Lively concert celebrates third anniversary of PPSC

Friday, 05 June 2009

Imtiaz Ashraf, of Release International, and Colin King, UK director, receiving the cheque from PPSC stalwarts, Allan and Rene Tyler, from the Christian Community Church, Narberth.

The band: Bryan, Jackie, Sam, Paddy, Lynda and Steve. In the foreground, at the projector, is Rev. Peter Richmond, organiser of PPSC.

Bryan sounding the shofar, a trumpet made from ram’s horn.

Pembroke Town Hall was the setting for a lively concert of praise music and prayers last Tuesday evening. It was enjoyed by around 50 locals from various backgrounds and churches.
The occasion was the third anniversary of Pembrokeshire Prayer for the Suffering Church, a monthly meeting for all Christians concerned about issues facing believers in the 21st century. Around the edge of the hall there were displays from various organisations serving the suffering church worldwide.
The band consisted of Jackie Rodda and Bryan Haddon, vocals; Paddy Ovenden, keyboard; Sam Taylor, drums and violin; Lynda Richmond, flute; and Steve Michaels, electric guitar. They led worship with a selection of well-known and less well-known songs, including modern, rocky numbers ‘Blessed Be Your Name,’ ‘Mercy over me’ and ‘Adonai,’ as well as more contemplative songs like ‘Emmanuel,’ ‘Before the Throne,’ ‘As the Deer,’ and ‘There’s a Cry.’
After the first three songs, the meeting was officially opened. Bryan sounded the ram’s horn ‘trumpet’ and recited the Aaronic blessing in English and Hebrew.
Later, Steve swapped his Fender for an electro-acoustic guitar as he sung his own unique version of the classic ‘Fool’s Wisdom.’
Paddy’s own song, ‘You see glory (in the prisoners)’ was accompanied with slides showing the familiar faces of prisoners, martyrs and other people who had been prayed for at PPSC over its three-year lifetime.
One of the main purposes of the occasion was to hand over a cheque for the £9,000 that had been raised over an eight-month period to provide a new vehicle to Sohail and his team in Pakistan, a ministry supported by Christian charity Release International.
Rev. Peter Richmond welcomed special guests Colin King and Imtiaz Ashraf from Release International, and introduced the couple who were chosen to hand over the cheque for £9,000 on behalf of PPSC: “From very early on, Rene and Allan Tyler have been a great inspiration to us: their faithfulness, their persistence in prayer, their desire to know what was going on in answer to prayers.”
“Three years ago we started the work of PPSC and the first video we had was from Release International,” said Peter. “One of the people pictured on the video was Sohail, of Sharing Life Ministries, and this was the start of this fruitful link between Pembrokeshire and Pakistan.”
The video was played once more while the group performed the moving Graham Kendrick song, ‘How Long.’
Colin King, after receiving the cheque, described his reaction to the news that PPSC wanted to fund Sohail’s vehicle:
“I remember in the office buildings the day the message came through that this group was planning to raise £9,000. A gasp went round as if to say ‘is it really possible? Will they be able to do it?’ and yet there was tremendous excitement, because one of the reasons you have been able to do it is that you made a commitment and God honours commitment.”
He continued: “Commitment is something I have been learning all about over the last nine years since I have been with Release International. I remember speaking to a young man in Sudan a few years ago who had dared to go to the soldiers in Khartoum and share his faith; his reward was imprisonment and torture. I spoke to a young man in Ethiopia who had escaped from Eritrea, his reward for sharing his faith had been the same. I spoke to a man in Egypt who had made the mistake of sharing his faith with a woman on a train. He didn’t know that she was married to an Imam, and he was rewarded by being stripped and laid on the floor and electrocuted. I spoke to a pastor in China who had been imprisoned with hard labour for 20 years because of his ministry.
“And I could go on with these terrible stories, but what I have learned is that there is something wonderful beyond my own faith: What I have seen in people is the most tremendous commitment and joy that can only come from God. We have to focus on the suffering in order to get people to take an interest, but sometimes that’s at the expense of focusing on God’s glory, and the witness of these people who stand firm in their faith is quite remarkable.”
He likened the help PPSC gives other Christians to the rebuilding of God’s temple recorded in the book of Ezra: “Now Satan has set out to destroy those temples - God’s people, but you have set out to rebuild. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support; your prayers, they are so valuable.”
After the song, Imtiaz described his dual role of travelling all over the UK raising awareness of the persecuted church and, two or three times a year, taking teams to minister in Pakistan. Then he read a letter of thanks from Sohail:
“Thank you very much for your love and kindness. It is very difficult to carry on the work of the ministry with an old van in poor condition. We confront engine trouble most of the time and we postpone a lot of our work because we’re not able to go there. We are very grateful to all those who have made it possible for us to have a station van so we can serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Your contributions are a great blessing of God.”
“You have made a difference,” added Imtiaz, “to the people of God in Pakistan. And this van will now travel all over Pakistan touching the lives of the persecuted church.”
The last song was the dynamic ‘He is my Defence.’ An open time of prayer followed and the celebration ended with refreshments including homemade cakes.
Thanks are owed to Dave Taylor for setting up and running the PA system, to those who gave accommodation to the special guests, the ladies who prepared refreshments for the evening and to the caretaker of the Town Hall for all his work in arranging chairs and tables.
By the end of the evening cash offerings amounted to £221 and were given directly to Colin and Imtiaz on behalf of Release International.

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