Inspiring Legacy

Khushnud Mussarat Qadir Bakhsh (literally meaning, double happiness, a gift of God) was born on 21st February 1950 into a family of Priests in Pattoki, a small town of District Kasur, Pakistan, where her father at the time was serving as Panchayat Officer. Later he became the second Bishop of Sialkot and fourth Moderator of Church of Pakistan. Her grandfather “Pastor Qadir Bakhsh” and great grandfather Dr. Labhu Mall, renowned preacher and bible scholars of their times, served in Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Sahiwal District.

Khushnud received primary education from Urdu-medium State and Christian Mission schools in Sahiwal, Gujrat, Lahore and Karachi. In 1962, when her father was transferred to Lahore as the pastor of Central Methodist Church, 15 Warris Road, Khushnud joined Lucie Harrison Girl School which was established by Women’s Foreign Mission Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1912. Khushnud completed her matriculation from Lucie Harrison Girls High School in 1965 with istinction.

It is beyond comprehension that a little girl from a small town of a third world country, studying in humble government and missionary schools, would rise one day to become the World President of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Women in 1996.
Despite multifaceted challenges, Khushnud demonstrated commitment and resilience to achieve her goal to live up to her name, sharing God’s gift of ‘happiness’ with others.

Higher Education

After completing high school in1965, she enrolled at Kinnaird College for Women, a prestigious English medium institution established by the women’s missionary movement, Zenana Bible and Medical Mission. There, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. After obtaining Master of Arts degree in education from the University of The Punjab in 1971, Khushnud joined Cathedral High School, Lahore as a teacher.

Perspective shift

In addition to her educational achievement, Khushnud was actively involved in church activities. Her involvement in Sunday school, youth group, women’s work, and the church choir deepened her faith and provided wonderful opportunity to connect and contribute to her community. When she was a college student, she dedicated her Sundays to teaching Sunday school children. She also served on Sunday School Committee of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan. This experience not only allowed her to give back to the community but also honed her skills in leadership, communication, and empathy, which became invaluable in her personal and future professional life. Her involvement in church activities gave her insights into the broader aspects of church life and stirred a profound interest and enthusiasm within her to study theology.

Her father Bishop J. S. Qadir Bakhsh known for his wisdom, far-sightedness, devotion to the church, encouraged his daughter Khushnud to be bold enough to take the first step of entering into theological education. He was eager to see women playing a more dynamic role in the Church of Jesus Christ, which is founded on the witness and ministry of both women and men alike.

Against the tide

In 1972, with the support and encouragement for her parents, Khushnud decided to study theology to better understand her faith and also to continue her family legacy as the fourth generation of priests. Since Local seminaries were closed for women enrollment, undeterred by traditional gender roles, 24 years old Khushnud taking a big leap of faith, left Pakistan in 1974 to study theology at Trinity Theological College, Singapore. Breaking the norms, she became the first Pakistani woman to leave her country explicitly to study theology thus becoming the first Pakistani female theological graduate in 1977.

Trinity Theological College: The Turning Point

Trinity Theological College (TTC) left lasting impact on Khushnud’s life, changing her perspective, thinking, and approaches entirely. The education and experiences she gained at TTC broadened her horizons and deepened her understanding of theology and life in Asian context.
It was at TTC where she met her husband, Samuel Robert Azariah. Their meeting proved to be prophetic, as Samuel’s support and encouragement played a crucial role in Khushnud’s journey. With strong family backing, she was able to overcome challenges and rise to new heights, significantly shaping her personal and professional life.
At Trinity Theological College, Khushnud’s perspective of God and God’s mission entirely changed.

Drawing inspiration from the biblical figure of Moses, and the compassionate God who dwells
amongst God’s people; who sees, hears, understand and stands in solidarity with the oppressed to deliver them from their affliction, empowered Khushnud to return to her people in Pakistan with determination and courage to lead as Moses did, to deliver various segments of our community from the various forms of oppression and slavery. Understanding Jesus’ mandate of Luke 4 in the light of Moses ‘ story resonated deeply with Khushnud’ Christian faith, encouraging her to embrace her role as a transformative leader and an agent of positive change.

Through soul-searching and witnessing her sister Sally ‘s struggles as a developmentally disable individual, Khushnud recognized her calling to reach out to developmentally disabled children helping them become honorable members of society.

Compassion for the Handicapped

Khushnud’s profound compassion for the handicapped was deeply rooted in her personal experience with her younger sister “Sally”. After returning from Singapore in 1977, Khushnud dedicated her life to working with developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. “Where there is a will, there is a way”! God mysteriously opened the way for Khushnud to receive training in special education from Siyo Gakuen, Japan in 1979. To better equip herself to minister to these children, Khushnud, who was newly married, once again left the country to avail herself of the opportunity for training and” live in” experience with children with severe mental disability.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1980, Khushnud drew her Bishop’s attention to the plight of the
developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. Once again, she was told to wait as the diocese
of Karachi did not have a place and resources to start this work. Undeterred by obstacles, Khushnud with God’s help, and moral support of St. Andrew English Congregation, where her husband was an Associate priest, embarked on a remarkable mission to help developmentally disabled children in Pakistan. With the support of her husband “Samuel Azariah” who used to transport a couple of children in his personal old car Ford Anglia, Khushnud began working with children including her sister from a single room of her own house (Parish Priest’s residence) in September 1980.
Khushnud founded, built and nurtured three schools for the developmentally disabled children
during the next decade;

1. Dar-ul Khushnud, Diocese of Karachi, 1980-1987
2. Dar-ul Mussarat, Community based, program, Baldia, Karachi, 1983-95
3. Dar ul Mussarat , Diocese of Lahore, 1990-2000 Her commitment and efforts have significantly improved the lives of many developmentally
   disabled children as they learn basic living skills.

Role in Women’s Synodical, Church of Pakistan

Women Synodical Church of Pakistan is strong and supportive arm of the Church of Pakistan which was established in 1970 as a standing committee of Synod, Church of Pakistan for women’s work. Khushnud Azariah served as the Vice President of the Women Synodical Church of Pakistan during the years 1983 to 1989. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in advocating for women’s rights, representation, active participation and women’s voice in decision making process within the church.
Following her tenure as Vice President, Khushnud Azariah was appointed full time honorary
coordinator of the Women Synodical from 1990 to 1993 with a mandate to raise sufficient funding to establish Synodical office and appointment of a full-time paid woman coordinator for better organization, communication, and coordination of women’s work within the eight dioceses of the Church of Pakistan. Khushnud successfully completed the task entrusted to her and also organized two important events. In November 1992, Women’s Synodical held its very first consultation on ‘Women and Theological Education’, to raise public awareness on the issue of empowering women through theological education. On October 15, 1993 Women’s Synodical celebrated Mid-Ecumenical Decade, ‘Churches is Solidarity with Women’. It was a national Ecumenical gathering attended by over 100 women and men representing various denominational church and non-governmental organizations for one day deliberations in Lahore, Pakistan. In appreciation of her services, Khushnud was presented a gold pendent with a chain bearing the logo of Women’s Synodical. Khushnud thanked the Synodical for supporting her to establish the Coordination office, and announced the appointment of a full time paid coordinator, Shunila Ruth.

Women Development & Empowerment

Khushnud’s husband, Rt. Rev. Samuel Azariah was elected the second Bishop of Diocese of Raiwind, Church of Pakistan in 1987. The Diocese’s Episcopal jurisdiction comprises the former United Methodist Mission areas and is predominantly rural and semi-urban. During episcopal visits, Khushnud had the opportunity to interact with women from various congregations. She was distressed to see the neglected, oppressed, and marginalized conditions these women were facing. Hearing women’s stories, Khushnud realized how Christian women are ‘doubly oppressed’ as being women and minority Christian women in Pakistan. She set up an organization ‘Women Development & Service Program’, Raiwind Diocese in 1989 aimed to promote awareness, participation and skill development of exploited women.
In year 2000 another organization was established by Khushnud namely, ‘Talitha Kumi Welfare
Society’ for battered women. The program aimed to rescue, empower and rehabilitate women victim of violence. Through this program hundreds of women are given legal aid support who are facing any kind of violence. Hundreds other women are economically empowered through skill development, trainings and awareness building sessions.

Music Ministry

From her childhood, Khushnud loved music and would sing for her school, Church choir, Radio and Television Christmas and Easter Programs. She regularly participated in the Annual ‘Helen Rockey Music Competition’, her faither Rev. Qadir Bakhsh started at the Central Methodist Church, Warris Road, Lahore in mid-60’s. During her visit to USA in December 1990, she attended a Music concert in Southern California, specially organized for Rev. Ernest Edwin Mall, a well known gospel singer.
Khushnud knew Earnest from her youth as both regularly participated in singing competitions and choir recital. After being inspired by his stirring gospel singing, Khushnud extended him an invitation to Pakistan. In March 1992, Khushnud with the patronage of Raiwind Diocese of the Church of Pakistan founded the “Pakistan Christian Music Convention” in the city of Lahore.
This convention brought a revolutionary spiritual transformation in church’s worship life. Ernest Mall very faithfully visited Pakistan each year, until his death in 2007, to nurture people’s spirituality through Spirit filled music and the Word of God. This groundbreaking event set a new trend of worship locally and globally. His contribution to Youth Ministry in Pakistan drew many young people to devote their lives to serving the church through Music and Art. The Church in Pakistan is greatly indebted to Rev. Ernest Edwin Mall for bringing a great spiritual revival and teaching people to worship God in Spirit and Truth. Khushnud has recorded a number of songs written and composed by Mr. Earnest Mall.

First woman ordained as a Deacon

November 26, 2000 was a groundbreaking day in history of Pakistan. On this day Khushund, along with another woman, was ordained as deacon in Raiwind Diocese, Church of Pakistan. She became the first women to be ordained as deacon in Pakistan.

Khushnud’s PhD Quest

To better equip herself to work amongst women, she reorganized that women are often silenced and marginalized by religious dogmas and practices. This led her to pursue her theological studies. As a recipient of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries Crusade Scholarship, Khushnud pursued her PhD studies at one of the prestigious Claremont Schools of Theology in California, USA.

As a mother of three young daughters, a full time PhD student, a full-time employee to support her daughters’ higher education, and as the President of a global women’s organization, the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, Khushnud Persevered to fulfil her responsibilities well at all these fronts. Khushnud did her PhD in ‘Personality and Theology’. She did her PhD research on Pakistani Education and Religious Tolerance (2000) from the perspective of the liberatory educational pedagogy. The title of her PhD dissertion was “PAKISTANI EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE: A critique and constructive alternative rooted in a Libratory model and a vision for social harmony in Pakistan.

Ordination as Priest

After waiting for 32 long years after her theological education, Khushnud shattered another barrier as she was ordained to the priesthood in St. James Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, California, USA in November 2006. The Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles ordained Khushnud.

Vicar of St. George’s Episcopal Church, CA

In 2010, Khushnud was appointed as an associate priest at Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel,
California. In 2012, she was appointed as Vicar (priest) of St. George’s Episcopal Church,
Riverside.
Khushnud was honored to be the first non- white clergy at St. George’s . As a priest, she also
served needy UCR (University of California, Riverside) students, studying away from home, by
offering a Food pantry and home cooked meals weekly.

Building Bridges Between Faiths

While serving as Vicar of St. George’s Episcopal Church, her multi-religious and multicultural
context challenged her congregation to have a broader perspective of the world people live and
exercise their faith. She led her congregation to be more inclusive, embracing and promoting
diversity, multiculturism and interfaith relationships. Utilizing the empty barren land of the church, Khushnud built an ‘ Interfaith Meditation Garden’, a sacred space for reflection and meditation. The garden dedicated on September 27, 2015, by Bishop J. Jon Bruno, welcomes all visitors. It features winding paths, inviting seating areas, and a soothing fountain. Drought-tolerant plants, a variety of trees, including fruit trees for a touch of bounty, grace the landscape.
Statues and symbols representing Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Native American, and
Christian faiths are scattered throughout the garden space.

Ecumenical Endeavors

Khushnud’s contribution to the global and National ecumenical church is revered by millions of
men and women around the world. She has served as:

1. Moderator, Ecumenical Formation, Gender Justice, and Youth Committee, Christian
   Conference of Asia (2000-2004)
2. Member, Executive Committee, Oxford Methodist School of Theology (1997-2001)
3. President, World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women & Member of the
   Presidium, World Methodist Council (1996-2001)
4. Area President, West Asia, World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women
   (1991-1996)
5. Member, Central Committee, World Council of Churches & member Assembly Planning
   Committee (1991-1998)
6. Member, General Committee, Asian Church Women Conference (1991-1994)
7. Member, Women’s Concern Committee, Christian Conference of Asia (1989-1993)
8. Member, Executive Committee, National Council of Churches, Pakistan (1991-1992)
9. Chairperson, Women’s Concerns Committee, NCCP (1990-1993)
10. Convener, World Day of Prayer Pakistan Committee (1993-1995)