by: Marcia Brown, Mission Interpreter   

 

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Jordan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iran & Iraq is not that there are throngs of Christians there. Well, there are not throngs, but Christians are a significant part of the population. And the ELCA is there too, with missionaries and companion ministries supported by your mission gifts. In Egypt there is a seminary and refugee ministry, in Jordan and Palestine is the Evangelical Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, serving 3000 members. In Lebanon a resource center meets the needs of victims of civil war. And in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, the ELCA is engaged in ecumenical ministry.

 

Churchwide funding through the ELCA Global Mission unit supports key priorities identified by these companions, including congregational development, refugee education and advocacy, community health and development and developing evangelical theological education with an emphasis on building positive Christian-Muslim relations.

 

This work and our partners continue to educate us as to how we relate as Christians to the diverse and rich Muslim world and its people, strengthen our understanding of the Church in the East and help us to understand our call to build justice and peace together.

 

God's work, our hands. Thanks for your support!