I made a trip to Lahore, Pakistan, the 88th country for me to visit. The airport looked different with red brick buildings from usual airports I have seen. I was greeted with a large flower bouquet. I was told that it is their custom. How nice!
I had an expectation of a city like Calcuta, but Lahore was relatively clean and organized. But, the street scene was quite similar to many developing nations.
The purpose was to participate in the Pak Business Community (PBC) 2019 event held at Foreman Christian College. There were 80 participants that comprised business people and also people form the NGO industry as well as students. Jubilee Entrepreneurship School (JES) led the training program and I participated in lecturing about Good Stewardship and Faithful Stewardship.
For JES, this year was the second year for running this program. PBC was formed last year led by Matthew Jeong and professors of FC College.
The people I met included Paul Lee, Myung Gu Seo, Hyun Yu, Esther Jang, Jinsol Hwang, Hanbyul Park from Morocco, Paul Shandler, and Mr. Oh.
Foreman Christian College was established by missionaries, but was nationalized and secularized long time ago. But, later this was given back to the Christian group thus carrying the name "Christian." However, I learned that the majority of faculty and of the students are Muslims. This College is regarded highly as one of the best higher education institutions in Pakistan.
We stayed at the guest house on the FC College Campus. Despite the heat, I walked around the campus for a few days to sustain my health and strength.
There was a church close to the guest house.
Matthew Jeong and and his wife Sue have served in Pakistan for more than two decades. Initially as a missionary, later they came back to Pakistan, after serving with InterServ as Korea Country Director and Asia Regional Director.
We walked over toe the house of Matthew and Sue every morning for breakfast, passing through an alley of local people.
The plenary session was centering around the training based on Balanced Score Card led by Paul Lee and all others from JES participated in the training.
The week-long program also included site visits with the businesses. Every day, three groups went out to visit one business each. I joined the group for four days. Every morning, we gathered and listened to the instructions for the day.
The first business we visited was a businessman who is brokering insurance products, selling pharmaceutical products and also selling grocery items. Now he is trying to house the businesses under a new business entity, with emphasis on being the principal of grocery business. I met an elderly man who was 95 years old who was riding on the back of a motorcycle. He said his wife was 101 years old, a German, who is more upright than he. Wow!!!
Also, we visited a one-man printing operation trying to buy thermal printing machine to promote gift items and Christian products. Apparently he is talented in graphic design. He took us to one of his main clients, a travel agency run by Muslims.
The third business we visited was Riaz, a medical transcription business that is serving two clients in the U.S. and Canada, employing 80 people. Later, Riaz contacted me, expressing his desire to become part of SfK Missional Business Community. Praise the Lord! I will see what the Lord has in store for this potential relationship.
Also, I met with people involved in serving the brick kiln people through schools. Their needs for mercy ministry were high since most of the workers in these brick kilns are Christians. I did not get to visit any of them, but it was heart-breaking to hear that they make mud bricks and sell 1000 of them at 800 Pakistan Rupees, worth $5.50. Thus, they borrow money from their Muslim owners and they become enslaved. Child labor is common and they are in modern slavery. Lord, what should be done for them?
Arthur has been involved in prison ministry and has played a catalyst role in helping several people starting businesses.
We learned about people who are the descendants of Greeks when Alexander the Great conquered the region. They are called Kelash. Now they are living in the mountain region preserving their heritage. They look like Europeans and living in poverty. They are making Greek artifacts for sale but the quality was primitive at best. We were given some gifts.
We were invited to breakfast by one of the professors, Finance Professor Asim, and we thoroughly enjoyed the foods and their hospitality.
I had a separate meeting with some business people and professors to discuss about the feasibility of holding SfK MBA BCT in Lahore. After the meeting, I had to leave the discussion with the PBC members on Saturday to Matthew Jeong and I am not sure how it went. God will show us the way, Lord willing.
On the last day, we went out to have dinner at a restaurant that overlooks Lahore Fort from the roof top. It was quite late to start eating dinner after 10pm, but we enjoyed the fellowship.
There were many young entrepreneurs. If they are cultivated well, I felt certain that they will surely be the leaders of Lahore and Pakistan. Shahid and Naveen were two of the Pakistan's emerging leaders who have traveled to the U.S. and inspiring the youth.
I am not sure how things will develop in light of God's plan. We will see. - Jeffrey
I had an expectation of a city like Calcuta, but Lahore was relatively clean and organized. But, the street scene was quite similar to many developing nations.
The purpose was to participate in the Pak Business Community (PBC) 2019 event held at Foreman Christian College. There were 80 participants that comprised business people and also people form the NGO industry as well as students. Jubilee Entrepreneurship School (JES) led the training program and I participated in lecturing about Good Stewardship and Faithful Stewardship.
For JES, this year was the second year for running this program. PBC was formed last year led by Matthew Jeong and professors of FC College.
The people I met included Paul Lee, Myung Gu Seo, Hyun Yu, Esther Jang, Jinsol Hwang, Hanbyul Park from Morocco, Paul Shandler, and Mr. Oh.
Foreman Christian College was established by missionaries, but was nationalized and secularized long time ago. But, later this was given back to the Christian group thus carrying the name "Christian." However, I learned that the majority of faculty and of the students are Muslims. This College is regarded highly as one of the best higher education institutions in Pakistan.
We stayed at the guest house on the FC College Campus. Despite the heat, I walked around the campus for a few days to sustain my health and strength.
There was a church close to the guest house.
Matthew Jeong and and his wife Sue have served in Pakistan for more than two decades. Initially as a missionary, later they came back to Pakistan, after serving with InterServ as Korea Country Director and Asia Regional Director.
We walked over toe the house of Matthew and Sue every morning for breakfast, passing through an alley of local people.
The plenary session was centering around the training based on Balanced Score Card led by Paul Lee and all others from JES participated in the training.
The week-long program also included site visits with the businesses. Every day, three groups went out to visit one business each. I joined the group for four days. Every morning, we gathered and listened to the instructions for the day.
The first business we visited was a businessman who is brokering insurance products, selling pharmaceutical products and also selling grocery items. Now he is trying to house the businesses under a new business entity, with emphasis on being the principal of grocery business. I met an elderly man who was 95 years old who was riding on the back of a motorcycle. He said his wife was 101 years old, a German, who is more upright than he. Wow!!!
Also, we visited a one-man printing operation trying to buy thermal printing machine to promote gift items and Christian products. Apparently he is talented in graphic design. He took us to one of his main clients, a travel agency run by Muslims.
The third business we visited was Riaz, a medical transcription business that is serving two clients in the U.S. and Canada, employing 80 people. Later, Riaz contacted me, expressing his desire to become part of SfK Missional Business Community. Praise the Lord! I will see what the Lord has in store for this potential relationship.
Arthur has been involved in prison ministry and has played a catalyst role in helping several people starting businesses.
We learned about people who are the descendants of Greeks when Alexander the Great conquered the region. They are called Kelash. Now they are living in the mountain region preserving their heritage. They look like Europeans and living in poverty. They are making Greek artifacts for sale but the quality was primitive at best. We were given some gifts.
We were invited to breakfast by one of the professors, Finance Professor Asim, and we thoroughly enjoyed the foods and their hospitality.
On the last day, we went out to have dinner at a restaurant that overlooks Lahore Fort from the roof top. It was quite late to start eating dinner after 10pm, but we enjoyed the fellowship.
There were many young entrepreneurs. If they are cultivated well, I felt certain that they will surely be the leaders of Lahore and Pakistan. Shahid and Naveen were two of the Pakistan's emerging leaders who have traveled to the U.S. and inspiring the youth.
I am not sure how things will develop in light of God's plan. We will see. - Jeffrey
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