Published: August 06, 2008 09:28 am            

Life for the women of Pakistan

Sameea Collins, a young mother and missionary originally from Pakistan, shared her story with the womens’ group at Shiner Church of Christ in Williamsburg recently, along with another missionary, Shirley Walters from Woodstock Church of Christ in Atlanta. A woman’s group from London Mt. Zion Church of Christ was also in attendance, and touched to their hearts.

In Pakistan, an Islamic dominated country where the Koran rules, Christians are considered to be infidels. Women have few rights, no respect and are expected to serve society in a subservient role. When Christians meet they have to have two guards outside the door with machine guns, and one inside.

But on one day, when 600 Pakistani women met to learn more about Jesus Christ and God Almighty, the cares of the world were removed from their hearts and minds as their resounding voices were lifted in songs of praise to the Lord, drowning out the frequent chants  of Muslem worshippers coming from nearby mosques.

Sameea spoke about “Inspiration Day,” a day when Pakistani women came from all over the country to share the Gospel with their friends, to sing and pray and enjoy the blessings of the Lord. By sunset the blessings were bountiful as 80 women committed their lives to Christ through baptism. The joy of the brave sisters continued through the night, according to Sameea.

She said, “My mother once told me that I had to decide whether I wanted to get an education or wind up a servant to a Muslim family for a lifetime. I learned very early that being a Christian wasn’t going to be easy.”

Her father was a preacher of the Bible and her family had to hide to be Christians.

She said, “I cannot change the Muslim society all alone, but through the power of God and his Word, and with the help of all those who support this mission, we can bring hope to the women of Pakistan.”

Missionary Shirley Walters shared her reflections with the women at Shiner Church of Christ in Williamsburg: “The temperature was nearing 110 degrees on this early morning, but regardless, the women came in droves and flocked into the courtyard. They removed their shoes, leaving them in piles by the doorways before entering the auditorium.

“Their smiles and continual chatter clearly showed their anticipation and the enthusiasm for this special day, especially prepared for them. The chairs quickly filled in the auditorium, leaving many women and children sitting on the floor in any empty space they could find. They didn’t mind, sitting on the floor was a common thing for them.

“The women weren’t alarmed when the government authorities arrived in the midst of the activities to check out the reason for such a large gathering. Most were relieved when the men left, dismissing it as ‘just a woman’s event’ that did not pose a threat.”

Since the mission began in 2005, hundreds of women have attended “Inspiration Day” and more than 200 women have obeyed the Lord in baptism and are committed to living a Christian life.

Sameea was raised a Christian in a Muslim country. Her father was a denominational preacher but was converted by a missionary to the Church of Christ in the mid-1980s.

In 1996, at the age of 21, she met and married the son of an American preacher who was doing mission work in Pakistan.

“People in the United States are shocked when they find out that I met and married my husband within a week. However, it is not unusual when you consider that marriages are arranged in my native country and a woman may not meet her husband until the wedding day. My parents were educated and allowed me to have my own voice and a little while to get to know my husband.”

“I was absolutely stunned at the freedom women enjoy in this country,” Sameea said. “It was difficult for me to adjust to the openness that allows Western women the freedom to speak their minds... The everyday choices to women was also difficult to comprehend. Something as simple as walking alone in the mall was frightening to me as a girl from Pakistan. Like most girls in my country, I was not allowed to go out without a male escort, which was usually one of my younger brothers.”

“Growing up in Pakistan’s educational system presented many challenges to me as young Christian. First of all, very few Christian children ever have an opportunity to  receive an education. Muslims make it very difficult for Christian children to function at school. I was ridiculed (and worse) on a daily basis, because of my faith. It reminded me of what Jesus said to his disciples; ‘And you will be hated for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.’”

Today, Sameea speaks to different churches in America about the lives of Christian women in Pakistan.

“My mission is to be the voice of Islamic women to the western world,” she said. “The only hope they have comes from the Gospel and their relationship with Jesus Christ. As Paul said, ‘I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.’”

Shirley Caudill of London is a former newspaper editor/publisher and longtime freelance columnist. She is a Nashville native who has lived in Kentucky 40 years. She has six children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and is married to a retired Army First Sergeant. She can be reached at shirleycaudill@windstream.net

        

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