus did.
Anamika
was lame in both feet from birth. Her father brought her to the meeting
in Ali Pur Chatha. After intercession the girl took her first steps
ever!
Bar
Masih had been blind for four years. A family member walked him forth
to get prayed for, and in an instant he received sight, and was no
longer in need of anyone to walk him.
The most powerful miracle occurred
with these siblings, Sahar and Sahil, on six and seven years. They were
both born deaf-and-dumb, and were brought to the meeting by their
grandmother. The first voice they heard was Ingebrigt’s, after he
had prayed for them. Their first words were “mommy”,
“daddy” and “Jesus”! Notice the trust and joy
in their faces!
Apart from the
healings and miracles, many were set free from unclean spirits. They
often manifested with high screams and inarticulate sounds. The woman
in the picture had been possessed for nearly thirty years. No one had
been capable of helping her. Now, she was delivered and set in complete
liberty. Afterwards she called upon the name of Jesus and got saved.
On our last
meeting in the village of Sowwali a Muslim woman brought us her two
year old son. He was lame in his left foot. One day he had said to his
mother “If someone would pray for me, I will walk”. The
Spirit of God talked through him, and so his mother brought him to the
meeting where he was prayed for.
Besides these miracles, the people
testified of many healings. On the first meeting Ingebrigt prayed for
an elderly woman with tumors on her neck, and some days later she told
from the platform that they were completely gone. She was so glad, and
those who heard her testimony clapped their hands and loudly praised
God. If all the testimonies were to be written in this report, it would
take a long time both to write them down, and to read them.
The hospitality
The hospitality during the stay in
Pakistan was great, and Ingebrigt was several times invited home to
fellow believers for lunch, dinner or coffee. There were poor living
conditions, but their hearts were big and the food was good. In every
home Ingebrigt went, God performed something special. In seven of the
homes people got saved, all together thirty two people! People were
also healed, and delivered from unclean spirits. A woman who was blind
on her right eye recovered sight. An other woman was hurt in an
accident while rigging for one of the meetings. She stood too close a
speaker, and it fell over her, hurting her head, arm and back. She was
prayed for, and just as Ingebrigt said “Amen!” she arose
from bed, healed!
Ingebrigt was
given a gift at the last meeting, as a sign of gratitude for coming all
the way from Norway to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who
have never heard it before.
Closing words
Although the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan often has been in the media’s spotlight because of
violent Islamic extremism, Ingebrigt experienced a hunger for the
gospel here. People were hungry to experience that Jesus is the same
and does the same, today, as He did 2000 years ago. People came from
afar to hear the preaching, and to be prayed for. The stories of what
happened went all the way to Lahore, a three hour drive away, and to
the capital Islamabad, a five hour drive away. By God’s grace
Ingebrigt will go back to Pakistan.
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