April 9, 2015

The Power of Easter: Redeemed from Selfishness; Called to a Ministry of Reconciliation

By Martin Accad If Christmas poses as the central Christian festivity in the consumerist societies we live in, for Christians it is Easter that holds the central place. It is the starting and focal point of all Christian theology. Through the lens of Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers, who […]
March 13, 2015

Moral Decay or Social Privilege? A Bicultural Comparison

by Rose Khouri As a Lebanese-American with an interest in religious studies who has lived a substantial amount of time in both countries, I am often struck by the similarities and differences between two groups who supposedly practice the same religion. If asked, both American Christians (historically white and Protestant) […]
March 6, 2015

ISIS and the Apocalypse

By Mike Kuhn Recently our community had the privilege of hearing a lecture by New Testament scholar David deSilva based on his book on John’s Apocalypse titled Unholy Allegiances: Heeding Revelation’s Warning.  The thrust of the lecture was a challenge to read John’s apocalyptic message in light of events transpiring […]
February 20, 2015

Beating Back ISIS

By Martin Accad Every few days, we seem to wake up to another massacre committed by ISIS. And these are, of course, only the ones that the media reports. ISIS, in reality, is committing massacres on a daily basis. We have become familiar with their crimes in Syria and Iraq […]
February 5, 2015

Let’s Eat Together!

By Arthur Brown Food and youth work have always gone hand in hand. While it is true that ‘pizza night’ generally attracts more young people than a discussion on the doctrine of the trinity, good youth workers recognise the significance of young [and old] persons eating together. I was recently […]
January 22, 2015

Christians, Culture and Power

By Mike Kuhn Never ask a fish “how’s the water?” I know…fish don’t talk so they can’t respond. But the point is that water is the environment the fish lives in and therefore the fish takes it for granted—true of fish and water but also true of people and culture. […]
January 9, 2015

Can Islam Be Reformed?

By Martin Accad Addressing the question of reform and renewal in Islam at MPAC’s 2014 general convention last month, the late Dr. Maher Hathout who passed away a few days ago on January 3rd compared Islam to a diamond. He confessed that this diamond had gathered much dust over the […]
December 18, 2014

“If You Pour Yourself Out for the Hungry”: A Call to the Church amidst the Ongoing Suffering of Syrian Refugees

By Ashley Wollam* “But where will I get food for my children? What can we do?” It was one of the few moments I was glad that my Arabic is still far from fluent. One of my Lebanese brothers or sisters on the ministry team would have to find the […]