Discovering Beauty and Hope in Unexpected Places
Back in February, Rev. Brandi Drake, Associate Pastor of Care and Mission Ministries at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut, traveled to Lahore, Pakistan to visit Forman Christian College for the first time.
A longtime supporter of Friends of Forman through her church community, Brandi had championed the mission from afar, but stepping onto the campus brought everything into sharper focus.
Noroton Presbyterian is a vibrant congregation within the Presbyterian Church (USA), deeply committed to global mission and outreach. Despite years of faithful support, seeing Forman in person gave Brandi a deeper understanding of the impact she and her church have helped make possible.
Standing on the beautiful campus of Forman Christian College, she reflected on a week that exceeded her highest expectations.
“I expected to be blown away, but I can’t even measure how beautiful this place is,” Brandi shared. “It’s joyful, but in such a complex, layered way.”
Where Christians and Muslims Learn Side by Side
What struck Brandi most was seeing how education brings together people from vastly different backgrounds.
“The beauty of people being educated with others who are not like them,” she said. “That’s such an uncommon theme here in Pakistan.”
Meeting students and hearing their stories gave her a deeper appreciation for how scholarships, leadership funding, and long-term support help sustain this unique environment of interfaith learning.
The Women Who Made the Difference
The most moving part of Brandi’s visit was meeting the women whose lives have been transformed through education at FCCU. During a home visit, she encountered a mother singing a praise song of gratitude.
“As a mother of two boys in college who also relies on scholarship, I was profoundly connected with her – her grace and gratitude, watching her children respond, just the joy of the whole family,” she said.
This encounter served as a powerful reminder of the universal experience of parents supporting their children’s education, and the transformative impact of generous, faithful supporters like Brandi’s church community who help make that journey possible.
If you’re interested in experiencing the transformative power of visiting Forman Christian College and seeing your support in action, please contact Friends of Forman to learn more about upcoming trips to Lahore.
Want to read more stories like Brandi’s? Here’s how visiting the FCCU campus changed one senior pastor’s life.