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.  

Lent Support Appeal 2017

Lent Support Appeal 2017

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 God almighty with a perfect faith, because we don’t keep fast to pleased people around us but to glorify God Almighty.

Pakistan is a land of martyrs, where intolerance is fueled by illiteracy and religious extremism. Christians and others are living in constant fear of life threat, unjust and malicious accusations of blasphemy, which can mean a death sentence.

Religious biases, discrimination, violence and targeted attacks against Christians are frequent, the latest 2017, Taliban suicide bombing in Pakistan has reached death toll at 141.

James Rehmat, Executive Director of Ecumenical Commission for Human Development – (ECHD) said, “We are a small minority having rich faith in Pakistan. The great number of oppressed Christian families is living under the constant threat of violence and struggle for survival of their daily life”.

Christians in Pakistan have had to give up everything for their faithfulness to Christ, so this Lent we are asking parishes, schools and groups, to support these vulnerable families with Survival Packs – emergency aid to help them to transform their lives and communities.

ECHD ask for prayers for the huge numbers of forgotten Christians in Pakistan, where growing Islamisation is leaving them vulnerable to targeted attacks and to displacement on a huge scale, such as in Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, where Christians rely on the Church for basic essentials and for spiritual support and comfort.

ECHD aims to reach out more than 1,000 families in this Lent appeal to strengthen our capabilities to transform the congregations and marginalized communities for promoting Christian unity in faith, witness and service for just and peaceful world.

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 to a deepening of our faith and can bear fruit not only in our lives but in the lives of those we reach out to in solidarity and communion.

Please donate generously to support the vulnerable communities in Pakistan by sending your donations to Ecumenical Commission for Human Development.

May our Lord God reward each one of you abundantly.

Look forward to your support to the success of the Lent Support Appeal.

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: +92-321-4269537
Email: james@echd.org.pk

Prayer for Rain in Pakistan

O healing river, send down your waters,
Send down your waters upon this land.
O healing river, send down your waters,
And wash the blood from off the sand.

This land is parching, this land is aching,
No seed is growing in the barren ground.
O healing river, send down your waters,
O healing river, send your waters down.

Let the seed of freedom awake and flourish,
Let the deep roots nourish, let the tall stalks rise.
O healing river, send down your waters,
O healing river, send your waters do.

African American Spiritual

PAKISTAN: Punjab, victims intoxicated by illegal alcohol at Christmas now 49

Toba Tek Singh: The death toll of people, mostly Christians, who have died after drinking toxic alcohol at Christmas in a city of the Pakistani Punjab, has risen to 49.

Rev. Julian Joseph, a prominent activist, visited the injured (about 100) still hospitalized in serious condition in the hospital in Toba Tek Singh, where the incident occurred.

He relayed the latest news to Ecumenical Commission for Human Development, according to which the alcohol poisoned by methanol came from the police station of the Christian town of Mubarakabad. "This fact - he says - poses many questions: why did the police have alcohol? And who brought it to the Christian village? ".

Most of the victims are Christians, but there are also some Muslims among them. Pakistan recently prohibited alcohol consumption. The only ones exempt from the prohibition are minorities and tourists, who can purchase liquor, wine and beer but only in authorized shops and with a permit. Given the extreme poverty of the population and close controls, often drinks are produced at home in the traditional way and may contain harmful substances such as methanol.

Rev. Julian Joseph reports that he brought comfort to the relatives of the victims. Many of them, about thirty, have already been buried and the coffins were provided by the Punjab government.

Several family members, shocked by the disaster, are still on the streets and praying for the departed souls. "May the Child Jesus – he says in conclusion - bless us all and get us through this tragedy."

Mr. James Rehmat, the General Secretary of the Ecumenical Commission for Human Development strongly condemned the incident and demanded immediate investigation is launched to determine the facts that led to such a high death tool and also identify those responsible for the incident.