Back in November 2024, a group of board members and church partners traveled together to visit the Forman Christian College campus in Lahore, Pakistan.
Despite the long distance and cultural differences, traveling to campus to meet professors and students serves as a reminder of the importance of an education in Pakistan.
One of the visitors was Nancy Bertram, the Mission Coordinator at First Presbyterian Church located in Lakeland, Florida. First Presbyterian Lakeland has been a long-time supporter of Friends of Forman, and Nancy has served on staff at the church for over 17 years.
We spoke to Nancy about her travels in Pakistan and what she learned from the experience.
Why did you decide to visit FCCU’s campus in 2024?
I have always wanted to visit the Forman College campus because Bob and Rowena Tebbe talked to me about the opportunity for nearly 20 years. It was an amazing experience, and it got better day by day.
Can you describe the experience of traveling to Pakistan?
Traveling to Pakistan was great. The air flight was long, but Qatar was a very good choice of airline. I knew beforehand what the long flights would be like, so I was prepared and really didn’t mind them.
What was the most surprising thing you learned on your visit?
I thought I had an idea before I came, but I was shocked at how women are treated and thought of in Pakistan. I knew it was bad, but I never realized how poorly women are treated. This is especially hard for Christian women to live in a culture that accepts neither very well.
How is the culture similar and different from ours in the US?
I was at FCCU for almost the entire time, so I didn’t get a good look at the culture outside of the campus. The little I saw outside was most different when it came to women. I could tell that family was very important in Pakistan, which is similar to what we see in the United States. However, women are not treated as equal to men, which was quite different.
What’s the biggest thing you’ll always remember about this experience?
I will always remember how extraordinary FCCU is in changing the thoughts of the Muslim community towards women. There are no other institutions in the country like FCCU. I pray that this mission will continue to make a difference.
Are you interested in visiting Pakistan?
If you are interested in joining Executive Director Roger Dermody on an upcoming visit to the Forman Christian College campus, please reach let us know. We’d be happy to take you to see the amazing things God is doing in Pakistan.