ACM REPORT: A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ASIAN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES, INC.

ACM Report: A quarterly publication of

the Asian Christian

Ministries, Inc.

Reaching South Asians for Christ in North America, Middle East, and South Asia.

Winter 2018

A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2017, NINE WORSHIPPERS WERE KILLED AND OVER FIFTY WOUNDED IN A TERROISTS ATTACK ON A CHURCH IN QUETTA, PAKISTAN

IN RECENT YEARS CHRISTIANS HAVE BECOME TARGET OF TERRIFYING ATTACKS FOR BOTH

TERRORITS AND MUSLIM MOBS

Life of poverty and hardship

This perhaps is the best way to describe the living conditions of Christians in Pakistan, a Muslim country with papulation of 194.9 million. Majority of the 3 per cent Pakistani Christians live in villages without electricity, roads and proper sanitation facilities. Cattles are still used to plow the fields and instead of trucks, bullock carts are used to transport crops. Usually there are only a hand full of Muslim landlords, and most Christians villagers work for them. Workers are paid with grain and little cash. Thus, Christian formers must depend on Muslim landlords for their major financial needs, such as weddings of their children, building small homes and medical expenses.

According to some satistics nearly seventy percent of Christians live in villages. However some Christian villagers are now moving into near by towns and urban areas. But for those who remain behind life has not changed much for hundreds of years. They remain victims of presecution and religious discrimnation. 75 Christins were killed and over 300 wounded in a attack on Easter Sunday in 2016. A year before, two blasts killed 15 and injured over 70 in Christian community near the city of Lahore. In September 2013, 127 Christians were killed and many more wounded near the city of Peshawar.

In city like Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi Christians live in lower-class enclaves just a short distances from

some of the poshest residental and commercial areas. Discimination in the country determines the careers of Chrisitian workers. Jobs such as sanitation workers, street sweepeers, garbage collectors and sewer cleaners are given only to non-Muslims. In the city of Lahore 6,000 out of 7,894 sanittion worker are Christians. One of the waste management company in Isalmabad (the Capital city) empolys 15000 workers and all of them are Christians.

Burning Christian homes and churches

Protests after the devastating attacks on Christians in Pakistan

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While security is provided during the worship services on Christmas and Easter, terrorists attacks on Christians have become part of reality for Pakistni Christians. We seek your earnest prayers for this tiny monirty of Christian believers in Pakistan, the second largest Muslim country in the world. .

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Philadelphia, PA Presbyterian Church of Pakistan (PCP), the first church organized by Asian Christian Ministries in June 1098, participated in the 300th anniversary of Philadelphia Presbytery held on October 7, 2017.

The Session of PCP

On October 7, 1717 the Presbytery of Philadelphia was officially organized. At the tricentennial celebration, PCP presented a gift of $2000.00 to the Presbytery, PCP choir and its members also participated in the feastivities.

In 2005 PCP was chartered by the Presbytery of Philadlphia and Rev. Shahbaz Khan was called to be the first Pastor of the church. He served the congregation till 2016, after which he accepted a call from the South Asian Fellowship in Los Vagas, NV. Rev. Khurshid Shariff from Karachi, Pakistan is now serving PCP.

South Asian Presbyterian women in the USA

More and more South Asian women are getting involved in the church activities, where as they always took the back seat to men in church matters in the past.

Coming from a culture where they were to be silent and learn from men in submission, they now are serving on the board of Deacons and sessions of their churches, chairing different committees, and taking leading roles in their local communities.

Officers of PCP in Philadelphia, PA

Church Bazzar Dallas, TX

This indeed is a welcoming and long over due change in the South Asian community. ACM has advocated equal rights for women in all aspect of South Asian communities. It is heart warming to see the rights of women being implimented in our churches and society. We encourage women of all ages to come and serve the community with their God given wisdom and skills.

A world of opportunity for missions right here at home:

Each year thousands of immigrants enter the US borders and settle in our communities and neighborhoods. They retain their languages, culture and religious traditions but have very little understanding of our cultural values and our religion.

According to the 2015 American Community Survey, the South Asian immigrant population alone has grown by 38 per cent, almost fifteen times the national growth rate.

One of the main focus of Asian Christian Ministries is to reach out to these new Americans with the love of Jesus Christ and help them assimilate in the American way of life and worship.

We do that by planting churches and training skilled leadership within the South Asian immigrant communities. In the last seventeen years 12 Presbyterian churches/Fellowships have been started to meet the spiritual and social needs of the new South Asian Americans.

As the first generation of immigrants struggles to make a place for them in their new homeland, they also prepare the second generation to take their rightful place in the order of things. The church is no exception. Young South Asians are entering schools and theological seminaries, and soon will be ready for the leadership of the church and commmunity. Your prayers and financial support is making all this a reality. ACM seeks your help in order to help others. Thank you so much for your partnership and prayers!

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Philadelphia, PA

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Rehab Project’s Director targeted

Since 2016 Shakila Rani, Director of the Rehab Project in Gujranwala, Pakistan has been criticized for helping women who are the victims of domistic violence. Much of the criticism has been coming from the more fundamental and redical elements in the area. Things got out of hands last month when her home was burgerlarized. A number of men entered her house with guns and tied her up, her husbsand, who is home for a visit from Saudi Arabia, and their children with rops. They began to ask questions regarding the family’s finacial matters.

Shakila Rani, Director Rehab Project

At the end they took everything and any thing that was of value, with the warning to stop her activities. The family was left tied up till they were found the next day by relatives. Police report has been filed but it is doubtful that police will ever find the perpetrators or the family’s property. Shakila has been heading the Rehab Project for last ten years, and has visited several times the churches and friends of her work in the USA.

Dr. Debby Brincivalli,Exec.Presbyter, West Jersey Presbytery and Shakila

Christmas at Doris Hersh Schools

Christmas for a tiny minorty of Christians in Pakistan is a very special time of the year. They go all out to celebrate the birth of Christ, and it is not so different with children of the Doris Hersh Educational Project.

On Friday December 22nd Christian students from all of ACM’s schools got togather to celebrate Christmas. Many Muslim students and their parents also participated in the feastivities.

The day began with a luncheon (top) after which, students competed in different sports in the afternoon. Program ended with a grand Christmas play (center). Gifts were exchanged among students and teachers, and finally everyone went to their homes to welcome the baby Jesus.

After Christmas break schools were reopned on the 3rd of January 2018. Final exames of the school year will begin in the middle of March with annual graduation schduled to be held on Saturday March24, 2018.

Christian Education

Christian education was once the back bone of Christianity in Pakistan. Back in the 50s and 60s Sunday school was held in the late afternoon. Hundreds of children and adults came to learn the Word of God. Older folks still can resite the holy scripture they memorized as children.

But things are different now. Sunday schools do not have importance they once had. Sunday school classes are held parallel to the worship hour for children. Adults do not attend Sunday schools, and emphesis has shafted from learning and teaching the Bible to church politices.

ACM is working with village pastors and lay leaders to revive Christian Education in churches. In Muslim Pakistan church is the only place where kids can learn about the Bible, and pratice their faith.

“Go make disciples….teaching them all things that I have comanded you.” As we seek to obey the Great Commission, we seek your prayers for persecuated Christians of Pakistan, and safty and security of those who diligently carry out the Lord’s command. It is not easy to live as Christian in a hostile envornment but it is a joy to know the Lord Jesus.

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I. Missions in North America

1. Church planting 2. Outreach and Evangelism 3. Theological education 4. Leadership training 5. Human Services 6. Immigration and legal service 7.Youth and women ministry 8. Family retreats/conferences

II. Missions Overseas

1. Outreach and Evangelism 2. Doris Hersh Educational Project (Pakistan) 3. The Rehab Project (Pakistan) 4. Bridge of Hope Ministries (India) 5. Burma Missions (Myanmar) 6. Theological Education 7. Leadership training 8. Financial Assistance (Micro-loans) for women 9. Sewing School for women

III. Our Current Needs

Financial support for:

The Rehab Project (Pakistan) Doris Hersh Educational Project (Pak) Bridge of Hope Ministries (India) Burma Missions Medical assistance for ACM’s Staff and workers in South Asia ACM staff support in USA

P.O. Box 383 Blackwood, New Jersey 08012

Doris Hersh Educational Project

Board of Directors Rev. Dr. Hameed Barkat, D.Min. Rev. Dr. Louis Nowasielski, Th.D. Rev. Abdiel Y. Khan, D.Min Mr. Kundan Lal Nasir, M.Div. Rev. Shahbaz Khan, M.Div. Elder Emmanuel Alam

Staff in America Rev. Dr. Emanuel Nasir, M.Div. STM, Th.D. Director Rev. P. Gabriel Devathala, M.Div. Associate for Missions Rev. Dr. Louis Nowasielski, Th.D. Associate for Theological Education

Asian Christian Ministries, Inc.

is a non-profit religious

organization. All gifts and

contributions are tax

dedectable.

Contact us at:

Asian Christian Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 383 Blackwood New Jersey 08012 Phone: (856) 504 - 3014

E-mail: jfa1990@comcast.net

Visit us on line: www.acm1990.net

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