Tug of War

From elementary field days to summer camps, and even in the Olympics from 1900 to 1920, tug of war has been a popular sport where two sides hold opposite ends of a rope and pull with all of their might in order to draw their opponent across a line. When you cross the line or let go of the rope, you lose.

Tension, back-and-forth, and constant battle are the images that come to mind when thinking of fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unlike the fun-filled competitive games that many of us played as children, this tug of war is not fun or a game. This one has serious, negative effects on the two nations, on communities, on families, and on the believers in the region. Pakistan has recently seen drastic government spending cuts, school closures, inflation, and sharply rising fuel costs.

As the warring nations dig their heels in, we are reminded that there is another war going on. It is the war for souls. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that we’re not wrestling against flesh and blood. Our fight is against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

In 2018, The Tide ministry first identified four unreached people groups in Pakistan who were lacking Gospel radio programming in their native languages. Today, Gospel programs are shared in the Pashto, Punjabi, Saraiki, and Sindhi languages. These programs are primarily found on major social media platforms and distributed through media devices, ensuring access for those otherwise without personal devices or internet connectivity. These small media players carry both Bible content and radio programs, offering privacy for listeners in hostile settings and enabling illiterate individuals to consistently engage with God’s Word.

The Sindhi program has recently shown remarkable progress, which is producing meaningful results. Its unique approach of presenting the Old Testament through the lens of Christ draws listeners into the vivid stories of the prophets while weaving the Gospel message throughout each episode.

One listener shared this encouraging message:

“Today I listened to the Sindhi program ‘SACHO PYAR,’ and my heart became very happy. Through the program, we had the opportunity to learn about the Prophet Daniel. Hearing God’s Word about him made me very enthusiastic and deeply moved. I sincerely thank Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries for this effort. We hope this series will continue consistently so we may keep learning. May you all remain blessed. Amen.”

In competitive tug of war competitions, a team’s ability to win is largely dependent upon two factors: strategy and strength. Both are required in order to pull an opponent over the line. The Tide’s strategy is simple: creatively share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We invite you to pray for our boots on the ground in this area of the world, as they may be on two different sides in here on earth, but they are on the same side when it comes to eternity.