From Pakistan to Kampala

Nadeem MASSEY is a Christian leader from Pakistan, where 98% of the population is Muslim. Born catholic, he joined the seminary because he wanted to become a priest. God through His ways reached out to him and saved him. Now, with his wife, they are serving the Lord in Pakistanese villages.   From right: Nadeem MASSEY & Pastor Brian KELLY from Calvary Chapel Kampala     Like some of the ministers, Nadeem struggled with God before obeying His calling: reaching out people in the village. He had a nice career in Lahore (one of the Pakistan big city), working with a telecommunication company and his wife had also a good job. End of 2005, an earthquake hit Pakistan, and a friend of Nadeem called and said: “many people are dying out there without knowing God. If you really have a heart for people, God will lead you through, He will respond to your need.” Questions were flowing in their minds: it is true but how can we leave this comfort and go to the village where we have nothing? After 5 months of arguing and struggling with God, Nadeem told his wife: “God is calling and we are disobeying”. They made their decision and left for the village of Choura (the home of his parents). He started ministering then extended to more villages. End of 2007/beginning of 2008, we faced hard trials, says Nadeem. Since they went to the village, they were living of 100 $/month sent by a friend. Time came, when our friend was sick and could not continue to help us; we depended totally on my family which was very difficult for everyone especially my wife. God is faithful and later on opened the doors passing through Calvary Chapel Saving Grace in Yorba Linda, California. The 2009 Calvary Chapel East Africa Pastors and Leaders conference Even if it is for East Africa, when I got to know about this conference (on the web site), I wanted to come, to learn more as a leader for my service, to meet Calvary Chapel Pastors and share with them, he adds. From teachings about “Counting the Cost”, I learnt a lot, says Nadeem. When some people come to ministry to serve the Lord, they think they are going to gain a lot in terms of wealth, comfort…But from my experience mentioned above, we need to learn how to give and sometimes it is not easy: when God calls you, it is not clear what you will have to give up! You just trust Him and follow wherever He leads you, depending on Him in each and everything. The session about “Reaching the Unreached” touched me deeply. There are more people in the world who have not heard about Jesus, it is not only people around me in Pakistan. I felt more need of working hard and reach more people. I take with me a profound hope that Pakistan will have a mission in the future to serve the Lord.