Bishop Salamat Khokhar
God's calling:
I received water baptism in June 1976 at the age of 12 by immersion in the Arabian Ocean. Soon after accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord, different preachers started coming to my house telling me that God had spoken to them about me and God wanted me to enter into Christian Ministry. In my early childhood, living in the worst kind of poverty, I had decided to become a BIG Businessman so I always rejected the idea of getting into Christian Ministry knowing that Ministry is not a business and it is not done to get financially rich. After getting these messages I often thought that I shall earn lots of money through Business and I shall contribute to God`s work through supporting ministries and poor people. In my heart this was my way of making a deal with God at that time.
Despite great struggle for survival in Karachi, I completed my Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a Marketing major to fulfil my obsession of becoming a Big Businessman. Even during these years various preachers asked me to accept the calling of ministry, as this is the will of God for my life. I had never been willing to accept this proposal of God and once I said to a Pastor, “why God keep sending you all people to tell me that He wants me to get into His ministry. Why doesn`t He listen to me, when I am saying I want to be a businessman and not a preacher. Why doesn`t God leave me alone and find somebody else?”
I worked at different corporations and at four places I was dismissed by my Muslim employers because they wanted me to convert to Islam to continue my job, a very common practice in Pakistan. I refused their proposal and requirement facing pressures and offers of big money from my employers. Finally, being disappointed of working for others and being pressured to convert to Islam, I started my own business.
I was doing fine with my business and made good progress until 7th May 1992. This was one week before my wedding, when suddenly I suffered a huge loss and my business was destroyed totally. There had been no reason for that loss. I could feel some supernatural intervention in my business and my plans for my life.
From that point on, the next almost 7 years I tried everything possible in business. I tried different lines of businesses and I used to run around 16 to 18 hours a day in my quest for success in life but nothing worked out at any point. My every effort resulted in total failure. The more I tried the more I got into debt and troubles. My life turned out as a total embarrassment and even my close friends did not want to associate with me.
It is needless to say that in these years God kept sending different preachers like before with the message that He wants me into Christian Ministry and my answer was the same: I want to become a Big Businessman and not a preacher.
God's Persistance:
At the end of 1998 I searched the internet for prayer ministries in the United States and I sent my prayer request for success in business to a few prayer ministries including one prayer network in California, USA. My prayer request was that God would help me to become a successful businessman.
A few days later, I received an email from a lady sister Terri E. Hansen, who was part of that particular prayer network in California. In her email she wrote: “Salamat, you are on the wrong track. God doesn`t need your business. Why don`t you do what God wants you to do?” I did not answer this email and trashed it. Sister Terri Hansen and I did not know each other and had never talked before but I knew what she was talking about.
After 40 days sister Terri Hansen sent me another email saying, “Salamat, you are suffering a lot, isn`t this suffering enough for you? Do you want to go deeper into your troubles? Why don`t you accept the will of God for your life and do what God wants you to do?” This time I replied to her and asked, “Sister Terri, what are you trying to tell me? Her answer was, “Salamat don`t be ignorant. Don`t you know that God has been calling you for His ministry for over 22 years? God will not let you run away and there is no other way out for you in life. God wants you in ministry. Surrender!”
I had been hearing similar messages for more than 22 years but my correspondence with Sister Terri was the final blow of God on my life which put me on my knees one night to repent for my stubbornness. I surrendered my life, my plans, and accepted God`s calling of ministry that day. A few years later, when I met sister Terri the second time in real life, she said to others about me “I have never seen such a man of Faith in all my life.”
Total Surrender and Ministry:
I surrendered myself for the ministry in December 1989 after my correspondence with sister Terri E Hansen. After the exact completion of my 7 – year period of trials and difficulties, God miraculously sent Brother James Bartie (a South African man of God – a white man of Dutch descent) to Karachi, Pakistan. He laid hands on me and dedicated me and my wife Cecilia for the ministry on May 8,1999 in a pubic meeting with a crowd over 800 people. He prophesied great things for me including an international healings, miracles and crusades ministry. I received the anointing of healing and miracles from God through the laying of hands by Brother James Bartie. He prophesied and said, “God says, Salamat I am taking fear out of you. People of Pakistan depend on foreigners to come and heal and bless them, but God says I am doing something new in Pakistan. I am raising a man in Pakistan who will go to the nations of the world and people will be healed and blessed”. After he laid hands on me, he again prophesied and said, “Salamat, you will be a great crusades speaker!”
On 18th July 2003, in her early 40’s, Sister Terri E. Hansen, the wonderful servant of God, went to be with the Lord. She means a lot for me as she is my spiritual mother. We miss her very much but, I am glad that she is in the best place with her Master). Glory to God. Brother James Bartie passed away on 4th October, 2007. He is with the Lord. Both my friends and mentors Sister Terri Hansen and Brother James Bartie have fought the good fight being on earth and now they are in the best place with our Savior and Master Lord Jesus Christ – Yeshua HaMashiach. Their impact and memories in my life are an inseparable part of my life, ministry and testimony.
Mission:
In the fall of 1999, Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me in an open vision and commanded to me, “The Head Seat in your ministry belongs to Me.” I love to follow His leading and give glory to Him in everything that He does through me all over the world.
From that day, God has put His Word in my mouth and He uses me as a noted Crusade speaker in Pakistan and abroad. God takes me around the world for His glory to proclaim His love and power. God has given me clear vision and a burning desire of worldwide Revival with special burden for the Western World. This vision has been confirmed prophetically by several people internationally.
God has prepared me with a special mandate to preach the message of Restoration, Gospel of The Kingdom and preparing the Bride of Christ Yeshua as He prayed in Malachi 4:4-6, Matthew 17:11, Acts 15:16, and Revelation 22:17.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)
Hebraic Roots of our Christian Faith:
Since March, 2007 God started speaking to me that I was missing the necessary message (a big piece of the puzzle) in my ministry. I started asking God to reveal that Truth and give me the missing message. God brought me to the understanding of Hebrew Roots of our Faith in The LORD Jesus Christ, The Jewish Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach and I have studied the message of Hebrew Roots under Brother Eddie Chumney – internationally renowned Hebraic Roots Teacher. After learning this message, the same Bible that I had been reading since 2nd grade became a New Living Book of God of Israel carrying much depth that I had never ever imagined. I have been teaching the message of Hebrew Roots of our Christian faith as the true faith of the Prophets of God and the disciples of our LORD Jesus Christ, The Jewish Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach. This message has given new depth and meaning to the message of the Miraculous power of God especially in the End Times.
There had been a time in my life when I refused to work for the ministry of Lord Jesus Christ. Now I know that there could be no greater honor than to serve the King of kings. I cannot thank Him enough for His Grace and Mercy who chose me to serve in His Harvest.
Glory be to God.
Bishop Salamat Khokhar
Founder and Chairman
– Bishop Salamat Khokhar Ministries
– Grace Bible Church of Pakistan
– All Pakistan Council of Churches
– Grace Bible Institute of Pakistan
– Voice of Minorities Pakistan – President