What We’re Seeing in MENA

The adventure started innocently enough. While on a visit to the UAE, three co-workers and I decided to drive out into the desert with one goal in mind. We wanted to get away from the city lights and look at the stars while sitting on a sand dune. Space doesn’t allow me to tell the story of getting stuck on a sand dune, digging our vehicle out of said sand dune, and wrapping up the evening with a hamburger and newfound brotherhood.

When I think of what we’re seeing in MENA, I think of lights in the desert. In a region of economic instability, significant political unrest, and religious persecution, healthy churches shine as bright lights in a dark spiritual desert. They bring gospel clarity and hope to a needy region.

For security purposes, I’ll be vague when describing specific countries and workers.

Obstacles in the MENA Region

The MENA region is shaped by shaped by geopolitical, historical, and cultural factors. Ministry there is complex.

Two factors stand out as particularly strong influences on gospel ministry in the region:

Religious Oppression

New Christians often are subject to legal and/or social discrimination. In some countries, conversion from Islam to Christianity can lead to severe legal penalties, including imprisonment or even death. Other countries are less punitive, but many local believers experience social exclusion or pressure to conform to the dominant religious norms.

Unstable Politics

As I write this article, ongoing fighting and threats of terrorism persist throughout the region. This leads to increased instability and difficult ministry.

And yet, faithful and fruitful work persists.

The Work of RTIM in MENA

RTIM currently has 24 units ministering in seven countries throughout the region. Here are a few examples of the encouraging work:

Thankfulness for Faithful Churches

The United Arab Emirates has the highest percentage of RTIM workers in MENA. They work as lead pastors, associate pastors, and church planting pastors. They’re focused on local church-based student and women’s ministries. 

Through the efforts of faithful pastors, the UAE has become a hub for planting healthy churches and training men for pastoral ministry. Many of these men are from countries where they could never be trained for ministry. We praise God that many of them intend to go back.

International English-speaking churches are hugely valuable for this work. Most major global cities are home to many English-speaking locals and many highly mobile English-speaking expats. The importance of a healthy, international anchor church in these cities can’t be overstated. One RTIM family is serving an international church in one of the 15 largest cities in the world. Pray for their ministry.

Preparation for a Future Ministry

In another country, we have a team of four units currently engaged in culture and language acquisition. They’re preparing before they head to another country to bring the gospel to an unreached language group. This team has taken several trips to their target country with very encouraging results. Pray for clarity as they determine alongside their local churches on the field how to enter well and minister effectively in their next context.

Church Planting in Hard Places

Three RTIM families are in NA, planting a church in the local language among the local population. The Lord is slowly growing the church both in number and in their understanding of scripture. Despite the difficult ministry context, the light of the gospel is shining and men and women are coming to Christ. Pray especially for discipleship opportunities with local men.

As I write this, I’m reminded of another RTIM family in another NA country that is hostile to Christians. They’re ministering in a local international church while they’re in the process of learning the local language. Pray that they become proficient there would be clarity regarding a church plant focused on the local population.

Engagement with Nationally Led Churches

At RTIM, we’re delighted to partner with faithful churches led by longstanding local pastors. There are so many needs in under-served communities in this region. Sometimes, we provide elder-qualified men; other times, we help them to fill more permanent pastoral vacancies. We praise the Lord that one RTIM family is ministering in one of these churches in a capitol city of a ME country. They’re preaching, teaching, and discipling believers. They’re committed to strengthen the witness of one local church so that it can more effectively reach its community with the gospel.

Praising God for Gospel Lights in MENA

While the work in MENA has unique challenges, we praise God for faithful, fruitful work. We’re so thankful for those men and women who are taking the gospel to hard places so that they can strengthen and establish local churches. We pray that each church will shine as a bright light for the gospel in such a dark and needy region.