Dear VKI Ministry Team & Friends,
Yesterday, Benny Albert informed me that his family in Pakistan had called with some terrible and disturbing news. Benny’s younger brother Danny (15-years-old) had been attacked by a group of Muslim men, while he was playing outside of his grandmother’s home; a neighborhood she’s lived in for 60 years. Benny’s two other brothers, Christopher, who helps operate our Christian cable network, VKN Pakistan, and Barnabas, ran to assist their younger brother. They were quickly jumped as the brawl caught the attention of other neighboring Muslims.
Benny said a crowd of twenty surrounded his brothers. They kicked, hit, and beat them with sticks. Women joined in and pounded on them with shoes. Several men grabbed Christopher and tried to force him into a house, saying, “If you call the police or file a complaint, we’ll tell them you burned the Qur’an! Your whole family will die!”
Two of Benny’s aunts and his uncle, Pastor Harron, who works for Vision Keepers International under Bishop Albert, were also injured, while trying to pull the mob crowd off of Benny’s brothers.
Benny’s father, Bishop Albert, called me this morning and through tears, frustration and sadness gave God the glory for protecting his boys and the entire Albert family.
Bishop Albert said as he arrived on scene, he couldn’t believe the crowds of people that were just standing there, watching, as his family was being beaten inches from death. He said, “We have known many of the people for years. They have known my family since they were children, and they still stood by and did nothing. Some even joined the fight against us, because we are Christians.”
He said, “We have no recourse or justice in Pakistan for Christians. We had to pay more by going to a private hospital, because a regular hospital would have forced us to file a police report. They wouldn’t have treated my sons or given them medicine, because we are Christians. We would have been falsely accused of provoking the attack. The police will always side with Muslims. This has never happened to my family until this day. They are not safe here. This is no longer their home!”
Through a miracle of God, there were no broken bones or severe damage! All three brothers are home tonight. They are bruised, battered, and wounded physically and spiritually, but they are alive.
I think this scripture says it all:
7-12If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best! 2 Corinthians 4:9 The Message
This is a warning. A spiritual shot off the bow from the enemy that knows we’re close to stopping his progress, as we loosen his grip on Pakistan. This is a lesson. Too often are we distracted by the business side of this organization, that the safety and livelihood of the people that risk their lives daily get lost in the shuffle. This is a call to act today. Because tomorrow may be too late.
We need:
Interceding prayer.
The finances to provide a new, secure home for Bishop Albert & Yasmeen.
Share this email with a friend or fellow Christian who believes in Front-line Missions.
VKI needs finances to fulfill the call, the plan, the VISION!
Now is the time to take action for our ministry, team, and family. Now, it’s personal!
Thank you for all you are doing for Vision Keepers International.
Yours for World Missions,
The VKI Team