The Rt. Revd Samuel Robert Azariah presides over and cares for the Diocese of Raiwind. He is the second Bishop of Raiwind and began this ministry on 19 July 1987. He was formerly a Priest at the Diocese of Karachi. The Bishop has particular interests in inter-faith activities which is a vital need of the day especially in this part of the world. He has also served and still serving in different capacities for international and national organizations like, WCC, CCA, MCFI and WCR.

Samuel Robert Azariah, commonly known as Sammy, was born on the 31 August 1949, in Gujarat 78 miles North of Lahore – Pakistan; the eldest child of John Bunyan Azariah and Ivy Anushua Azariah.

He was educated in St. Paul’s High School, Karachi and later did the Higher Secondary Education from St. Patrick’s College – Karachi, finally completing his Honors in Sociology from the University of Karachi in 1971. From 1971 till August 1976 he was the national General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of Pakistan (SCM). In September 1976 he left for Singapore to do his B.D. from Trinity Theological College and was awarded a B.D. Degree in 1979. In 1978 he married Khushnud Mussarat the daughter of Bishop Johnston Safdar Qadir Bakhsh and Florence Qadir Bakhsh. Khushnud was a former graduate of Trinity Theological College, Singapore.

Samuel Robert Azariah was ordained Deacon in the Diocese of Karachi – Church of Pakistan by the 3rd Bishop of Karachi Arne Rudvin, in September 1979 and a Priest in 1980. Sammy was ordained as curate in St. Andrew’s Church – Karachi primarily having a responsibility of a small English-speaking congregation. Later he became Rector of the same parish, and served St. Andrews for 8 years, to be elected as the youngest Bishop in 1987 for the Diocese of Raiwind. As a priest in Karachi, Sammy was also teaching in the Church of Pakistan Seminary; now known as St. Thomas’ Seminary. He was teaching on the subject of Asian Christian Thought; primarily focusing on Asian Challenges, Opportunities and Asian Theologians.

After being elected as the Diocesan Bishop, various contributions were made. Sammy served on the Primates Committee of the Anglican Church in his capacity as the Moderator of the Church of Pakistan from 1997 till 2002. He also served as the Moderator of the Development and Service Commission of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) from 1989 to 1993. He also served on the United Nations Committee for Education representing the CCA and was a member of the Asian Bishops Council, an ecumenical body of both Roman Catholic and Protestant Bishops of Asia. From 2005 till present, he is serving on the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Moderates the Nomination Committee of the Central Committee of the WCC. Sammy also serves on the Permanent Committee of Co-operation and Collaboration of the Protestant and Orthodox Churches of the WCC. Sammy also served on the Inter-faith Advisory Committee of the WCC from 1998 to 2005.

Sammy and Khushnud have three daughters Anushua, Arusa and Abana. Anushua is married to Isaiah Mall and are settled in Northern California. Anushua has done her Masters in Social Work. Arusa  works for Ernest and Young. Abana is a student of the University of San Diego. After her university graduation she plans her study in medicine.

Presently the focus of Bishop Sammy is on the subject of Inter-faith and is the Senior Vice President of the World Council of Religions (WCR) an organization initiated by General Pervaiz Musharaff the President of Pakistan. He also heads another Inter-faith committee is Pakistan known as the Muslim Christian Federation International. Bishop Sammy serves on the Advisory Group of the United States of America Consulate on matters of Inter-faith.

Bishop Sammy has written over 20 articles on Peace, Rights of Minorities in Pakistan and Peace & Harmony which have been published in Pakistan.