The Welfare Efforts of ICF Church

As we are a faith-based organization we exist to provide opportunity for worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism and community service. One of our main focuses is helping the Christian community understand their faith and develop a stronger sense of identity in Christ. Many people, especially those who are less educated and marginalized, struggle with questions of identity and self-worth. We try to help them see themselves as individuals with dignity, purpose, and responsibility within society.

One of the ways we do this is through our benevolence system. A percentage of the church’s monthly income is allocated to different welfare funds. We have both ‘In-house benevolence’- which supports members within the church community, and ‘Out-house benevolence’- which supports anyone outside the church who may need assistance with medical expenses, tuition, emergencies, or domestic difficulties. We also maintain dedicated
funds for widows, orphans, students, persecuted communities, and emergency situations.

Transparency is very important for us. During the Jaranwala attacks [1], for example, we opened donations for only one week because we did not want to continue collecting money without immediate distribution and transparency. We requested 1 million rupees and ended up raising approximately 4.2 million because people trusted that the funds would be used responsibly by us.

At the same time, welfare for us is not only about financial aid. Our major focus is leader development, church growth, mentoring, and mobilization. We run courses on leadership, parenting, community engagement, and personal development. Much of our work involves helping people discover purpose, confidence, and direction in life. Many individuals who come to us are struggling emotionally, financially, or socially, and we try to help them rebuild their lives with dignity.

We have also started introducing digital skill-building courses because the employment market is changing rapidly. Young people no longer need to depend entirely on traditional jobs. If they develop the right skills, they can work online, generate income independently, and support their families. I see this as a major opportunity for young members of our community.

Most of our work is sustained through community support rather than external donors. Church members contribute regularly according to their ability, around 10% of their income and savings. We rarely ask publicly for donations because the relationship is built on trust and collective responsibility.

Over the years, I have personally seen people recover from hopelessness, debt, social exclusion, and even suicidal thoughts. Some individuals with disabilities who had no employment opportunities have been able to develop livelihoods and regain confidence. Others have become leaders in the digital market and started online businesses after a few training courses. For me, welfare is not simply about charity; it is about restoring dignity, purpose, and hope.

Background to Becoming a Pastor

Initially, I never intended to become a pastor. In 1991, I was planning to move to the United States to join my family and pursue business opportunities. While I was in England, however, I had a spiritual experience that completely changed the direction of my life. That is when I decided to return to Pakistan. I genuinely believed I would change Pakistan within one year. That one year eventually became more than three decades. Looking back now, I do not know how much Pakistan has changed because of me, but I know that I myself have changed a great deal during these 33 years.

Before entering ministry, I experimented with several businesses, including schools and other ventures. Many of those efforts failed because people cheated me or took advantage of the situation. Gradually, I became more involved with the International Christian Fellowship, and in 2003 I was given responsibility to lead the church. I became the first national pastor of this international independent church, which had previously been led mostly by expatriates.

I believe one of the challenges in Pakistan is that there is often little accountability or professional training for religious leadership. Anyone can become a pastor or Imam without proper preparation. Although formal qualifications are not always required, I believe education, ethical leadership, and critical thinking are extremely important. That is why I value the recent development of accredited Christian Studies programs in institutions like
Forman Christian College University.

Training, Mobilization, and Community Development

A major part of my work involves training and mobilization besides pastoring the international church. We conduct courses such as Building Healthy Leaders, Building Healthy Youth, Empowered to Influence, and Parenting with a Global Vision. For example, every year we organize training programs in Murree where participants come from across Pakistan, including Karachi, Quetta, Hyderabad, and many other cities.

One course that deeply influenced me personally was the Kairos Course, which is a nine-session, interactive discipleship and mission’s mobilization program. Through it, I began reflecting seriously on ethnic prejudice and social discrimination. Growing up in Libya, I held many stereotypical attitudes toward Bengalis and Urdu-speaking communities without questioning them. Over time, I realized that every community deserves equal dignity and
respect. That process of learning changed me personally and spiritually.

For me, leadership development is not simply about teaching skills. It is about transforming how people understand themselves, their communities, and their responsibilities toward others.

Areas Where We Must Reflect and Improve as a Nation

I believe Pakistan’s greatest crisis is not a lack of resources, but a lack of righteousness, character and integrity. I firmly believe in the biblical wisdom recorded in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people (NIV)”. That is our main problem as a nation that is lack of righteousness which is sin, otherwise we are a nation with intelligent and hardworking people, enormous natural resources, and tremendous potential. However, corruption and self-interest continue to weaken our institutions and our society. I hope to write a book engaging critically with Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, particularly exploring the ethical limits of a society driven primarily by self-interest and material gain.

I often say that without godly character and righteousness, no amount of wealth or development can sustain a nation. Corruption has become embedded within systems and institutions in our country. I personally spent eight years trying to complete the mutation of my father’s land because I refused to pay a bribe. The matter only moved forward after repeated complaints to senior government offices and the local Ombudsman. I have faced similar frustrations while dealing with taxation and administrative systems. Churches and charities should ideally receive exemptions or reduced utility rates, as they do worldwide, yet we are often charged commercial rates as though we are profit-making organizations.

I also believe we need to recognize that different faiths are genuinely different, and that this difference should not be feared. Peaceful coexistence does not require pretending that all religions are the same. It requires respect, dialogue, and the willingness to listen to one another honestly. Ethical values such as honesty, compassion, and justice are shared across humanity, but theological differences also exist and should be discussed respectfully rather than with disrespect, intolerance, or violence.

Critical thinking is very important in this process. We should be able to disagree, ask questions, and exchange ideas without hatred or extremism.

Concluding Reflections

The teachings of Jesus Christ are ultimately centered on love- love for God and love for one’s neighbor. And all of the law is fulfilled within these two commandments. The Christ’s law is the law of love! I believe all meaningful social and ethical change begins there.

I also believe that national transformation requires intentionality, prayer, and personal responsibility. For many years I have prayed daily for Pakistan, for its government, establishment, institutions, its communities, and its people. I believe real change begins not only through policies and systems, but through transformation of the human heart.

At the same time, I strongly believe in respectful interfaith engagement. I have had many conversations with Muslims and people of other faiths where we listened to one another sincerely and learned from each other respectfully. That, in my view, is how coexistence should function- not through hostility or extremism, but through dialogue, humility, and mutual respect.

One of our greatest problems today is that people are often unwilling to listen to differing perspectives or acknowledge their own mistakes. Without reflection, humility, and openness, societies become more divided. But when communities engage each other with sincerity and respect, peaceful coexistence becomes possible. Only with peace, can we fulfil welfare needs collectively.

Notes

[1] The ‘Jaranwala attacks’ refers to large and violent mobs attacking the Christian community in Jaranwala, Faisalabad, Punjab province of Pakistan, on August 16, 2023. The attacks were fueled by false allegations of blasphemy against two Christian residents, with the attacks resulting in the burning or severe vandalism of at least 26 churches and the ransacking of scores of Christian homes; Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/pakistan-one-year-since-jaranwala-attack-
minority-christians-await-justice/