Where There is Hope
February 1, 2010
Where There is Hope - William G. Gepford, American-Arab Relations
As I write, in the background reporters are describing the almost indescribable destruction wrought by the earthquake this week in Haiti. What little control we humans have over God’s wondrous creation! How suddenly life can be totally and awesomely changed.
In the current tragedy, nations, international and national organizations, and individuals have demonstrated that people do care.
What is inspirational about the Christmas season is the vision of hope that gets relit anew in the otherwise seemingly darkness of the winter season, but also often in our national and personal lives as well. This is always emphasized in the letters and cards that come our way, carrying messages of joy, peace, light and hope.
Two such encouraging letters arrived in our mailbox this season.
The first one came from two (who are themselves Chinese) missionary colleagues who have served as a liaison between the Presbyterian Church USA and China. For more than three decades they have been going to China every year, some years up to four times. Although they had no plans to do so last year, in September an unexpected opportunity came to visit Yunan’s and Yulong’s counties near the borders of Burma and Tibet.
They visited Bible training centers and ten churches/meeting points where the Christian faith was introduced at the turn of the 20th century via missionaries. The establishment of a cemetery for those early missionaries continues to serve as a reminder of the hope they brought. The history and culture of the Chinese people was preserved and their horizon broadened by educational opportunities brought by the missionaries.
The second letter came from the board of directors of Foreman Christian College, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Again it was missionaries that established the school in the early 19th century.
Throughout its history it has welcomed both Muslim and Christian students, and encouraged them to share their histories and visions for their country. Its present student body has a majority of Muslims.
This past June the valedictorian at the graduation services was a Muslim named Muhammad from a village some distance from the school.
In his talk he thanked the school for the opportunity to earn a graduate degree that would give him a good job in his country. He also thanked the school for its philosophy of education that provided opportunities for students from various cultural backgrounds to come together and solve problems in their society and government. He said this was probably one of the most important experiences of his college career.
According to its president, the philosophy of the school is to provide a wide selection of subjects for matriculation, offer advance degrees through the PHD level that makes them competitive with other educational institutions around the world, and to challenge students to join together in solving human and societal problems.
May the new year continue to keep the light of hope shining not only to the Haitians in their tragedy but also to all of humankind.
