In 1990 I had the privilege to meet Arif and Kathy Khan. Arif was a former Pakistanian who had come to Christ and had a desire to reach his people and turn theological books into Urdu. Akthy was his faithful wife, devoted to the Savior equal with her husband and committed to support her family and ministry vision. The Khans had met one of our New Hampshire church elders and he invited them to come and preach to our church. Arif was a compelling minister of the gospel. That one weekend encounter marked my life.
The first thing I remember was his eyes, they were filled with fire. When he talked about reaching Pakistan he was so excited and fixed and focused. It was his burden; it was a calling; it was his cross to bear! Sometimes God gives us burdens that are not meant to hamper and cripple us but to motivate us. This cross was the main impetus which drove Arif.
The second thing that always impressed me about Arif was his loyalty and love for his pastor and church. He was one of the first missionaries who was truly “sent” and under the care and authority of his local church. Every time he spoke about Trinity Baptist it was the greatest love and respect. As a pastor, I had prayed that our missionaries would have that kind of loyalty. In a day of independent operator in missions, Arif broke the mold! He desired to reclaim what Acts 13 spoke about – a church like Antioch sending their best and most capable minister to a strategic location to expand the gospel.
The third thing I have always appreciated about Arif and Kathy was their clear priorities concerning their family. When their kids struggled, they turned their attentions to deal with their kids. They recognized that their children had to come to personal, genuine saving faith on their own and not live off of Arif and Kathy’s faith – but they also accepted the responsibility to build into their children’s lives and teach them truth to save!
The final thing I was always was encouraged about the Khans was the belief that the greatest thing people needed was to get the Word of God into their minds and hearts. That meant he was thorough and devoted to accurately divide the Word of God. He also never believed in watering down the gospel – he was devoted to “let the Bible do its work.”
The Khans had ministered in Islamabad for the last decade full-time and prior to that would make strategic visits, a radio program and translating theological books in Urdu to do its pre-evangelistic work prior to moving there permanently. They established Grace Protestant Church and was making an impact.
On Monday, I stopped by the office and open what I thought was the Khans monthly newsletter. The opening line knocked me to my chair…. “with great sadness and deep grief we want to share with you on August 26, 2007 Arif and Kathy Khan were murdered in their home while serving Christ.” The details are spotted and it really doesn’t matter. Arif and Kathy are with the Lord and receiving their rewards from the Savior for whom they introduced many to in their short life on earth. The nation of Pakistan has lost a couple that loved them more than any radical religious fanatic could ever claim, because the Khans wanted to give Pakistanis the good news of eternal life and the true way to reach God. It is that salvation that is needed more then any thing else! Those in that country don’t realize what they have lost!
I called my pastor in NH and he was shocked. I called my wife and we grieved together. I informed my mission pastor, because I had asked him to get the Khans to come to NewSong for our next Global Festival. All were stunned. Then someone said…”they are true martyrs!” My grief began to lift…I realized I had the awesome privilege to have known a martyr of our faith. What an incredible thing! And like any other martyr in the history of Christianity, their blood will be the fuel for many others who will go and share the gospel to a need, angry, violent, tumultuous world! But they will go and Arif and Kathy was motivate or hinder!