The Middle East is Changing!
Living Faith Ministry International, a non-denominational ministry, began with a Lebanese-American pastor, Chaouki Boulos, responding to a call from God that it was time to share Jesus in the Middle East in an open manner. Prior to then, Christians had been "sowing" and "watering" but in an underground manner.
Chaouki and a group of believers began in July 2000 in Beirut, Lebanon with Operation Antioch, a five-night, open-air Celebration with uplifting music and dynamic preaching. Christians from the US offered support, doing street evangelism, ministering in orphanages, developing a children's ministry, hosting basketball clinics and generally encouraging people in the local churches. Since July 2000, Celebrations have been held twice a year in Beirut. They've also held events in Syria, Egypt and Jordan. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, far above what anyone predicted, with churches of all denominations participating.
"Just as the Lord called out Barnabas and Saul to go and reach nations (Acts 13:2), I believe the Lord is calling to the church of Antioch once again; He is separating or calling to a people who will respond and follow Him."
~ Chaouki Boulos
Unknown to many, Lebanon is a nation that is 36% Christian, making it unique among Middle Eastern countries.
Along the way, it became apparent that there was a pressing need for a retreat center, somewhere for new Christians from areas that don't have religious freedom to come for discipleship or refuge, and somewhere that Christians of all denominations could meet together. The 2009 General Assembly Offering went to support this retreat center, called White Wings. Property was purchased in the heart of the Christian community in a mountainous area about 2,400 feet high. This will be a place where pastors and Christians throughout the Middle East and North Africa come for training, refreshing, and countless other opportunities. This center will serve every aspect of Christian evangelism especially to the Muslim population.
Ministries of relief and compassion to people in distress are ongoing and this new retreat center is being planned. For more information, visit www.operationantioch.com or email operationantioch@hotmail.com.
In addition to giving your offering money during the 2009 General Assembly, you can travel with the Baptist Men of NC to do construction and concrete/block work. Contact Baptist Men at 800-395-5102 or www.ncmissions.org.
- From a letter from Daniel Vestal, Executive Coordinator, CBF, October, 2008:
"I have just returned from Cairo, Egypt, where I participated in a remarkable evangelistic and outreach effort with CBF Field Personnel Chaouki and Maha Boulos. For three nights one thousand people gathered for spirited and lively worship led by Arab Christians and put together by 25 Egyptian churches (Baptist, Presbyterian, Non-denominational, Charismatic). I preached (with an interpreter) simple Gospel messages and invited people to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. There were 320 public decisions for Christian discipleship where names and addresses were recorded. It has been some time since I have been in an event where there was such spiritual intensity, hunger and thirst. In mission and ministry there are times for sowing and there are times for reaping. Often the Gospel is proclaimed effectively to only one person, and then again to large crowds. Some people come to faith in Christ suddenly and dramatically. For others it is more of a process. No two churches are exactly alike, and methods of evangelism change over time. But wherever and whenever the Spirit of God works in and through human efforts it is enriching and encouraging. I have returned to Atlanta with deep gratitude for the ways God's Spirit is working through our CBF field missionaries."