2023 FFCC Annual Report

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Dear Friends,

As I complete my first year serving Friends of Forman Christian College, I am filled with joy and hope.

It has been a joy to meet so many of you, our faithful partners, who have generously supported this vital mission’s ongoing work.

It has been a joy to have visited campus on three separate trips these past 12 months, seeing first-hand the impact you have made in the lives of so many in Pakistan.

And, as I’ve spent time on campus interacting with students, faculty, and staff, I’m filled with hope. I have often referred to Forman as a slice of God’s Kingdom on earth. The Forman motto from Galatians 5:13, “By love serve one another,” is far more than a mere platitude or an ignored phrase. Instead, it is deeply embodied and lived daily, making Forman a true place of peace, tolerance, harmony, and hope.

Included in this communication is our most recent Annual Report. We have faithfully and transparently shared how we used the resources you entrusted to us and the impact you made in the past year.

We have also highlighted brief comments from those whose lives have been transformed because of your generosity.

Together, we equip future Christian leaders as they grow in their faith and become ready to live out the claims of Christ in the majority society in ways that otherwise would be impossible.

Together we empower young women, providing opportunity and education in an environment of respect and dignity that is unique in much of the Muslim world.

Together we are breaking the cycle of generational poverty by providing scholarships to any student who has great potential for academic success yet who lacks the financial means to realize their dreams.

Also, we celebrate the many Forman graduates who have risen to leadership in every sector of society, including government, education, military, and business. Graduating from FCCU and becoming a “Formanite” makes it far easier to find employment, opening doors thanks to the incredible reputation of this University.

As you read this Annual Report, I want to ask you for two things. First, please continue to pray that God will bless this vital mission and all within the university walls. Second, please support Forman financially so that even more students will experience what I’ve described above.

Thank you once again for your generosity to Forman Christian College. May God bless you and bless this work in Pakistan.

Click here or on the photo to download your digital copy of the 2023 Annual Report.

With appreciation,

Rev. Dr. Roger A. Dermody
Executive Director
Friends of Forman
Christian College

Labeed’s Story

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Please watch this 1-minute video of Forman student Labeed describing what the FCCU motto, “by love serve one another,” looks like.  As he and over 9,000 Forman students go Back to School, thank you for continuing to make their educational journey possible.

BACK TO SCHOOL GIFT

With appreciation,

Rev. Dr. Roger A. Dermody
Executive Director
Friends of Forman Christian College

Arbab’s Story

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GIVE HOPE

This student at Forman Christian College is a living symbol of hope and opportunity for her entire village in Pakistan. Watch Arbab’s story and see the impact a scholarship has on students, their communities, and beyond!

Haroon’s Story

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GIVE HOPE

Haroon lives in a fairly remote rural village about two hours north of campus. His home is in a small section of approximately 75 Christian neighbors, amidst a larger section of approximately 750 Muslim neighbors. Departing our bus, our team walked a couple hundred yards down a narrow alley with an open sewage channel on either side. As we neared Haroon’s home, we were greeted by a crowd of his Christian neighbors and family members all blessing us with abundant rose petals as we entered his small family courtyard. Therein, it seemed that all of his Christian neighbors had taken the day off and crowded into the same small courtyard to greet us.

Haroon’s father used to work in the nearby brick kilns, until a motorcycle accident left him with a broken leg that never healed correctly. He never attended even one day of school, and now works on small brick mason projects. Haroon’s mother finished her education at third grade. Haroon, has excelled in school, and is the only person from his village to ever go to college or a university. His three younger brothers are trying to follow in their older brother’s footsteps if possible.

The family ushered us into their recently renovated one room home, which now has concrete walls after previously having mud walls that deteriorated annually during the monsoon season. They served us tea and we talked together, while the rest of the neighbors tried valiantly to get a glimpse inside through the crowded doorway. They then took us to their small but beautiful church just a few doors down, then back inside for a multi-course feast with dishes lovingly prepared by every one of Haroon’s neighbors.

After more fellowship and praying for Haroon and his family, we departed for a nearby brick kiln to see first hand the very harsh realities of this form of work – which some name as a form of indentured servitude. During the year when Haroon’s father could not work, Haroon and his brothers worked in the brick kiln, and also in the nearby rice fields with their mother, simply trying to earn enough to feed the family.

Thanks to the scholarships you provide through Friends of Forman, Haroon’s prospects, and those of his family, are infinitely better than they would have been otherwise. Our Pakistan hosts suggested that not only are Haroon’s and his families’ prospects better, but he is a living symbol of hope and opportunity for his entire village. And, while there might be only one or two other Haroons in that particular village, there are thousands of villages like his in Pakistan each with a Haroon. And there are thousands of stories like his too.

Please consider giving the gift of hope using the “Give Hope” button below. Together, let’s continue to help Haroon and many other students like him. Thank you!

With appreciation,

Rev. Dr. Roger A. Dermody
Executive Director
Friends of Forman Christian College

Spring 2023 FFCC Newsletter

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Dear Friends,

Have you ever heard a story that is so compelling you can’t wait to share it? During a recent trip to campus, I had the chance to not only hear such a story, but to experience it when I met a young student named Haroon. He is one of the students you have helped this year.

His story is so compelling.

Haroon lives in a remote rural village several hours north of Lahore. His home is down a narrow dirt alley with open sewage channels on either side.

Haroon’s father used to work in the nearby brick kilns until a motorcycle accident left him with a broken leg that never healed correctly. During the year when his father could not work, Haroon and his brothers worked in the nearby rice fields with their mother, simply trying to earn enough to feed the family.

Haroon’s dad never attended even one day of school. Haroon’s mother completed her education in third grade. Haroon, however, has excelled in school and is the only person from his village to ever go to a university.

The family ushered us inside their one-room home. They served us tea, and we talked together while the rest of the neighbors tried valiantly to get a glimpse inside through the crowded doorway.

Thanks to the scholarships you provide through Friends of Forman, Haroon’s prospects are infinitely better than they would have been otherwise. Not only are Haroon’s and his family’s prospects better, but he is a living symbol of hope and opportunity for his entire village. And there are thousands of villages like his in Pakistan, each with a Haroon.

After more fellowship and praying for Haroon and his family, we departed – humbled by the hospitality but compelled to share his story and do all we could to help more like him.

Enclosed is our Spring Newsletter celebrating last month’s dedication of the Jim Tebbe Campus Center and the renaming of Hope Tower to Cheryl Burke Hope Tower. These honors are well-deserved, as both Jim and Cheryl made multiple contributions to the life of Forman and its students.

Your generous gifts to Friends of Forman are helping students just like Haroon, offering hope and making God’s love visible in Pakistan.

Click here or on the photo to download your digital copy of the 2023 Spring Newsletter.

With appreciation,

Rev. Dr. Roger A. Dermody
Executive Director
Friends of Forman
Christian College