B u c k o w – A book from a German Baptist theologian is available for the very first time in Arabic. A brand-new copy of “Marveling, that God Speaks” was presented to Adolf Pohl (Buckow near Berlin), long-time Rector and Lecturer at the seminary of the Union of Evangelical-Free Churches in the GDR (BEFG), at a reception on the occasion of his 80^th birthday. The initial edition consists of 2.000 copies. The idea for the donation-financed project was born in the Evangelical-Free congregations of Bad Homburg and Berlin-Schöneberg as well as the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut. Pastor Lutz Reichardt (Bad Homburg) and a representative of the Lebanese Baptists, Nabil Costa (Beirut), presented Pohl with the book on 13 February in Buckow.

Costa, Director of the Lebanese Society for Education und Social Development (the sponsor of ABTS), stressed the significance of German theological literature for the entire Middle East. Not only the Baptists of Lebanon - teachers and students at all of the Arab world’s 18 evangelical seminaries will also profit from the book. Until now only English-language theological literature and a few Arabic translations were available. To date nothing of this nature has existed in Arabic. He also mentioned his impression that German theology stands closer to Arab culture than does the American one. Costa described Pohl’s birthday party as highly unusual: “It is normal among us that the person whose birthday it is receives gifts. But here the opposite has occurred. Adolf Pohl has given us a very valuable present that will make us richer for years.”

Reichardt noted that the translation of six more books from Pohl is in the making. They will be of vital importance for the dialogue with Muslims, for they will finally be able to read about the fundamentals of the Christian faith in their own Arabic tongue. The inspiration for the project arose out of a visit of church members from Bad Homburg to Lebanon two years ago. A partnership between this congregation and ABTS has existed for a number of years. A children’s playground is among the projects which have been financed. Reichardt added that the translation project will be costing roughly 50.000 Euros; 41.000 Euros have already been gathered. He invited additional BEFG-congregations and individuals to participate in the project. These funds are used to cover the costs of translation and printing. An Egyptian married to a German woman is translating the books. They will then be edited, laid out and printed in Beirut.

In a short speech, Pohl referred to the current situation in Lebanon. He often reflects on “the darkness over Lebanon”: “Yet God is the director of human history. God still has millions of ways for blessing Lebanon.” Christian Wolf (Berlin), once a lecturer in Buckow, called the books’ translation into Arabic “an unexpected trophy for the career of Adolf Pohl”. Ulrich Wagner (Engelskirchen), Director of the BEFG’s Committee for World Mission, expressed his respect for the translation project. It proves that today such projects are feasible “even without a large apparatus”. The project is wonderful proof for the fact “that theology and mission belong together”.

Since its inception in 1960 approximately 220 students from throughout the Arab world have graduated from ABTS. An additional 210 persons have taken courses at ABTS preparing them for mission endeavours in the Middle East and North Africa. Twenty-seven congregations with 2.000 members belong to the Convention of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Lebanon.