횂징횂째He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.횂징횂짹
Greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise God! Of all the previous conferences held in the Middle East in the last several years, this last Easter conference 2008 may well be a landmark in the history of our missions as a ministry dedicated to the raising of disciples of Jesus from among the younger generation of Arab students. One growing Lebanese shepherd as well as two growing Egyptian disciples of Jesus attended this conference. It has never happened before. One growing Lebanese shepherd took responsibility to serve the conference by delivering the main lecture on the Lord횂징횂짱s resurrection from Matthew 28. He also showed stewardship by serving the two growing disciples of Jesus through incessant translation of conference events to those brothers. This too has not never happened before. In the early years, we gathered together to attend conference and to pray together with a faint hope that someday Arabic brothers and sisters would attend the conference, and with fainter hope yet that someday Arabic brothers and sisters might actually participate in a conference as messengers and members with stewardly responsibilities. By the grace of God, that day has finally come.
I cannot begin to express the joy and the overwhelming gratitude we felt to the God who has been answering our prayers and the prayers of so many of our dear coworkers around the world for the blessing and advancement of the missions particularly to the Arab as well as the Moslem world. The Arab World because it important to make a distinction between what is strictly the Arab world by Origin and what is the Moslem world by the proselytizing of so many nations of the Eastern hemisphere by the Arab Moslems of Arabia. It is vital to make such a distinction when we are so heavily involved in the pioneering of Arabic/Moslem peoples and nations.
Therefore, while we have seen success in the conversion of young Moslem nationals from a few Eastern nations (particularly the 횂징횂째횂징횂짝.stans횂징횂짹), we did not imagine to witness a viable work among the Arab population of any Arab nation of the Middle East. Then, it happened! Almost miraculously, there were not one, but three Arab young men who attended this last Mid-Eastern conference. Rog., who had been studying Bible for more than a year now, had grown into a responsible steward of God횂징횂짱s work in one of the Arab nations of the Mid-East. As mentioned earlier, he prepared a wonderful resurrection message to deliver at the conference. Two other young Egyptian men (of Coptic origin) also attended, Khal. and Mo.. (Not a nickname but his original name. And yes! Named after the famous Chicago Evangelist). Each studied the Bible passage in our group with a hunger and thirst for the word of God. When they wrote their testimony, they wrote with sincerity of heart and shared with a zeal to testify about the Death Of Jesus who took away their sins. They shared in the Arabic language while Rog. joyfully translated to English so that the English speakers of our team might understand. We were truly happy to have such an encouraging fellowship with them. Please keep this unique Trio in your prayers. They are the hope of the future, as well as a glimpse of what we are to expect God to be doing in the coming years in the Middle East.
The English speaking remainder of our team were of course the precious Rene and Evelyn of the UAE— the Philippino family and House-Church who have for long maintained a life of faith and prayer under the most difficult of circumstances. Up until now, this family worked together with the Yoon family to serve a grassroots mission work there. But now that the Yoon House-Church have decided on dedicating one year to the study of the Arabic language in a neighboring Arab nations (thus requiring a physical move to another nation), Rene and Evelyn will have to brave a solitary presence in the UAE and pray to inherit stewardship over that nation. Especially now, these two precious families and House-Churches will need our undivided support since they both will be facing new circumstances requiring a new challenge of faith. However, both families are undaunted in spirit, and ready to do whatever it takes to serve God횂징횂짱s sovereign purpose in their new lives.
Finally, let me say a few words about our missionary families in the Middle East. We marvel at their resolute faith in remaining in places where self support is a challenge, and where spiritual progress is slow and near to impossible. Yet, they have all been extremely faithful to their calling as servants to the Arab and particularly to the Moslem populations. They meet regularly in conferences in order to pray and to support and encourage one another. Although they cannot see much visible fruit of their constant labor, we cannot doubt their fruitfulness. Three Arab natives is not a small thing in the face of such an impossible mission field. In fact, it is more than we expected. Joseph of Qatar, who hosted this conference also led the conference with new-found confidence. Studd of Lebanon was very happy to see such positive results as we all celebrated The Eastern Orthodox Easter in order to honor the Christ who was crucified for our sins and who rose from the dead to inherit us eternal life and the Kingdom of God. Please continue to pray for God횂징횂짱s servants in the Middle East. And for Jesus횂징횂짱 disciples to take deep root in the gospel until they can pass it on to all the young people in the Arab Moslem World.
Indeed, He is not here. He has risen. Amen.
