Churches Calling to Action to Press Forward and Progress Gender Parity

Thursday, March 8^th marks International Women’s Day, an event marked in churches, civil society organizations and communities in Pakistan to celebrate progress in moving towards gender justice, especially in political, social, economic and religious life.

The event is also being marked here in Oikoumene Center, Lahore, organized special prayer to acknowledge achievements of Ecumenical Commission for Human Development in the area of “Gender Justice” and to celebrate their struggles together as a community of women and men.

James Rehmat, Executive Director, Ecumenical Commission for Human Development also quoted during his address that "When God Created man and women, He was thinking, Who shall I give the power to, to give birth to the next human being? And God choose woman and this is the big evidence that women are powerful".

Gender Justice is an essential part of being an ecumenical organization, support faith communities end practices that are very harmful to women and young girls, work with churches, civil society organizations, government line departments and communities to overcome hate, discrimination and violence, educates young girls and women on their fundamental rights and networking with churches to fight against gender imbalance.

On this International Women’s Day, Ecumenical commission for Human Development endorses our commitment to Gender Justice and call to action for accelerating gender parity among our partners and communities.

Lent Appeal 2018

Lent and Fasting in Christianity is neither to be hungry, giving pain, suffering to your body, nor it means to show to others that how much a fast keeper, you are. Lent is meant to repent wholeheartedly and bow down to the God Almighty with perfect faith because; we don’t keep fast to please people around us but to glorify the God Almighty.

Pakistan is a land of martyrs, where intolerance is fueled by illiteracy and religious extremism. Christians and others minorities are living in fear of life threat, religious biases, discrimination, violence, targeted attacks against Christians and malicious accusations of blasphemy, which can mean a death sentence.

James Rehmat, Executive Director of Ecumenical Commission for Human Development says that, “Christians are living with deepen faith, under a constant threat of atrocity crimes and struggle for survival in their daily lives”.

In this Lent season, Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is requesting to parishes, schools and philanthropists groups to support these oppressed families with survival packs to help them to transform their lives by reaching 200 families in promoting Christian unity in faith, witness and service for just and peaceful world. 

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development also requesting prayers for thousands of Pakistani Christian refugee families living in misery at Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, rely on the humanitarian assistance for basic essentials, spiritual support and comfort.   

There is a time of renewal for us by working together to make the most of the richness of this season, our actions of charity, fasting and prayer can lead us in deepening our faith and bear fruit not only in our lives but in the lives of those we reach out to in solidarity and communion.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is requesting you to show your compassion by donating generously and support vulnerable communities in Pakistan in cash or kinds. 

May our Lord reward each one of us abundantly!

JAMES REHMAT

Executive Director

ECUMENICAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

House No. 88, Street No. 8, Modern Colony, Nazareth Road,
Kot Lakhpat, Lahore 54000, Pakistan

Mobile: +92-321-4068372

Email: james@echd.org.pk

BRINGING HOPE AND COMPASSION FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN PAKISTAN

Christmas is the time that we celebrate God’s gift to us, the arrival of His son Jesus. Since 2010 Ecumenical Commission for Human Development has worked together and responds to Christ’s call to feed the hungry, heal the sick, raise voice for justice and welcome the refugees.  

We believe that when people all over the world work together, big changes really are possible. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to act in partnership with other passionate Christians, like you, across the globe to achieve safety, justice and dignity in communities threatened by conflict and disaster.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development team would like to say a huge thank you to all the supporters and churches that help to make our Advent Season Appeal 2016 a success.  Thanks to your support, last year the Christmas Appeal raised $3,000 to support people facing poverty, hunger, disease and injustice along with conflict and disaster.

For the past 7 years, your support through the Advent Season Appeal has brought hope and compassion to people affected by hunger, conflict and disaster in Pakistan.

We look forward to sharing the launch of the new Advent Season Appeal 2017 with you soon!

Issue by:

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development

Email: info@echd.org.pk

JUSTICE DEMANDED FOR IRFAN MASIH, SANITARY WORKER OF UMER KOT DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

LAHORE:  Ecumenical Commission for Human Development (ECHD) has strongly condemned the death of Irfan Masih, a manual sanitary worker in Municipal Committee, Umer Kot, who died in Civil Hospital on June 01, 2017 due to criminal negligence by doctors and relevant staff of civil hospital.  

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development expressed their grief over the attitude of local doctors and authorities, which clearly demonstrate discrimination meted out to low-caste Christians and Hindus. “This is not a simple accidental death. This is a clear case of caste and descent-based discrimination, which is yet to be criminalized in Pakistan,” said the statement.

James Rehmat, Executive Director – ECHD added that “People being discriminated on the basis of their professions and the refusal of emergency medical treatment on the basis of someone being polluted must be considered a criminal offence”.

According to reports Irfan Masih, working as sanitary worker had fallen unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a manhole in scorching heat without adequate safety equipment. He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition where the doctor on duty allegedly refused to touch his “sludge-covered body because he was fasting.  While the doctor said he could not touch Irfan’s body, the sanitary worker was lying in a corner of the hospital, gasping for breath. A short while later he died.

James Rehmat, Executive Director ECHD, further stated that “We condemn this incident in the strongest manner. A society becomes exceedingly dangerous when it disregards all norms of humanity. An innocent precious life was lost because someone refused to perform his duty; a duty he is under oath and obligated to perform.”

James Rehmat further demanded that the provincial health ministry and all relevant authorities to ensure that an impartial investigation is carried out, the medical practitioner concerned brought to justice and his license cancelled. He had violated his Hippocratic Oath which bound him to treat a patient under any circumstances, beyond religion and class.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is independent Christian advocacy, humanitarian aid and development agency, dedicated to support religious minorities; where they are suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faiths in Pakistan.

ALL HARD WORK BRINGS A PROFIT, BUT MERE TALK LEADS ONLY TO POVERTY. PROVERBS 14:23

ALL HARD WORK BRINGS A PROFIT, BUT MERE TALK LEADS ONLY TO POVERTY. Proverbs 14:23

Every year “Labor Day” is celebrated all over the world on the 1^st of May to honor the workers for their long and strenuous struggle. The Day provides us opportunity to recognize and pay tributes to contributions of the children, women and male workers have made to progress, prosperity and well-being of their respective communities and countries.

Pakistan is controlled and ruled by elites, comprising indomitable civil bureaucracy, landed aristocracy and its cronies, industrialists-turned politicians, religious and spiritual leaders, media tycoons and some of their powerful employees and unscrupulous businessmen. The spoiled brats of elite class join different nefarious circles for all kinds of unlawful and undesirable activities for them vulgar ostentation of money and power is essential to prove that they are closely associated with the most powerful of the country.

There are huge list of problems faced by workers and their families such as poverty, illiteracy, food and water crises, precarious work, minimum and unpaid wages, employment insurance and outdated labor laws trap people in poverty and deny fair standards to all workers. Child Labor is also growing and hundreds and thousands of children are struggling to achieve basic necessities of their life e.g., education, basic health and recreational facilities to become an active citizen of the country.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development is faith based advocacy, humanitarian relief and development agency, promoting democratic and effective labor movement for just and equitable society where the fundamental rights of people are granted and protected by the governments, firmly believes that our workers playing a pivotal role in its socio-economic development for inclusive growth leading to modern and industrialized economy through their commitment, hardworking and skilled based workforce and we acknowledge their contribution and untiring struggle.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development urge to federal and provincial governments to take all necessary and appropriate measures to updating and strengthen the labor laws, enhance the welfare and living standards of workers and families and increased the wages and technical skills institutions for workforce to meet the challenges of globalized market economy.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development firmly believes that human beings are created in the image of God and are designed to experience success and fulfillment through hard work. As Christians, we should view our jobs as an opportunity to serve God through perseverance, patience, and serve others through a Christ-like attitude.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development firmly committing to protect the dignity of labor and pay special tribute to them for their determined struggle and extend our heartiest congratulation and earnest wishes to the entire workforce in Pakistan.

ECUMENICAL COMMISSION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACKS ON COPTIC CHURCHES IN EGYPT

April, 9^th 2017, Lahore – Pakistan: Ecumenical Commission for Human Development (ECHD) condemns the heinous attacks on innocent worshipers in St George Coptic Church in Tanta and in front of St Mark´s church in Alexandria, Egypt.

According to media reports, at least 43 people were killed and more than 100 injured in two separate Palm Sunday attacks at Coptic Christian Churches in Egypt each carried out by ISIS terror group.

The first blast was happened at Saint George Church in Tanta, where at least 27 people were killed and 78 others wounded.  The state television footage showed the inside the church, where a large number of people gathered for Palm Sunday service.

A second explosion, caused by a suicide bomber who tried to storm Saint Mark’s Cathedral Church in Alexandria, at least 16 dead and 41 injured. The attack came just after the Pope Towadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria finished services, and aides told that he was unharmed.

At least three police officers were also killed in the Saint Mark Church attack, the official Interior ministry told to media.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks and vowing to step up attacks against Christians, describes as “infidels” empowering the West against Muslims.

Grand Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the leading center of learning in Sunni Islam, condemned the attacks, calling them a “despicable terrorist bombing that targeted the lives of innocents”.

James Rehmat, Executive Director of Ecumenical Commission for Human Development condemned this dastardly and inhuman attack exposes the real face of terrorism. Our heart goes out to the Coptic Christian families of Tanta and Alexandria, Egypt.

James Rehmat also added that we stand with the martyr families who lost their loved ones to share their pain and offer our deepest condolences.

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development strongly demanded to the Egyptian government, to end this menace of terrorism and should take effective measures to prevent such an atrocity and increase security and safety of Coptic Christian in Egypt. 

Ecumenical Commission for human Development  is independent Christian advocacy,  humanitarian relief and development agency, dedicated to support religious minorities, where they are suffering discrimination, oppression and persecution as a consequence of their faith in Pakistan. 

HOSANNA TO THE KING IN NEW ERA

Today, Christians around the world are celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (which we usually call “Palm Sunday,” because the crowd welcomed Him by spreading palm branches in His path).

Those who greeted Him were convinced He was the Messiah (or “anointed one”), sent by God to establish His Kingdom on earth.

Why did the crowds turn against Jesus so quickly? One week they welcomed Him, and the next week they demanded He be crucified.

The Bible says that “the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices … ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Luke 19:37-38). 

Even those who weren’t part of that welcoming crowd listened eagerly to His teaching during the next few days.

But not everyone in Jerusalem welcomed Him; the very next verse says that “the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?'” But soon many turned against Jesus and demanded His death: 

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ”? Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!'” (Matthew 27:22)

These weren’t necessarily the same people who had welcomed Him, but the reversal is still striking. Were they disappointed because He refused to establish an earthly political kingdom?

Probably, but Jesus didn’t come to set up a new political system. He came instead to change our hearts and save us from our sins by His death and resurrection. He declared during that last week;

“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight. … My kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

This deeply disappointed those who hoped He would throw out the hated Roman occupiers. They may also have disliked His demand that they repent.

Now the question is where would you have been on that first Palm Sunday?

“Among the disciples who welcomed Him—or among the skeptical crowds”

It’s easy to condemn those who condemned Jesus—but would we have acted any differently? We too are sinners, and we too have rebelled against God.

But the God still loves us, and because of Christ we can be forgiven. He came for one reason: “Christ died for sins once for all … to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). May you welcome Him into your life during this holy season.

May the spirit of this Sunday fill you heart with joy and your life with love. Have a beautiful Palm Sunday.