January 2009 - Arab World

Theological Training in the Arab World: A Seminary Opens in Cairo

In June, 2008, we reported, "Significant contacts have been made in two key cities, Cairo & Minya, where key leaders have invited Carey to teach. God led our men through a taxi driver to a pastor who haArabic Bibles built a seminary, but lacks qualified instructors. We are waiting on the Lord in this regard. Please pray."

All glory to God, Who hears and answers our prayers! Doors have opened for Theological Training in Egypt, beginning with Cairo, and with plans to open in Minya, D.V. Let your hearts rejoice as you read how opportunities abound to expand throughout the Arab World!

Planning and Proceeding through God's Provision

Carey's Field Co-ordinator in the Middle East, Mike Ghiz, writes, "The Lord is opening up great doors for establishing seminaries throughout the Arab World. Cairo had its start in January 2009, and another large denomination wants us to begin as a soon as possible in the Minya area of Egypt."

This, we pray, is only the beginning of many centers in the Arab World. The Cairo Institute will be drawing students not only from Egypt, but from Morocco, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. We have requests to open Bible Institutes in Beirut as well as in Iraq and Pakistan, which we are currently exploring. We believe we are going to see great things ahead for training leaders across the whole Arab World, and our prayer is that God would lead many of the students to minister in the Arab countries that do not permit western missionaries to enter."
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Grace International Theological Seminary opens in Cairo

Pastor Gamal (Maher Abd El Mesih), the head of the Grace Churches, a 33 church charismatic denomination, began the Grace International Theological Seminary in Cairo this January, 2009. Beginning enrollment was 35 students, and the training ended with 24 committed students from 5 different denominations. Dr. Penhearow taught Intro to Systematic Theology, and Mike Ghiz taught Old Testament Survey I. This was a very successful start as the students expressed that they benefited by the studies. Pastor Gamal was also happy from the feedback from the students. Some students shared that they were challenged and persuaded by Dr. Penhearow's teaching on the Doctrines of Grace.
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Next Session: Life of Christ and OT Survey II

The next session (Life of Christ & OT Survey II) will be held from August 24 to Sept 4, 2009, at a center built by the church, with 150 beds, a lecture hall with desks, and a dining room. They believe the student enrollment will be between 80 and 120 students. Pastor Gamal has asked us to provide 8 weeks of training per year.

In Minya, a Presbyterian denomination with a network of 10,000 is currently asking us to help train their leaders. Please pray. We need to find more suitably qualified lecturers and qualified translators.

God has already lead us to a British pastor in London who speaks Arabic! This pastor is willing to teach four modules per year for us in Egypt. Praise God!
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Thank you for standing with us, for praying faithfully, and for giving of your time and energy to join in this great work! We at Carey Outreach Ministries have witnessed the Lord working as we trust Him and move ahead in faith. We need your prayers! The new students in Egypt need your prayers! Read through the newsletter again, and pray that God will move in the Arab World, using the students trained under Carey. Pray that He will send His workers into the harvest, for the fields are white and ready! We need workers!

Sincerely,
Janet Billson, Communications
Carey Outreach Ministries