Gospel in Jordan and Egypt
Gospel in Jordan and Egypt
The EBF in cooperation with local partners is helping to start new Baptist congregations among needy and open to the Gospel Arab nations. Several indigenous workers are actively involved in this society transforming ministry in Jordan and Egypt.
Baptists in Jordan
The Baptist ministry in Jordan started in 1952 when a Christian hospital was founded in Ajloun, North of Jordan. A few years later Rev. Jeries Dalleh was appointed the pastor of the church of Ajloun, thereby initiating the first Baptist church in this country.
The Baptist Convention in Jordan grew gradually to reach the number of 20 local churches today and developed numerous ministries. The Amman Baptist School was founded in 1976 and has now the student body of 1300 students and 200 staff workers. The other school is in Ajloun. Both schools train boys and girls and are attended by both Christian and Muslim students. The third school in Zarqa is under construction now and will be opened in 2 years. Besides this there is a local conference center, a Christian bookstore and a recording studio.
Rev. Fawaz Ameish, the President of the Jordanian Baptist Convention says that the primary concern of the convention is planting new churches among Arabs. There are several indigenous workers gifted in evangelism who particularly concentrate on winning Arabs for Christ. They would like to plant more churches. Here are some quotes from the recent reports of one of them:
2008
We have great fellowship, singing, praying and sharing spiritual testimonies. We also organized evangelistic events, for ex. special program for children and many attended with their parents. After that the whole family started visiting our church. We see now the open door to reach the families through ministering to the children.
Typical follow up after the open events is based on personal contact and regular visits with new believers. We see that thanks to this the attendance in the main meeting is growing. Our number is twenty and six new converts were baptized.
2009
We organized evangelistic campaign for three consecutive days; as a result two new home groups were started in the area. We have a plan to do more events like that. There are three new families who eagerly joined our bible study groups. They meet once a week on Wednesdays. There is a very clear sign of growing attendance as new people show up regularly.
We have elected a team of leaders who are teaching and leading new home groups. The leaders get together from time to time to learn new things about the ministry. We have a plan to train and equip new leaders and start new home groups. The statistics for this year is: 600 evangelistic contacts and 23 baptisms; 40 regularly attend services in the church building and about 200 people in small groups.
Baptist witness in Egypt
The Baptist movement in Egypt was started by Rev. Saddik Wassili Gerges. He was the first Egyptian Baptist to study theology in the United States, and returned back home in the early 1940’s to start the Baptist ministry in his homeland. Through his efforts, his ministry spread to a number of areas where new churches were planted. Today there are 18 Baptist churches in Egypt and many groups which are considered church plants. One indigenous worker has shared in his current reports:
2008
The fellowship is doing well. The Lord has opened opportunity for a new Bible study meeting. Besides the worship services we now regularly run discipleship classes and ladies prayer meetings. Every week there are new people interested and thus attendance is growing.
We recently had a few conversions. However we have to face serious pressure from the Orthodox churches. Many people are excited to serve the Lord and I’m training them. We would like to continue sharing the Gospel with others and plan to reach new people.
2009
The main thing I do in the ministry is visitations and leading Bible studies. I visit each family separately. During each visit, we pray in the beginning and sing some songs. After that I select a Bible reading and comment on it and then encourage the family members to share their ideas. After that we have a time for discussion of the meaning of the scripture. At the end we share ideas for application.
I used to have a regular ministry with 4 families that comprised of 10 adults and 16 children and they showed interest in studying the Bible together. Unfortunately the Coptic priest visited these families and threatened them that he would not perform weddings and funerals for them. We were forced to stop the group meetings however I still visit them separately. I serve about 50 families in different villages in the area and the number of the families is increasing as I go from one place to another.
Prayer requests
Indigenous workers always ask for and appreciate prayers of their supporters. They also expect from the readers of this newsletter that the chain of supportive prayer will uplift those who are in the front line of sharing the Gospel. Here are prayer requests which have been suggested to us:
Pray for the indigenous workers that they can be wise in using available to them opportunities. Pray also for wisdom and strength to overcome obstacles in their ministry, including fanaticism that hinders people from listening to the word of God.
Pray for the families that they will be ready to open their houses for the Gospel
meetings. Pray also for the indigenous workers that they can continue moving from one village to another as well as for the available to them transportation (usually they travel on motorbikes).
In Christ,
Daniel Trusiewicz
EBF Mission Coordinator
To help planting reproducing churches!
To help growing healthy churches!
For the glory of God!
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Baptists in Jordan
The Baptist ministry in Jordan started in 1952 when a Christian hospital was founded in Ajloun, North of Jordan. A few years later Rev. Jeries Dalleh was appointed the pastor of the church of Ajloun, thereby initiating the first Baptist church in this country.
The Baptist Convention in Jordan grew gradually to reach the number of 20 local churches today and developed numerous ministries. The Amman Baptist School was founded in 1976 and has now the student body of 1300 students and 200 staff workers. The other school is in Ajloun. Both schools train boys and girls and are attended by both Christian and Muslim students. The third school in Zarqa is under construction now and will be opened in 2 years. Besides this there is a local conference center, a Christian bookstore and a recording studio.
Rev. Fawaz Ameish, the President of the Jordanian Baptist Convention says that the primary concern of the convention is planting new churches among Arabs. There are several indigenous workers gifted in evangelism who particularly concentrate on winning Arabs for Christ. They would like to plant more churches. Here are some quotes from the recent reports of one of them:
2008
We have great fellowship, singing, praying and sharing spiritual testimonies. We also organized evangelistic events, for ex. special program for children and many attended with their parents. After that the whole family started visiting our church. We see now the open door to reach the families through ministering to the children.
Typical follow up after the open events is based on personal contact and regular visits with new believers. We see that thanks to this the attendance in the main meeting is growing. Our number is twenty and six new converts were baptized.
2009
We organized evangelistic campaign for three consecutive days; as a result two new home groups were started in the area. We have a plan to do more events like that. There are three new families who eagerly joined our bible study groups. They meet once a week on Wednesdays. There is a very clear sign of growing attendance as new people show up regularly.
We have elected a team of leaders who are teaching and leading new home groups. The leaders get together from time to time to learn new things about the ministry. We have a plan to train and equip new leaders and start new home groups. The statistics for this year is: 600 evangelistic contacts and 23 baptisms; 40 regularly attend services in the church building and about 200 people in small groups.
Baptist witness in Egypt
The Baptist movement in Egypt was started by Rev. Saddik Wassili Gerges. He was the first Egyptian Baptist to study theology in the United States, and returned back home in the early 1940’s to start the Baptist ministry in his homeland. Through his efforts, his ministry spread to a number of areas where new churches were planted. Today there are 18 Baptist churches in Egypt and many groups which are considered church plants. One indigenous worker has shared in his current reports:
2008
The fellowship is doing well. The Lord has opened opportunity for a new Bible study meeting. Besides the worship services we now regularly run discipleship classes and ladies prayer meetings. Every week there are new people interested and thus attendance is growing.
We recently had a few conversions. However we have to face serious pressure from the Orthodox churches. Many people are excited to serve the Lord and I’m training them. We would like to continue sharing the Gospel with others and plan to reach new people.
2009
The main thing I do in the ministry is visitations and leading Bible studies. I visit each family separately. During each visit, we pray in the beginning and sing some songs. After that I select a Bible reading and comment on it and then encourage the family members to share their ideas. After that we have a time for discussion of the meaning of the scripture. At the end we share ideas for application.
I used to have a regular ministry with 4 families that comprised of 10 adults and 16 children and they showed interest in studying the Bible together. Unfortunately the Coptic priest visited these families and threatened them that he would not perform weddings and funerals for them. We were forced to stop the group meetings however I still visit them separately. I serve about 50 families in different villages in the area and the number of the families is increasing as I go from one place to another.
Prayer requests
Indigenous workers always ask for and appreciate prayers of their supporters. They also expect from the readers of this newsletter that the chain of supportive prayer will uplift those who are in the front line of sharing the Gospel. Here are prayer requests which have been suggested to us:
Pray for the indigenous workers that they can be wise in using available to them opportunities. Pray also for wisdom and strength to overcome obstacles in their ministry, including fanaticism that hinders people from listening to the word of God.
Pray for the families that they will be ready to open their houses for the Gospel
meetings. Pray also for the indigenous workers that they can continue moving from one village to another as well as for the available to them transportation (usually they travel on motorbikes).
In Christ,
Daniel Trusiewicz
EBF Mission Coordinator
To help planting reproducing churches!
To help growing healthy churches!
For the glory of God!