Pakistan - Forman Christan College

Today we focused on Forman Christian College, or FCCollege as it is known in Pakistan.  TheTtrembles, our hosts on campus, gave us a quick tour of the campus, and then we had a series of meetings with the college president and other administration officers.  Peter Armacost, the Rector (President) of FCC, shared a history of the college.  It was founded in 1864 by Presbyterian missionaries, and grew to be one of the formost colleges on the subcontinent.  In 1974, it was taken over by the Pakistani government, when they nationalized all schools in Pakistan.  During those years the quality of education plummeted.  The college was the first on the subcontinent to admin women in 1902, but during those years of nationalization no women were allowed to be students.  In 2003 the college was finally returned to the church.  Today there is a very strong female presence, and Christian presence, which also was almost non-existent during the nationalization years. 

The school faces a lot of challenges, but it is also one of the best hopes Pakistan has for positive change.  Numerous meetings with faculty, staff and students today shared one common theme:  education is the only hope Pakistan has, and FCC is a leader in graduating students who have been, and will be, positive leaders in Pakistan. 

So much more could be said...

• I could tell you about a free program Dr. Armacost's wife has set up for the poorest women workers on campus, to teach them how to read and write, and how 2 years after the program began, the mothers were coming to her asking for them to educate their children.  They didn't know how important education was, until they began to get some themselves.
• I could tell you about how FCC is developing programs to train teachers in other schools, to increase the quality of edcuation beyond FCC
• I could talk about how FCC models peaceful interfaith harmony
• I could talk about how it is the only place in Pakistan where Christians can come to learn the Bible, Christian theology, and grow in Christian leadership
• I could talk about the dedication to Christian faith and Christian mission the faculty has, in the face of real danger for Christians in today's Pakistan.

I could go on, but suffice it to say, God is doing amazing things here, and so much more still needs to be done.  Keep the college and their leaders in your prayers!

One last thing - we particpated in the assesments of students as they did the English exams, and it was a joy to be a part of their educational experience!