Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
The Alabama Baptist
  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • The Kids Edition
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

‘Fertile soil’: Shina man searches for truth, finds Christ

Many years ago, a believer gave Barkhat’s father a Bible.
  • October 2, 2025
  • International Mission Board
  • International Mission Board, Latest News
A Pakistani Christian man reads his Bible during a Sunday morning worship service.
IMB Photo

‘Fertile soil’: Shina man searches for truth, finds Christ

Many years ago, a believer gave Barkhat’s father a Bible.

“I have wanted to understand the Bible since I was a child,” Barkhat told two believers who came to his home to share the gospel. Over the next few days, they read the Bible together two or three times a day, and Barkhat soaked in the Word.

Subscribe to The Alabama Baptist today!

SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.

For two nights, Barkhat couldn’t sleep. He was a Shina man, and like most other Shina in Pakistan, he had followed Islam. But he had become disillusioned with Islam and had started searching for truth in Buddhism and atheism, finding no peace.

On the second night of wrestling with the message of the gospel, he picked up the Bible and read the parable of the sower (Luke 8:11-15). “I want to be the fertile soil!” he said.

‘I believe!’

That night, he read the entire Book of Romans, and the truth became clear. He put his faith in Jesus. “I believe!” he told the believers the next morning. “I have chosen to follow Jesus,” he boldly declared to his father.

Amazingly, his father replied, “You are an adult, and you can choose your own path.”

Barkhat was then baptized, celebrating his new life in Christ. In the days that followed, he visited with believers, read the Word, and his faith grew stronger.

Ways to pray

Please pray that his transformation will encourage friends and family to ask about this change.

Pray that through Barkhat’s testimony, many others will follow Jesus.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Josie Gabdon and originally published by the International Mission Board. 

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Pedro’s ‘light’ shining where ‘there is no church … but there are people yearning for truth’
    Pedro’s ‘light’ shining where ‘there is no church … but there are people yearning for truth’
    May 7, 2026/
    0 Comments
  • State House floods as Alabama House, Senate advance special session bills
    State House floods as Alabama House, Senate advance special session bills
    May 7, 2026/
    0 Comments
  • 75th annual National Day of Prayer expected to draw millions of participants
    75th annual National Day of Prayer expected to draw millions of participants
    May 7, 2026/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Pedro’s ‘light’ shining where ‘there is no church … but there are people yearning for truth’

May 7, 2026

In one small Mexican village, life comes with a hard, practical rhythm. Children finish eighth grade and are quickly pulled

State House floods as Alabama House, Senate advance special session bills

May 7, 2026

The Alabama House of Representatives and State Senate on Wednesday passed two bills to allow special primary elections for certain State Senate and congressional districts if courts let the state revert to old maps.

75th annual National Day of Prayer expected to draw millions of participants

May 7, 2026

Southern Baptists are among many who will pray in churches, businesses and the public square today (May 7 ) on the 75th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer, months ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial.

UM graduation set for May 9; Rick Lance to give commencement

May 6, 2026

The University of Mobile will honor more than 300 graduates during commencement Saturday, May 9, on the Dr. Fred and Sue Lackey Great Commission Lawn on campus.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist

Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209

Copyright © 2026 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Our Staff
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Hi reader.
We’re a nonprofit Christian news ministry. 
Our mission is to provide grace-filled, trustworthy journalism from a Christian worldview. We make our reporting freely available online because we believe people should have access to reliable information.

Reader support helps sustain this work, offset rising costs, and allow us to continue providing affordable resources to churches and ministries. If you value this work, would you consider supporting our mission today?

Support Our Ministry

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel