Interview with Boaz Gil
How did Jalal congregation form, and how did you start serving them as Pastor? Was this your first congregation?
Jalal Fellowship of Peace began very humbly on 22 June 2014 as a small Urdu speaking house fellowship in Bankstown. It was created to support migrant and refugee families from Pakistan and the subcontinent who were seeking pastoral care, Christian community, and a place to worship in their heart language. Through prayer, hospitality, and relational ministry, the Lord gradually grew this gathering into a vibrant worshipping community committed to biblical teaching, discipleship, pastoral care, evangelism, and mission.
On 13 October 2024, our fellowship moved from our home at 8 Whiteley Close, Casula, into the building of Living Water Lutheran Church. This transition came through the help of Pastor Mathew Kalarickal, an Indian Christian minister who introduced me to the Lutheran church leadership. During this time, I began attending the English service, where I met Bishop Richard Schwedes during his visit to the Church one Sunday. In my conversation with him, he encouraged me to consider becoming part of the Lutheran Church. I received this invitation with gratitude and committed to pray about it carefully.
My pastoral journey began long before Jalal. I was first ordained as a Christian minister with the Brethren Church in Pakistan and began serving a congregation in Lahore in 2001. In 2004, I was ordained in Canada to lead a South Asian church. In 2008, I moved to Australia as a permanent resident to join my family, who had migrated in 2006. During those early years, Peace Christian Church in Rockhampton supported my family as we settled in Australia. Before my Pastoral I ministry, I served in a mission organisation as staff and editor at Rahbar Family Magazine in Faisalabad and later at Nirali Kitaben Trust in Lahore.
Throughout all these transitions, my wife and I continued our house fellowship ministry. We regularly met people in public places, shopping centres, and community spaces — especially migrants and people of colour — and invited them into our home for meals, tea, or conversation. These relationships often led to prayer, pastoral care, and small group gatherings. We continued this ministry when we lived on the Sunshine Coast in 2010, and later when we moved to Sydney in 2014. Over the years, we have shared the gospel with many young people, families, and children, helping them encounter Jesus Christ.
From the moment I arrived in Australia, I served as a house group pastor because the need was clear: people were longing for pastoral care, biblical teaching, and a spiritual home. Although I had served in pastoral ministry in Pakistan and Canada, Jalal Fellowship of Peace is the first congregation I have formally pastored in Australia, and it has been one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life.
Does the name “Jalal” have a meaning or special significance to you?
Yes. Jalal is a deeply meaningful name for our congregation. In Urdu and Arabic, Jalal means “glory, majesty, honour.” It expresses our desire that everything we do — our worship, mission, fellowship, and daily life — would point to the majesty of Jesus Christ.
The name also carries personal significance for me. My father, Pastor Jalal Masih, was a pioneer of the Brethren Church movement in Pakistan alongside Brother Bekhat Singh. His faithful ministry and deep love for people shaped my own calling. Carrying his name reminds me of his commitment to proclaim Christ and His saving grace.
While I walk in the legacy of my father’s ministry, the name Jalal ultimately reminds us that the church exists to lift high the glory of God among South Asian communities in Australia. It is a constant reminder that our identity and purpose are rooted not in ourselves, but in the honour and majesty of Christ.
Jalal supports a lot of overseas missions—can you tell me more about that?
Jalal Fellowship of Peace has a strong heart for overseas mission and compassionate service, especially in Pakistan, where many communities face deep hardship and limited resources. Over the years, the Lord has enabled us to support literacy programs for children and parents, develop church leaders, youth, women, and young girls, and provide pastoral care, teaching and training for congregations experiencing isolation or difficulty.
Our ministry also includes education initiatives for working children at brick kilns; centres for street children offering basic schooling, computer and music training; women’s empowerment programs such as sewing centres and beauty training; medical camps and small dispensaries; and emergency relief during floods, earthquakes, and other crises. These partnerships have grown naturally through long standing relationships and a shared desire to encourage pastors and families who serve with very little.
Alongside this work, we operate Jalal Academy of Peace, which offers after hours teaching, tutoring, and academic support for students who cannot afford private college or university preparation. We help them study independently, prepare for government examinations, and, with our limited resources, provide scholarships to dedicated students who lack financial means. Through all these efforts, we aim to reflect Christ’s compassion and to bring hope, dignity, and opportunity to communities in great need.
How did you and the congregation find out about Lutherans/Luther?
Our connection with the Lutheran Church began through Living Water Lutheran Church in Liverpool. When our fellowship moved into their building in 2024, I began attending the English Sunday service, where I met Bishop Richard Schwedes who encouraged me to consider joining the Lutheran Church.
While I was considering his offer, I also enrolled in studies at Luther Seminary, attended Sunday worship regularly, and participated in conferences and gatherings where I met Lutheran pastors and church leaders. These experiences helped me understand Lutheran theology, worship practices, and the heart of Lutheran ministry. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality and support shown by local Lutheran congregations and pastors and Bishop Richard Schwedes.
In 2025, our congregation moved to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Eschol Park, where we now meet every Sunday at 4:30 pm for worship. Through these relationships, we discovered how deeply Lutheran theology resonates with our own commitment to Scripture, grace, and Christ‑centred teaching. The welcome, partnership, and pastoral care we received helped our congregation grow in stability, community, and confidence as we explored life within the Lutheran tradition.
Is there a style or part of ministry that you feel very passionate about?
Yes—my heart beats strongly for:
- Biblical teaching and expository preaching
- Pastoral care and shepherding
- Discipleship and mentoring
- Mission and evangelism, especially cross cultural ministry
My calling is to help people grow in Christlikeness and to strengthen families, leaders, and communities through the Word of God.
Some background on how you became a pastor / your faith story
I grew up in a Christian home where faith was lived out daily. As a pastor’s son, church life was part of my everyday experience — worship, prayer, youth ministry, choir, and supporting my father in his pastoral work. Although I was surrounded by ministry, I did not initially desire to become a pastor. Like many pastors’ children, I sometimes felt the weight of expectations and was teased by others who misunderstood our family’s life of faith and service. For a season, I resisted the idea of pastoral ministry.
Yet God gently led me toward His call. A significant medical miracle in my life awakened a deep awareness of God’s grace and faithfulness. I was baptised in June 1986, and from that point onward, I became more involved in the life of the church. Before my ordination in 2001, I studied in a seminary — even though the brethren tradition often emphasised learning through elders and practical ministry rather than formal theological education. I completed my B.Th. and a bachelor’s in communication from the University of the Punjab.
Over time, God placed a strong desire in my heart to serve His people, preach His Word, and support pastors who often labour with little encouragement. My calling grew through prayer, mentorship, and witnessing the needs of the church both in Pakistan and later in Australia. I was ordained in Pakistan in 2001, and again in Canada in 2004 to serve a South Asian congregation. When I moved to Australia in 2008, I continued house fellowship ministry, sharing the gospel with families, youth, and children from diverse backgrounds.
Becoming a pastor was never a career decision — it was a response to God’s persistent and gracious call. Through His Word, through the encouragement of the church, and through the fruit of ministry of my dad, the Lord confirmed His vocation for my life. Serving His people remains one of the greatest joys and privileges God has given me.
What are you most excited about for the future of Jalal and your role as pastor?
I am deeply encouraged by the future of Jalal Fellowship of Peace and the direction in which the Lord is leading us. I look forward to seeing our congregation grow in discipleship and spiritual maturity, with young adults and emerging leaders being equipped for faithful service in the church. Strengthening our governance and building healthy structures is also an important part of our journey, and I am grateful for the guidance and partnership of the Lutheran Church of Australia as we continue to learn and grow. We hope to deepen our relationship with the LCA, develop stronger connections with local congregations, and participate more fully in the wider life of the church.
I am also excited about the expansion of our mission work, both locally and internationally. We pray that God will raise missionaries from within our congregation, especially for ministry in Pakistan, and that we will be able to send more humanitarian aid to communities in need. We desire to show the love of Christ in practical ways and to help people who do not yet know Jesus encounter His grace and hope. We long to “strengthen our connection, raise new leaders, and continue building a church that welcomes newcomers with warmth and hospitality.”
My role as pastor is to shepherd Jalal into long‑term health, unity, and gospel‑centred mission. It is a privilege to walk with this congregation as we grow together in Christ, guided by His Word and strengthened by His Spirit.
Do you/Jalal have any exciting plans you’d like to tell us about?
Yes, our congregation is prayerfully exploring several new initiatives that reflect our desire to grow in depth, maturity, and mission. One of our hopes is to establish an annual South Asian Believers Conference, creating space for worship, teaching, fellowship, and encouragement among culturally diverse communities. We are also dreaming of developing a sports and activity space for young adults — a place where they can enjoy healthy recreation while also gathering for Bible study, youth ministry, and Christ‑centred community. Leadership development for youth and young adults remains a priority, as we want to equip the next generation to serve faithfully in the church and in the world.
We are continuing to strengthen our overseas mission partnerships and expand our community outreach in South‑West Sydney. Worship development, including multilingual ministry, is another area of growth as we seek to welcome people from different backgrounds into the life of the church. We are also working on governance and policy development to ensure our congregation grows with healthy structures, accountability, and clarity.
As part of our ongoing journey, we hope to help the church reflect on practices and traditions that may not be fully aligned with Scripture, and to revisit them with humility and openness. Our desire is not to break tradition for its own sake, but to participate in the ongoing work of reformation and revitalisation — always returning to Christ, His Word, and the gospel as our foundation. Through all these plans, we aim to make room for youth, newcomers, and families, and to build a church that is welcoming, mission‑minded, and shaped by the grace of God.
Any particular Bible verses or stories that influence you?
Several passages shape my ministry deeply:
• Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers
• Psalm 27:4 – A longing to dwell in the house of the Lord
• John 17 – Jesus’ prayer for unity
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – New identity in Christ
• Acts 2:42–47 – The life of the early church
These verses guide my preaching, pastoral care, and vision for the church.
Favourite hymn/worship song?
One of my favourite hymns is “Blessed Assurance.” It expresses the deep joy, confidence, and hope we have in Christ. It’s simple yet powerful message of assurance in Jesus’ saving work has always been a source of comfort for me and for many in our congregation.
I also love the English worship song “Yahweh, Rapha, Elohim.” This song proclaims the names of God—Yahweh our covenant Lord, Rapha our Healer, and Elohim our Creator. Each name reflects God’s character and His faithfulness to His people. The song lifts our hearts to the greatness of God and reminds us that He is present, powerful, and compassionate. It is a beautiful declaration of trust in God’s healing, saving, and sustaining grace.
As an ethnic and multilingual congregation, Punjabi worship is also very important to us. One of my favourite Punjabi songs is “Rab Khudawand Badshah Hai,” which is based on Psalm 24 (Zaboor 24). The song proclaims, “The Lord is King,” echoing the psalm’s declaration that “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” This worship song is deeply meaningful because it expresses the kingship and majesty of Christ in a language that speaks directly to the hearts of many in our community. It helps our congregation worship with cultural authenticity, joy, and reverence, and it reminds us that Jesus is Lord over every nation, culture, and people.
Together, these songs—English and Punjabi—reflect the diversity of our congregation and the unity we share in Christ. They help us worship with joy, reverence, and hope as we continue to grow as a Christ‑centred, Spirit‑led community.
Anything else you’d like to tell people?
Jalal Fellowship of Peace is a small congregation with a big heart. We are grateful for the love and welcome we have received from the Lutheran Church of Australia. Our prayer is to be a Christ centred, Spirit led, relational, and missional church that brings hope, unity, and encouragement wherever God leads us.
We look forward to continuing this journey with humility, gratitude, and faith.
