Patrick, a native of Pakistan who now leads a church in Wisconsin, was honored to be invited to preach at All Saints
Church in Peshawar Province in Pakistan in January this year. This province borders on Afghanistan. The church was built in the mid-1865 by Rev. Hughes to be a place for worship for native Christians who were not allowed in the Anglican church in the Cantonment area attended by the English living in whatwas then India. From its beginning, All Saints has been a persecuted community. Hughes built it to look like a mosque to avoid conflict with the local Muslim population, but when the cross was added and worship began, local extremists shot the cross and killed 8 people.
As recently as September 21, 2013, two Taliban suicide bombers attacked All Saints just after the Sunday service, killing 127 worshippers and wounding 250. Patrick remarked that it is very moving to worship where the blood of Christian martyrs has been shed. Still, the worship service in the church was very joyful, with the congregation singing and praising God “to the top of their voices.” Fortunately, the local government provides police and security checks to try to prevent further attacks, and while Patrick was there, there were gunmen stationed on the roof and around the church walls to watch out for threats to the church worshippers. At the service Bishop Emeritus Mano Rumalshah presented Patrick with the iconic “Cross of Thorns “ and said, “Receive this on behalf of a people who carry around in their bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies….and please remember us in your prayers.”
For the next ten days Patrick traveled around the diocese and visited Christians in many churches that had been attacked and sometimes burned down, but have amazing faith. Despite their persecution, they pray for the Muslims and for peace in their land. Patrick described it a “rare privilege” to travel in this area and witness the strength of Christians who continue to serve the whole community through their schools, clinics and literacy programs. He recalled that the missiologist Emil Brunner has said, “The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.”
Patrick said, “It is important in such a reality where bad news is endemic that we continue to communicate and spread the Good News and vision given us as followers of Jesus Christ. Given the situation in the world today, the Gospel needs to be shared with a sense of urgency and we must be challenged to reaffirm our convictions.”
Patrick was honored in December 16, 2012, to receive the “Cross of St. Augustine Award”, from the Archbishop of Canterbury for his promotion of evangelism and world mission, and fostering interfaith dialogue and ecumenical endeavor. In May 2013 he was honored by Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin by conferring upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. Now again Virginia Theological Seminary in Virginia is honoring him with the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity on May 21, 2015. AFM is certainly blessed to have this man of deep faith and conviction serving on our Board.
