You’ll likely remember Rafik from his ministry to leaders in East Africa that has been highlighted in previous issues of  the Update. When not teaching in Tanzania, his country of birth, he is a chaplain for the Salvation Army House in downtown Vancouver, BC    Canada. as well as involved in ministry among the south Asian people of the Metro Vancouver area.

For the last few years Rafik has been ministering with the Evangelical Telegu Fellowship (ETF). It began in 2006 to reach the Telegu people of BC. and is now also reaching the peoples of several south Asian cultures in the Vancouver, Canada area. They meet once a month for fellowship, prayer, evangelism and teaching.

Rafik shares, “I have been able to teach as well as share at several of their evangelistic outreaches. I have also been able to share at their family retreats, ministering on the values and principles of a Christian family. Last year I was also able to train their leaders on how to reach their Hindu neighbors.”

As a result of his ministry with this group, one of the leaders of the ETF that he had been mentoring has felt the call to plant a church. The church in now growing in Maple Ridge (a city near Vancouver) and Rafik continues to have the opportunity to serve this new fellowship.

Most recently, Rafik reports, “I just had a meeting with the leaders of ETF and they are now taking steps to transition this monthly fellowship into a church plant, as many have accepted the Lord as their Savior and need a more regular place to worship and grow. While the ETF meeting will continue, they will also now plant another church focused on the south Asian community in the Vancouver area of BC (Canada).”

As a ministry we believe that “missions” is truly ‘from all nations to all nations’ – it is just not something to be done by getting on a plane and flying across an ocean. Rafik and Safia’s lives continue to illustrate this as they use a lifetime of ministry and life experience in serving others wherever God has led them over the years.