PRISON MINISTRY DIOCESE OF PESHAWAR CHURCH OF PAKISTAN

St. Johns Cathedral, 1-Sir Syed Road, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Volume:1 May 2008 Newsletter:1

DIOCESE OF PESHAWAR:

The Diocese of Peshawar (DoP), whose territory coincides with North West Frontier Province, is one of the eight (8) Dioceses that constitute the Church of Pakistan (CoP), which was formed in 1970 as a result of a union between Lutherans, Scottish Presbyterians, Methodists and the Anglicans. The Church of Pakistan has a synod, which is supreme governing body.

Peshawar Diocese was created in 1980. it is the largest Diocese in the country in terms of area. The total number of Christians living in the Province is around one hundred thousand (100,000) out of a provincial population of around Seventeen (17) million.

BACKGROUND: In 1996, Diocese of Peshawar set up a PRISON MINISTRY desk under its Mission and Ministry Board. The Prison Ministry addresses the spiritual needs of imprisoned men, women and children, and helps them to become productive citizens. This ministry is exclusively supporting the neglected who are engaged in litigation. Initially, Rev. Nadeem Sadiq of the Peshawar Diocese was looking after the desk but since November 1, 2005, Rev. Rashid Nazir has taken over the responsibility of the Prison Ministry. He regularly visits the Correctional Centres (Jails). There are three (3) main correctional centers in the pastoral and Episcopal area of the Diocese of Peshawar, Church of Pakistan. Ms. Reena Patrick, Coordinator Women Desk of Peshawar Diocese also visits the correctional centers and is especially serving among the captive women and children. SERVICES OFFERED: The Prison Ministry offers the following services:

Directs pastoral and sacramental ministry to imprisoned men, women and children. Educates the community on the

nature of imprisonment and the needs of the prisoners, and their families. Advocates for the rights of the

imprisoned. Work with the civic and

community leaders for a more just and humane correctional system. Rev. Rashid Nazir leading the prayer and worship at Haripur Jail.

There are thirty five (35) Christian captives in different jails of North West Frontier Province. They are mostly charged with Illegal Drug Trafficking. Majority of them are foreigners from African continent. The prison ministry Chaplain visits them on weekly basis.

We are privileged to have the support and cooperation of the local prison authorities. We thank God for His courage and strength through which we enable the incarcerated men, women and children to lead a respectable life and become an instrument of service to the whole people of God. COMMENTS FROM SENIOR SUPERITENDENT JAIL, PESHAWAR:

Since 1996, the pastors from Diocese of Peshawar, Church of Pakistan are visiting the Christian prisoners. They meet specifically with the Pakistani and foreign prisoners. They arrange special services for the prisoners take food with them and even distribute gifts among the prisoners. On Easter and Christmas the Bishop of Peshawar Diocese also visit the prisoners and share the word of God with them. We appreciate their services for helping these prisoners to feel sorry for their actions and transform their lives. Rev. Rasheed Nazir very patiently works with these prisoners and has changed the lives of many

prisoners. We trust with their cooperation we will be able to make these prisoners a valuable citizens and responsible members of their families.

The jail administration cooperates whole heartedly with the Church representatives in our mutual aim to give these people another chance to change their lives for good. Masood ul Rehman Senior Superitendent Jail, Peshawar. COMMENTS FROM HARIPUR JAIL:

Following are the comments from Mr. James Chidiebere and Mr. Madamas. They are detained in Haripur Jail.

“We are in Haripur Jail for last few months. We belong to Accra, Ghana. We are detained for illegal drug trafficking.

We are happy to write that Rev. Rasheed Nazir, of Peshawar Diocese, Church of Pakistan, visits us every Friday. He made us realize our mistakes. He reformed our lives in the light of the Holy Bible. We are pleased that through him we have finally been able to transform our lives. We look forward to live a respectable life after we have served our one year sentence in this jail.

In a foreign land, the services of Peshawar Diocese, Church of Pakistan is commendable. We trust that with Christ as our personal savior we will become witness of Jesus Christ our Lord. Rev. Rashid Nazir with detainees at Haripur Jail.

We are also grateful to Bishop Mano Rumalshah and Rev. Rasheed Nazir for holding Holy Communion services for all the Christian prisoners. It is a moment when we all praise God and look back at our lives. We all thank Peshawar Diocese Church of Pakistan for their love and concern. “ REPORT FROM MS. REENA PATRICK, WOMEN DESK:

One day I was sitting in my office and was going through an Urdu newspaper. My eyes stopped at news that stated “many women have been released from Lahore jail.” I wished I could do the same for women prisoner in Peshawar jail. I was so amazed, when I received a call from the Prison Ministry Chaplain asking me to visit Peshawar jail with him.

This was my first ever visit to a jail. As we reached there I got so scared, there were huge walls, barbed wires, large number of policemen, small barracks confining many women. I silently prayed to God to give me the

strength and courage to face all this.

A lady constable escorted me to a barrack where Christian women were confined. There I met a Nepali and African women, they all were involved in drug trafficking. Following is Mariam’s story:

“Mariam, a Nepali Christian, has no sister or brother just an old mother back in Nepal. She was caught for drug trafficking, two months ago. As she remembered her old mother she started crying, I could not stop myself from crying. I also felt sad for her old helpless mother waiting desperately for her daughter to return. She is unaware of the fate of her daughter. I read a passage from the Holy Bible (Hebrew Ch: 13).”

After hearing their stories, I asked them if they feel sorry for what they have done. They all confessed their mistake. We worshiped together and I was surprised at their enthusiasm while praying.

They are living with a hope that one day they will go back to their families and will live an honored and respectable life. But they are happy that this experience has brought them closer to Jesus Christ. I also introduced them to a Bible correspondence course, which will help them to know God and hopefully in Him their lives will transform. The Bishop leading the Holy Communion Service

I have already developed a friendly relationship with them; I feel a responsibility towards them. I trust to do all that I can to comfort their lives and they may become a witness to Lord our God.

“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:19) Nobody is perfect and cannot stop himself from doing wrong.

Please remember all those who are in prison, they need your support and prayers.

We need seasonal bedding, bed sheets, blankets,

seasonal clothes, shoes soap, toothpastes, shampoos and dry edible items.

If you wish to help, please contact at the address

mentioned below.

Diocese of Peshawar, Church of Pakistan is grateful to all its friends and partners for their support and cooperation.

SPECIAL REQUEST:

Dear friends, the Prison Ministry of the Peshawar Diocese wish to reach out to all the Christian prisoners who are imprisoned because of their faith and suffering from various adversities like poverty, lawlessness and persecutions.

Prisoners enjoying Christmas lunch We need your moral, spiritual and financial support to help the imprisoned men,

women and children of our society.

For more information, please contact:

Rev. Rashid Nazir Chaplain Prison Ministry Diocese of Peshawar – Church of Pakistan Diocesan Centre 1-Sir Syed Road, Peshawar, NWFP Pakistan. Telephone No.+92-91-5276519 Email:commdeskdop@gmail.com