Extra Commitment Opportunities

There is a channel through which gifts can be designated for specific items that support the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s work around the world. These are called Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECOs). You can give directly to an ECO account online or by mailing your check designating the name and account number of the particular item you have chosen to:

PC(USA) Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Your gift will go directly into the ECO Account designated, and you will receive a letter indicating that your gift has been received and will be used for the purpose intended.

Below are some ECOs related to Pakistan. For a complete listing visit Mission Funding's Web site and type Pakistan into the search box.

Church Renovation and Construction

CANCOPE (Capital Needs & Care of Property Endowment)  

CANCOPE is a project, begun in 1985, jointly sponsored by PC(USA) and the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan. It has helped many rural and urban churches with metal roofs, church buildings and pastor houses. Funds are needed to build more churches since the Christian community is very poor and finds it difficult to raise even 20 percent of the cost of the project.

Development

Community Development Projects, Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

The Community Development Program of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, started in January 1994, has several projects that have been approved by the executive committee of the General Assembly. It is also in need of funds for the setup of community development training, which will be an ongoing process. It is hoped that 20 percent of the project costs will come from local sources. Many Christians live at the lowest rungs of society and are very poor. It is hoped that through the community development program the church will be a more effective witness within the community in which it lives and works.

Disaster Response

Disaster Response - Pakistan

This designated account supplements the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering to enable a significant response for relief and disasters in Pakistan Visit the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) Web site for updates and information on the response.

Education

Adult Basic Education Society (ABES)      

The Adult Basic Education Society promotes Adult Functional Literacy in Pakistan. It developed the widely used Naya Din teaching methodology and many literacy reading materials.

Christian Training Institute—Christian Boys School and Hostel, Sialkot

The school is working toward development into a first-rate institution as it was before nationalization. Funds are needed for scholarship programs for needy students, computers, library improvements, repairs and equipment for rundown buildings, rebuilding of the boarding house infrastructure and the setting up of new courses.

Forman Christian College  

Forman Christian College (FCC) has been returned to the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan by the government. After 30 years of management by the government, the school has deteriorated considerably. Funds given to this account will assist in classroom repairs, student aid and general costs associated with taking FCC back.

Forman Christian College/Pakistan Christian University Fund Raising

Forman Christian College, founded in 1864 by a Presbyterian mission worker, Charles Forman, has had an extraordinary mission in what was India and is now Pakistan. It has educated thousands of students, and many of Pakistan's leaders are graduates, including the president of the country. It was taken over by the government in 1972, but is now being returned to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), providing a remarkable opportunity for Christian mission. During the years of government control there were few resources to sustain the quality of the education and to maintain the facilities. Now the church must redevelop and revitalize the institution. In order to accomplish this mission, a great deal of money must be raised, which requires the establishment of an office, the building of a comprehensive infrastructure for strategic planning and fund raising, and a modest staff.

Forman Christian College Faculty Support

In order to provide top-quality teaching by Christian faculty members, 20 new positions must be filled by highly qualified persons who are Christians.

Forman Christian College Campus Renovation

Unhappily the Pakistan government failed to care for the campus properly during the 30 years of its control, and the now substantial funds must be invested to bring the buildings up to a reasonable standard for use by faculty and students. There are over 60 buildings on campus and they all need new electrical wiring, new plumbing, extensive roof repair and exterior and interior painting. The rooms need new furniture in many cases and the laboratory equipment is old and out-of-date.

Forman Christian College/Pakistan Christian University Visiting Faculty Program

During the years of government control nearly all of the faculty have been Muslims hired locally. Both the government and the church desire to have the college provide an American-style education with a commitment to very high educational standards. In order to accomplish this an infusion of Christian faculty from the United States and the United Kingdom is needed to help set high educational standards, to provide leadership to the faculty and to renew the commitment of the college as a Christian institution. Prior to the return of Forman Christian College, visiting faculty members have been on the faculty of Pakistan Christian University, which is being launched by the Board of Governors of Forman Christian College.

Forman Christian College/Pakistan Christian University, New Youth Hostel for Women Students

There are six hostels on campus that serve as the residence halls for about 500 of the over 4,000 students enrolled. There is a great need for more residence hall space, especially for women students. The proposed project will provide housing for 100 women students and for a couple to serve as resident directors of the facility. The building will also include a dining hall, several faculty offices, meeting rooms and a lounge.

Forman Christian College/Pakistan Christian University, New Academic Building

Forman Christian College has over 4,000 students, and the average class size is 75 students. It is essential to reduce the average class to fewer than 25 students in order to facilitate quality teaching. The present facilities do not provide enough space to do this. The plan is to build a new academic building that will house up to 40 classrooms, 60 faculty offices, an auditorium, five administrative offices and two meeting rooms.

Gujranwala, SCD Education Projects  

The aim of the Society for Community Development (SCD) education projects is to provide the opportunity for literacy and vocational education for disadvantaged Christian children living in a Muslim culture in the Punjab and surrounding provinces. Pakistan has a literacy rate of about 26 percent, and fewer than half of primary-age children are in school. Funds are needed to address this situation.  

Gujranwala Theological Seminary  

Funds are needed for maintenance and ongoing operational costs for this school, established on its present site in 1912. It is the primary institution in Pakistan for the training of Protestant church leaders.

Kinnaird Academy

This school for girls witnesses to the founder’s faith in children’s potential, a dramatic statement in the Muslim country of Pakistan where fewer than 3 percent are Christians and the literacy rate for girls is less than 20 percent.

Kinnaird Graduate School Program, Lahore

Kinnaird College for Women is the oldest college for women in West Pakistan. In 1913 a junior college was developed to offer the first college work for women. Today Kinnaird is an outstanding college with approximately 2,000 students with the goal of training them for service in society. Funds are needed to help develop the recently begun graduate programs in management, English language and computer science.

Nirali Kitaben  

Established in 1972 to publish books for the poor in Pakistan, Nirali Kitaben helps to alleviate illiteracy. It publishes adult primers and Christian education materials. Funds are needed to support these programs, teaching aids and videocassettes that supplement the training.

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Literacy Program for Members  

Pakistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world — 60 percent of the population is illiterate. The literacy rate in the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan is even lower, only 8 percent in urban communities and 5 percent in rural areas. This program seeks to provide literacy for all members.

Presbyterian Education Board, Denationalized Schools

With the return of 10 Presbyterian schools, which the Pakistani government had taken over in 1972, the Presbyterian Education Board has assumed the responsibility of providing leadership for the staff and students and of starting the daunting task of getting both the buildings and academic programs back to a standard of excellence. During the 26 years the government has had control of the schools, buildings have deteriorated to the point where many classes are held outside because the buildings are unsafe. The need is great not only for restoration of buildings but also for the restoration of academic programs. Gifts to this project may also assist with necessary related project expenses that are essential to the successful completion of this project, such as mission personnel, travel and administrative support.

Society for Community Development Perpetual Scholarships

Where do village children go when they complete fifth class? To complement the work of 3 girls' boarding schools, the Society for Community Development started in 1986 a boys' boarding school. The school is largely financed by an individual scholarship scheme named for or by the donor, requiring $500 per scholarship. This scholarship yields enough income so that 20 percent of it can return to the capital to keep it growing and still make $5 available each month.

Society for Community Development Village School and Programs

This program, started by villagers several years ago, educates students through a network of 36 schools. Funds are needed for scholarships, new dormitories, an evening training institute, a computer school and an institute to teach building skills.

Evangelism

Pakistan Bible Correspondence School  

In Pakistan the Faisalabad Center of Bible Correspondence has a vision for reaching thousands of people with the good news of Jesus Christ and His salvation through free correspondence courses. Having opened over 35 years ago, the Center has reached the 100,000 mark of course completions.

Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries

Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries produces radio programs of many kinds, evangelistic programs, Bible drama, Bible reading and discussion programs. Christian music and Bible teaching cassettes are also produced and widely utilized in areas where the literacy rate is low.

Health

Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital

Rawalpindi Leprosy Center provides detection, inpatient and outpatient treatment and follow-up of persons in a large area (population 85 million) who have leprosy. Funds will allow for further expansion of the prevention of disability programme in order to facilitate rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

Sialkot Christian Hospital  

With 300 beds and a 100-student nursing school, Sialkot is a beacon of Christian health care and training in predominantly Muslim Pakistan. Sialkot also provides rural health care and educational programs in infant health, hygiene and sanitation. Contributions to this ECO will help fund training and supplies for village health workers.

Taxila Christian Hospital, Pakistan  

Since 1922 this institution has served as a general hospital, a specialized center for treatment of eye disease and a beacon of Christian witness in Pakistan.

Other Support

Pakistan Presbyterian Pastors Pension Plan
 
No benefits plan has existed prior to January 1, 1990, and the only pension for pastors has been very small from other sources, to be merged with the Benefits Plan. Pastors now refuse to retire, regardless of age, or to leave a manse, with no pension or place to live. A minimum pension of $40 per month can be increased significantly and gradually by new contributions to be added to the principal of the Benefits Fund.