Parvaiz Family Update
You may have noticed that for the last couple of Thursdays, there have been no posts from “Church on the Edge.” There’s a reason for that - Thursdays have been reserved for “Interviews on the Edge” and the last couple of interviews have not turned out well. The quality of the recordings has not been good. However, not to worry, I have rescheduled those interviews and hopefully, will post them soon.
They are both interviews with former students. One lives in Hong Kong, the other in Pakistan. We are meeting again this week for a redo on both.
Meanwhile, I want to remind you of the interview with the Parvaiz family. You can find it on Substack and soon, it will be available on Apple podcasts. Please be looking for it.
I cannot urge you enough to pray about your contribution to help bring this family of refugees from Pakistan to Canada, especially, son Abi, who needs stability and a future that he can look forward to.
Like many of you, Sherri and I have not yet given to this fundraiser as we have simply been distracted by life. But we will give and I urge you to do the same.
Here are some words from Matthew 25, which will encourage us in our giving -
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40, NIV)
And here’s a story told by W.A. Criswell who was the pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas for many years . . .
Criswell attended the annual football rivalry between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. Sitting in the stands with Criswell and a host of Texas fans was an Oklahoma fan.
As the game began, this fan stood to his feet and, holding a twenty-dollar bill in his hand, shouted at the top of his lungs, “All you Texas fans, I’ll give seven points and bet you twenty dollars that we whip you!” No one took his bet.
A little while later, he stood up again, “All you Texas fans, I’ll give you fourteen points and bet you forty dollars that we whip you!” Again, no takers.
A third time, he stood, “All you Texas fans, I’ll give you twenty-one points and bet you eighty dollars that we whip you.” Not a single Texas fan took the bet.
That’s when Dr. Criswell turned to the young man saying, “Man, I want you in my church. Because you believe in your team and you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is!”
May we believe in our “team,” and most of all our Captain, and may we be willing to put our money where our mouth is!
Here’s the link for the site. Why not click on it now and help this precious family?
In Christ,
Dan