Presbyterian Education Board - May 2022 Update
Veda Javaid, Executive Director of Presbyterian Education Board, and Margy Trimble, Chair of the PEB Board with a group of children
Lahore, Pakistan
During a recent visit to Pakistan, the team from The Outreach Foundation was pleased to meet Veda Javaid, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Education Board, and PEB Board Chair Margy Trimble. Both are pictured above. We are happy to continue our partnership with the Presbyterian Education Board. They recently sent us an update with some wonderful news as well as the current state of affairs in Pakistan. Let us keep PEB and each of our friends in Pakistan in our prayers during this unsettled time in the country.
Dear friends,
Greetings from Pakistan! Pakistan is facing crucial problems these days. The "No Confidence Motion" against Prime Minister Imran Khan has increased uncertainty in policies together with rising inflation, the widening deficit, and the increase in global commodity prices.
However, despite Pakistan's current gloomy situation, PEB has witnessed the presence of God's hand.
Ten members of The Outreach Foundation, including leadership and board members, visited the Presbyterian Church in Pakistan and its related institutions. This visit brought a lot of hope, strength, and encouragement.
The second piece of good news is that the Punjab Cabinet formally approved the handing over of administrative control of four nationalized missionary schools in the province of Punjab to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Catholic Church.
The government of St. Frances High School Anarkali Lahore will be handed back to the Catholic Church. The other three schools, Govt. Rang Mahal Christian High School Lahore, Govt. Christian Higher Secondary School Raja Bazar Rawalpindi, and Govt. Christian Girls’ High School Haji Pura Sialkot, will be returned back to the Presbyterian Church (USA).
It is pertinent to mention here that giving back Christian schools to church missions was the final agenda item during the 52nd meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Punjab on March 21, 2022.
It is also appropriate to highlight that the Govt. Saint Francis High School Anarkali is the oldest of the four schools and was established in 1842. The Govt. Rang Mahal Christian High School was established in 1849, Govt. Christian Higher Secondary School Raja Bazar in 1856, and Govt. Christian Girls’ High School Haji Pura in 1857.
The Presbyterian Education Board is holding a special meeting to discuss, plan and think strategically about the steps required to reclaim the schools. We are in the process of collecting student data and the number of staff members (teaching and non-teaching) required in each school.
We ask for very special prayers. This task is huge. The schools are being returned to their owners after fifty years. Most of the buildings are in deplorable condition. The challenge is mighty.
Please join us in prayer and financial support as we move forward in our mission together.
Many blessings,
Veda Javaid Gill
PEB Executive Director
Read more about the Presbyterian Education Board in Lahore, Pakistan HERE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Education Board in Lahore, Pakistan. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help provide scholarships, which are required for almost every student as most come from very poor families. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.