Like father like daughter:
Pakistani doctor dreams of teaching the faith

Ronald, Mona, and Zara Sheena Yunis

Imagine living in a place where you and other Christians make up only 2 percent of the population and the risk of persecution is considerable. That's the reality for LTSP seminarian Mona Yunis, who has a burning desire to follow in her father's footsteps. Both are physicians. And Mona dreams of teaching pastoral care some day while she also engages in a second "ministry," serving as a pediatrician.

"Stories of persecution of Christians have been greatly publicized and it has grown worse since September 11," Mona says. "But I really think it makes people appreciate their faith more." Mona says the Presbyterian congregation she belongs to in Lahore, Pakistan, has never been attacked as other churches have. But it does have a security guard furnished by the government. And while Christians feel uneasy in Pakistan's tense religious climate, Mona says "the faith is growing. We have more and more people coming to church."

In that climate, Mona's physician father teaches comparative religion (Islam and Christianity) at Gujranwara Seminary in Lahore. Pakistan. Her younger sister has an M.Div. degree. Her whole family is active in the life of the Lahore congregation, where Mona has frequently helped her mother in teach Sunday school..

Juggling more than one professional interest is a tradition in Mona's family. She completed her studies to become a physician in the year 2000. She focused both on pediatrics and general practice in her studies but is leaning toward a career in pediatrics, which she considers a "ministry" and at the same time teaching others about her faith. Her younger sister is a computer programmer in addition to holding her M.Div.

How did Mona end up coming to Philadelphia for seminary studies? "I really wanted to earn an MAR degree, but women in my country really aren't encouraged to pursue such studies," she said. She discovered the seminary on the internet and became intrigued by the stories she read and the school's diverse setting. "I also thought it would be great to focus on the historic role of a religious reformer like Martin Luther," she said.

It also helped that her husband to be, Ronald, was already living and working in Philadelphia. Ronald is a product engineer for a company that manufactures auto parts. She applied to the seminary in the fall of 2001, was married in Pakistan that December and began her seminary studies in the spring of 2002.

The couple had been encouraged to marry by their families. Ronald's parents are retired teachers who are also active Christians and now volunteers. They run a medical clinic providing free dispensary care to Pakistani citizens in need.

"Arranged" marriages are not unusual in Pakistan, where families with similar values will encourage their children to tie the knot according to tradition. "But it's important to know," Ronald says, "that there is not a lot of arm-twisting involved." At least that wasn't the case for Mona and Ronald. For about a year prior to the wedding the couple, with Ronald in the U.S. and Mona in Pakistan, "dated" via e-mail. And Ronald also communicated frequently with Mona's family.

In the U.S., the couple has enjoyed being part of the spiritual community at Grace Trinity United Church of Christ, Philadelphia. It is a congregation that includes members from India and Pakistan.

Mona explains that the seminary has been most hospitable to the couple. "I have a great deal of respect for the teachers," Mona says. "The atmosphere is really friendly." She says she has particularly valued her association with Professor Pamela Cooper-White, who teaches Pastoral Theology.. "I appreciate her approach to pastoral care," Mona says. "It's compatible with the perspective I've learned as a physician." She says she also appreciates Cooper-White's sensitivities and those of other seminary teachers with regard to women's issues.

Post September 11 life has not been without some challenges for Ronald and Mona both here and back home. Pakistan is a predominantly a Muslim state where the study of Islam is required and where "the first question you are asked is about your faith background," Ronald says. He adds that Christians frequently can be made to feel uncomfortable in Pakistan's social settings. And religious tensions have been heightened in Pakistan since the World Trade Center disaster, he adds. By contrast in America, Ronald says, "the first question I am usually asked is, 'Where are you from?'" Ronald confesses he senses distrust from some Americans, who after 9/11 "may stereotype people from the Middle East. But I tell myself that under the circumstances their feelings are somewhat understandable."

One of the happiest events the couple has known at seminary was the birth of their first child, Zara Sheena, now 4 months old. Both agree the birth "has brought us even closer."