THE FRONTIER NEWS - Peshawar Diocese - Church of Pakistan News/Frontier News-July,2015.pdf · doctors/psychiatrics was invited ... Issue VII The Frontier News ... [email protected]

Individual Highlights

• Synod; A fresh wind of hope 1

• Junior Church Summer Camp 2

• Youth Summer Camp 3

• Care camp for orphans’ 3

• Community Development 4

• New hope for Aasia Bibi 4

Synod; A fresh wind of hope!

THE FRONTIER NEWS July: 2015

Diocese of Peshawar – Church of Pakistan

The Christian community of Pakistan makes up to 3% of the total population. The majority of them belong to lower, or the lower middle class. Thus, their respective churches and denominations have their own programmes for their congregations. However, the Synod, Church of Pakistan works for the uplift of the Christian Community from all over Pakistan, without any denominational discrimination. The Synods General Secretary Col.( R) Kanwal Isaac, who also happens to be the Treasurer of the Diocese of Peshawar informed the representative of the Frontier News that ‘Nomination Committee of the Synod, Church of Pakistan, headed by the Rt. Revd. Kaleem John, Bishop of Hyderabad was held at the ‘Bishop’s Lodge’ Khaira Gali, the newly acquired Retreat Centre of Peshawar Diocese, from 24-26 July, 2015. The purpose of this meeting was to complete the unfinished agenda/business, regarding the nominations of the members

of different committees and commission.

Thus, around 17 different committees With different tasks were formed and their committee members were nominated for the uplift of the Church in Pakistan, and to look after and promote the larger interest of Christian community in Pakistan. These, commission and/or the committees will also help the oppressed committees, especially to help the Christian communities during natural or the manmade disasters or calamities; such as Floods, Earthquakes, Terrorism incidents, Internally Displaced Persons, etc.

Apart from natural disasters or calamities the Christian community also faces a lot of social problems and legal issues; including negative discrimination. Blasphemy laws, Christian marriages laws, Divorce and many other issueswhich the above mentioned committees of the Synod will help, facilitate, solve and highlight at a higher political, religious and governmental level ,even at an International level for the greater interest of the community. A fresh wind of hope!

Meeting in Progress

Bishop’s lodge, Khaira Gali

Synod members enjoying the weather

The Rt. Revd. Kaleem John, Bishop of Hyderabad with Synods members

The Junior Church Summer Camp

Page 2 July 2015 ● Volume VIII, Issue VII ● The Frontier News

20-25 July, 2015: The Diocesan Junior Church Desk, held its summer camp in collaboration with Scripture Union Pakistan at

Donga Gal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Mrs. Naveeda Razaq, Coordinator Junior Church was among the main organizers.

Theme of this summer camp was; Who is Jesus Christ? All churches and parishes of the Peshawar Diocese sent their delegates for participation in this summer camp; including St John’s Cathedral, Peshawar, Bannu, D.I.Khan, Thall, University Campus, Peshawar, Tarbella, Swat, Tank, Risalpur, along with the Junior Church Teachers. The keynote speakers included; Mr. Manawar Gill, Mr. David Bhatti and Mr. Abi Saloom of the Scripture Union, and Mrs. Naveeda Razaq of the Peshawar Diocese. The theme of the summer camp was specifically chosen to introduce Jesus Christ and His personality to the children, who during the sessions were fascinated, and their love for Jesus Christ was evident from the excitement on their innocent faces. Special songs on the theme were also taught to the children who sung it beautifully, with passion love and devotion. During this summer camp special sessions for the Junior Church Teachers were also held. Thus, their knowledge and skills were enhanced to teach, and interact with children. The Revd. Shahzad Murad, Secretary Mission and Ministry also visited the camp who was warmly welcomed by the children and staff. His visit was a source of encouragement for the children, staff and the organizers. The camp ended with prayers, and Mrs. Naveed Razaq thanked her staff, coworkers, and especially the Scripture Union staff

for their help and cooperation. She also awarded them special souvenirs of the Junior Church. They, in return thanked the

Junior Church, its staff and Peshawar Diocese for their collaboration and to help the children to grow in Jesus Christ.

Junior Church camp group photo

Children involved in group activities

Teachers teaching the children

Skit on the parable of Ten Virgins

Revd Shahzad’s session with childrens

Revd. Shahzad accepting a souvenir from Revd. Razaq

Youth Summer Camp, 2015

Page 3 July 2015 ● Volume VIII, Issue VII ● The Frontier News

Mr. Insar Gohar, Youth Officer, Diocese of Peshawar informed the Frontier News that theme of the Summer Camp was, "Our Identity, Faith & Responsibilities, as Christian Youth". The camp was held at the Diocesan Retreat Centre, Dunga Gali, from 6 - 11 July 2015. Various teaching sessions, Bible studies, discussions, and other activities were arranged at the Camp. The campers were blessed through Biblical teachings, and Praise & Worship sessions. The Rev. Shahid Younas from Kohat Parish led sessions on 'The Path of a Christian', and 'The Church History'. Mr. Justin John, the Director of Education, ARP Church was also invited as a guest speaker, he led sessions on 'His Kingdom & His Righteousness' and 'Our Identity as Christian'.

Rev. Shahzad Murad, Secretary, Mission

& Ministry especially visited the camp for encouragement of the youth. He also led a session on 'Our Faith & Responsibilities as Christian'. Whereas, Mr. Insar Gohar, led the morning Bible Study sessions, with a focus on 'An Effective Christian Life'. The youth leaders, Mr. Bakhtbuland Peters, Mr. Samroon John and Miss Sumbal Javed led Activity-based sessions and involved the campers in various activities. The campers were also taught various Biblical and moral lessons through these activities. A ‘Special Prayer Meeting’ was also held in which Praise & Worship and Intercessory prayers were offered before Almighty God. A 'Talent Night Show' was also arranged, and the youth exhibited their talent through skits, dramas, and singing etc.

Group photo of the campers

The Diocese of Peshawar has formed a ‘Care-Team’ for the orphans and widows of the All Saints' Church Peshawar. This care-team visits orphans, widows and their children from time to time, and spends time with them in prayer, and enquires about their needs as well. On 13 - 18 July 2015, a Care-camp was organized at O'Spring, Murree, with the kind cooperation of the South Korean Missionaries (Presbyterian Church, South Korea). This camp was organized to provide counseling, prayer support and a spiritual environment where participants could spend time with Lord, our God. A special team of doctors/psychiatrics was invited from South Korea, who spent time with the orphan children and widows, and provided counseling for those who are still going through trauma of the incident.

Care Camp for Orphans

Group Photo of Youth Summer Camp

Page 4 July 2015 ● Volume VIII, Issue VII ● The Frontier News

The Bishop’s E-mail: Contact Us at:

[email protected] [email protected]

The Diocesan Centre E.Mail Visit Us at:

[email protected] www.peshawardiocese.org

Community Development!

Aasia Bibi

Support for a poor Christian Lady working on a rural farm in Pakistan has been phenomenal. Her accuser would have never thought of such consequences coming out of her malicious demeaning of Aasia Bibi.

The Aasia Bibi’s name came into the limelight when she was sentenced to death in 2010, allegedly blamed for blasphemy. Mr. Salman Taseer (Late), Governor of Punjab, Pakistan was killed by his own bodyguard, only because he intervened to get her justice.

After the recent preliminary hearing of Aasia Bibi case and suspension of her death sentence until further hearing of her appeal by the Supreme Court (SC), new hope for justice has risen for her.

Amazingly, it became breaking news within the next10 minutes, not only on the Pakistan media but also throughout the world. The global media has never stopped talking about her agony. She is not the only Christian woman charged under the blasphemy law; there are several, some of whom have fled the country. Others were freed by the courts but are still living in hiding and no one cares about them, apart from their own families, the Christiancommunity and may be a few NGO’s.

New Hope for Aasia Bibi Courtesy: Daily Times, Lahore

The Diocesan Development & Relief Sector’s (D & R ) training courses for the uplift of the ‘Female’ Community in the field of Ultrasound, Dental Technology, Medical Technology, Lady Health Visitors and courses in Lab-Technology, sponsored by the Church of Scotland are running smoothly.

All students from Peshawar, Mardan, D.I.Khan and Bannu are receiving their monthly stipends through Development & Relief Sector of the Peshawar Diocese without any hindrance, and in return all the trainees are working hard, thus showing performance through good results, and positive feed-back from their respective institutions is a sign of encouragement for the organizers.

The Revd. Altaf Gohar, Secretary D& R, and Mr. RabNawaz, Assistant Director, D & R, visit all the training centre (in different parts of the province) fortnightly, on regular basis to see the progress made at first hand. Thus, they meet both the trainees and the trainers to encourage and support them to carry-on the good work.

Nosheen Niamat, Mardan Dental Training, 1st Year “ I am grateful to the Diocese and its

partners for providing this wonderful

learning, opportunity as the Medical

Trainings in different fields will uplift

our Scio-economic status.” She further

added that although the Government

has some quota for the Minorities but sometimes it’s just a false promise for many. But this is real, and we pray for those who have provided this practical opportunity.

Pulwasha Saleem , D.I.Khan Student of 3rd year, Doctorate in Pharmacy She said “ I have been offered a month’s Internship at the Combine Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, which I did successfully and they offered me a job as well, but I turned it down, as the Diocesan programme has provided me the opportunity to complete my Final Year to become a qualified professional. Later, I intend to work at a Diocesan Hospital.” “ Thanks to the Diocese, and the Church of Scotland.” She added.

Similarly, most of the students are very happy and are looking forward to a bright future after they complete their respective courses. All seem obliged to the Diocese and the Church of Scotland. Many students requested the organizers through the Frontier News to continue this programme as an ongoing facility in the future as well, for the Scio-Economic uplift of the Christian community, especially the female population.