Member Church News: Women & Girl’s rights in Pakistan, Stories of migration and Reformation

International Women’s Day was marked by the Peshawar Diocese of the Church of Pakistan with a programme that focused on women’s and girls’ rights in Pakistan. The programme started with prayer and worship, and around hundred women of all ages participated enthusiastically in the programme. Miss Reema Irshad welcomed the guests and participants, and in her short message she said, “Be bold for change.”

As debt crisis looms, nearly half of Puerto Ricans live below poverty line. “The human crisis is real on the island,” says Ocasio Torres, “We have college students making one meal a day – they get by with a ham and sandwich.”

In this time of presidential election, the United Protestant church of France held to express themselves through a press release of its President, Pastor Laurent Schlumberger. The National Council of the United Protestant Church debated the campaign for the presidential election and, following this debate, a published platform has been relayed by AFP to numerous media.

Migration and Reformation belong together: In Emden it was about stories of migration and the Reformation. For the history of the city is closely linked to faith refugees who came not only in the 16th and 17th century. Emden became a stage for stories and remembrances around migration and the Reformation. Martic Heimbucher, President of the Evangelical Reformed Church and Emder Mayor Bern Bornemann took leave and with the team showed stories of the Reformation from all over Europe in their multimedia mobile and collected new stories from Emden.

Supporting refugees flying the United States: Since the beginning of 2017, more than 100 refugees have walked into Canada from the United States, risking their lives to journey in winter weather. These refugees seek asylum in response to changes the new U.S. administration made regarding the resettlement of refugees and immigration enforcement measures

Hope can create miracles, reflects WCC-EAPPI coordinator in Holy Land. “God is among us and Jesus has incarnated among humanity to be one of us. He has helped me to believe, not only in the spiritual gospel, but also in the social gospel. Jesus talked about spiritual needs long before Maslow did. The spiritual gospel enhances my faith and hope, while the social gospel empowers my work, enforces my commitment, strengthens my perseverance and asserts my resilience,” Zoughbi explains.