Faith lived out in flood-hit Pakistan
*This has been updated to reflect recent contact between LPUKI National Director John Libby and Qaiser Julius – included at the end of the article.*
Langham Graduate Qaiser Julius is ‘putting his theology into practice’ by coordinating a compassion campaign to help hundreds of families devastated by flooding in recent weeks.
Since the rains started in mid-June, more than 1,400 people have died in Pakistan. The UN estimates that one million homes have been destroyed.
Sherry Rahman, Pakistan’s climate minister, told BBC News that it is the heaviest recorded rainfall in ten years and more than a third of the country is completely under water.
Reaching 1,000 families
Qaiser is the Director of Open Theological Seminary (OTS) in Lahore.
During the height of the pandemic, OTS delivered practical aid to 3,000 vulnerable families through its ‘compassion’ arm.
Now, OTS is aiming to reach 1,000 families with food packs, mosquito nets and hygiene kits during the first phase. Distribution has already begun in Sindh and Southern Punjab.
Qaiser and his wife have also been visiting those affected by the floods.
Please pray
He said: “Our campaign is going on in different affected areas. We are doing it with the help of local pastors and our coordinators. Please continue to remember this campaign in your prayers.”
OTS is hoping to assist more victims in other areas as the campaign continues.
Qaiser studied for his PhD at Melbourne School of Theology, Australia, graduating in 2016. Langham has published his thesis.
Langham Scholars
He is one of over 300 graduates who have been equipped to serve in the Majority World with Langham’s support.
Update from John Libby: 8 October 2022
LPUKI’s National Director John Libby spoke to Qaiser via Zoom on Saturday 8 October 2022. He shared the following:
“Qaiser updated me in detail and we were able to share at some depth. He is dealing with significant issues, such as: relationships with civic authorities; obligations for the health and wellbeing of sacrificial volunteers in very dangerous, infectious and accident-likely areas (he has trucks deciding to drive through the night to avoid looters, with guides provided by local pastors who knew where the roads were despite obliteration by floods and power cuts); and of course his own wellbeing with the ebb and flow of adrenaline, exhaustion with the responsibilities he has.
“He has delegated one full time staff member and three to four volunteers coordinating their OTS Compassion Campaign central support and response.
Still in ‘Phase 1’
“Qaiser reckons he’s still in Phase 1 with immediate safety, security and relief after six to seven weeks.
“At this stage of the Compassion Campaign they are assisting 600 families, extremely isolated and dispersed, still with their target of 1,000 in mind.
“They provide help and support in a variety of ways but mainly through supplying food, mosquito nets (mosquitoes increasing greatly as a result of floods) and female hygiene kits. The food supplied is typically a 25kg pack containing 10-15kg flour, sugar, tea and about 25-30 other cooking items. This should be enough to support a small family for about one month.
“The main area where they are involved is in the Sindh (an eight hour drive) which is an extremely needy area and a core of some of OTS’ networks. OTS works inter-denominationally through around 40-45 local pastors and congregations.
Good links to suppliers
“OTS has good links to suppliers and an established relationship with accurate and trusted procurement process through major suppliers.
“Many families are dispersed, finding high spots on roads for them and their livestock. Six to seven weeks into the floods, there being no significant drainage network, it is estimated that it could take up to six months for the waters to subside. But the waters are not increasing in depth at this moment.”
Tags: Asia, Floods, Open Theological Seminary, Pakistan, Pakistan Floods, Qaiser Julius, Scholar
