Friday, May 13, 2011

Why the Middle East? Why Now?






Protests. Rebels. Riots.

Unrest. Turmoil. Upheaval.

The Middle East is teeming with instability and change. The political landscape doesn’t necessarily reflect the spiritual landscape, but the two are intertwined on some level. If the political scene can accurately be described as unpredictable, so too can the spiritual climate be described as insecure.

Questions abound right now for women in the Middle East. The current environment creates new opportunities for the Gospel; it heightens people’s awareness of their need for answers. We at Greater Reach, through our friends, ministry partners, and our own missions trips, have witnessed firsthand this great spiritual hunger.

The door right now is wide open! We don’t know how long this will hold true … so we must walk through it!

1. Women are telling us they don’t know what it is to be valued as an Image-bearer. The truth that women are valuable and loved is simply not said, heard, or shown in the Middle East. More than 90 percent of the population is Muslim. What this means is that if a woman becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, it’s a tall order that she would also claim a Christian worldview right away … if at all. Because Muslim culture permeates everything, even the deepest parts of a woman’s soul, it may be next to impossible for a new Christian to see God as a loving, grace-filled Father. For a woman to see herself with dignity and value as God does … this is a complete worldview shift that directly opposes everything ingrained in her by the culture.

2. Women are telling us they want to be educated in the Bible. Such programs are simply not available. Well-intended efforts by foreign missionaries in the past have often failed because their approach was like that of a “drive-by Gospel shooting.” Christian groups come in with their own agenda, fail to truly get to know the women, and leave little impact.
We have seen the need. We have heard the cry. We are responding with the launch in 2012 of the Middle East Global Training Institute for Women. Our goal is to unleash women of influence to impact their world for Jesus Christ. As we get to know them on their own turf, we will also educate and mentor them in Biblical understanding, character development, and ministry skills … all the while building them up as God’s precious children.

It’s an exciting cause. The time is now. The place is the Middle East. Won’t you join us in impacting lives for all eternity?

Send us an email today for more information about the Global Training Institute for Women: info@greaterreach.com.

1 comment:

Kristin said...

the time is now. absolutely! Count me in!