POBLO International Ministries is extremely excited because three new Mission Starts are being planned this year i.e. Milwaukee, WI; Rochester, MN and Fort Meyers, FL. We would like to challenge our supporters and partners in the Ministry to Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs to support generously for the new startups. POBLO has the capabilities of starting a Mission-Filed in all 50 States but we had been successful in only starting one each year in the United States (due to funding), it takes a commitment of roughly $55,000 for one full time missionary. In addition we need, support staff, literature, and other tools for the ministry. We would like to thank our good Lord and our partners (congregations and Individuals) for showering POBLO with their blessings.

We are already very late in reaching the Muslims and Hindu population in America which is growing at an alarming rate. We plan to start three new States in 2012 as well. Click Here to Donate Online.

Blessings

Rev. Farrukh Khan

Beginning in March 2011, the Cross-Cultural Outreach Training program will begin.  This program will provide you, the people in the pews, with information on understanding Muslim, Hindu and Sikh cultures.

This practical online course designed especially for you, the laity, will:

• Enable you to share your faith in Jesus with Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs
• Prepare you to understand those of other cultural and religious backgrounds
• Show you how to befriend a Muslim
• Make you comfortable with other cultures

• The ABC’s of Ministry to Muslim and Hindu Seekers
• The Rapid Growth of Islam in the U.S.: Challenges and Opportunities
• The 4 Jolts of Culture: Relating Culturally
• Cross-Cultural Dating
• Ethnicity in the Lutheran Church: How Open Are We Really?
• Hospitality as Outreach: Evangelism the Natural Way
• The Role of Personal Testimony: Sharing What Christ has Done for You
• Shariah Law: What Would Happen if it Came to Your Town?
• The Islamic Agenda: Evangelize America
• The influence of Non-Christian Religions on Our Youth
• Sharing the Gospel with a Muslim or Hindu: Where Do I Begin?

An effective evangelism tool is to see Christ in action, to observe His people showing love through human care services to newly arrived immigrants, refugees, and others.  Many times these new neighbors are in need of basic services such as emergency food, clothing and household items.  They also need English as a Second Language, (ESL) classes, social orientation and hospitality. This project requires English text books, supplies, and office equipment. Each of our mission sites in the United States has a Human Care component connected with the missionary’s outreach.

Throughout the week, POBLO receives phone calls and letters from people requesting information on Islam and how to witness to Muslims. The Holy Spirit has already put the desire to witness in their heart, but they need practical training on how to do it.  The POBLO staff gives workshops and presentations all around the country.  Workshop DVDs, CDs, and training materials need to be produced in large quantities.  Assistance with the cost of production and duplication of these training materials allows POBLO to have the missions resources needed to help congregations in cross-cultural missions.

Ethnic missionaries who speak the languages and know the cultures to be reached in the U.S. need training.  People of the Book staff offers missions training for missionaries around the country. The training involves such curriculum as: Understanding Islam, How to Witness to Muslims, Methods of Outreach, and Church Planting.  Education, evangelism training, and ongoing missionary support make this project vital for planting new ethnic ministries all around the U.S. bringing the Gospel to Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others.

Each and every month, POBLO mails the monthly newsletter, The Minaret, to over 9,000 households.  The cost of the mailing is always a challenge for POBLO. Your assistance with this would ensure that supporters would receive the Minaret each and every month and be kept abreast of the latest mission opportunities.

$50,000  – Sponsor the Disciple Training Program for Lay Men and Women in the U.S.

This is a crucial project for training cross-cultural disciples across the United States.  Nearly every congregation faces opportunities for outreach to the growing number of immigrants in its midst.  Lay disciples can be trained nationwide through the production of mission training materials which can then be shared via electronic media.  These classes will consist of a wide variety of topics concerning Islam and Hinduism, Christian witness, and models of outreach for the local congregation to use.  Missions training on Islam and the changing face of religion in America can also be made available to whole congregations through POBLO’s website.

Transportation is very difficult for missionary pastors in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.  The church planters are working in very rural, isolated villages that do not have public transportation. This requires the missionaries to either walk or use a bicycle/scooter for transportation. By helping to provide a means of transportation, church planters are able to be more efficient and visit more rural villages and share the Gospel with more non-believers.

The most important part of People of the Book Ministries is church planting.  Our church planting experience in the United States, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan has greatly encouraged us through its fruits-thousands of new believers being added to the body of Christ. Our current commitment is to plant one hundred new congregations in Pakistan, North India and Bangladesh. Fulfillment of the Great Commission will only happen by reaching the un-reached.

This is a “must support” project called “For the Sake of the Church”. We need to teach, train and send missionary pastors into the mission field.  Fulfillment of the Great Commission will only happen by reaching the unreached.

Before even beginning a new mission field, Lutheran Leadership Training Institutes must start training future church leaders. POBLO recently completed the training of nine future missionary pastors who received their theological and church planting training in Lahore, Pakistan.  Similar Lutheran Leadership Training Institutes are needed in Bangladesh and India.