Children's Ministry Around the World - Punjab, Pakistan and the Star Sunday School & Youth Ministry!

For those of us who live in the USA it can be easy to think Children's Ministry around the world looks much like it does in our churches, and while in some places there are many similarities, in others there are significant differences. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at Children's Ministry around the world and invite you to join me on this "journey" . . . we are sure to rejoice at all the children who are learning of Jesus and learn how to pray specifically for those who serve around the world sharing Jesus with children everywhere!

The "stop" on our journey today may surprise you; it certainly surprised me . . . Pakistan! Rev. Daniail Bashir is the Director of the Star Sunday School & Youth Ministry. I am amazed to learn he leads 30 Sunday schools in different villages and urban areas throughout his area of the Punjab, Pakistan! The children in the Star Sunday School & Youth Ministry greatly enjoy Bible storybooks and coloring books.

Daniail says he has 30 volunteers who work with the children in their ministry. I asked him if they have any special events the children look forward to each year and he said along with their Sunday School ministry, each year they plan an Easter and Christmas gift program for all of the children in their ministry. In addition they also have a VBS each year in August! He said the children in his ministry love to sing action songs, play Bible games and color . . . apparently even though they are in a country where they do not experience freedom of religion, the children in Pakistan show us once again, children are children. They love to sing! They love to play Bible games! They enjoy expressing themselves in creative ways and most importantly, they respond to Jesus' love with joy and enthusiasm!

I asked Daniail what children's ministry looked like in his country and he told me they teach seminars and classes on Biblical topics, train Sunday School teachers, teach Sunday school, provide school books and uniforms to poor Christian students and encourage them to pursue higher education. In addition he told me his goals for the children of Pakistan include teaching children about Jesus, providing a Christian education and increasing the literacy rate of Christians in Pakistan. Daniail wants all Pakistani children to know about Jesus! 

Please pray for Daniail and this ministry in the following areas -

• pray for them as they reach children in a Muslim country where there is not freedom of religion. 
• they need things like crayons, Bible storybooks and coloring books. 
• it is their goal to be able to provide scholarships for poor children to go to school/university and they would like to be able to establish a boarding school for poor children so they are able to receive a Christian education. 
• certainly as with your own ministries, they need volunteers, resource to train their volunteers and the ability to communicate clearly the all-important message of Jesus to the children in Pakistan. 

These are specific things to pray for. Please take a moment to pray for Daniail and his ministry to the children of Pakistan and consider sharing this ministry with the children in your ministry, because while we may speak different languages, wear different clothes and live in different countries we all need Jesus. Most importantly, when we receive Jesus' forgiveness we are all part of the same family! Consider what you can do to introduce the children in your ministry to their Pakistani family!

Thank you Daniail for sharing your ministry with us!