Middle East Consultation 2021
Towards a Dynamic Church: Making Disciples,
Developing Leaders, and Engaging Society in Lebanon and Beyond
Christians in the Middle East face a myriad of complexities that impact the way churches seek to maintain presence and proactive witness within their contexts. Recent developments involving a global health crisis, frequent social turmoil, and intensifying humanitarian disasters are adding new dimensions to longstanding problems. Even so, God is at work through such disorienting times as the gospel manifests its love and grace in profound ways. Prevalent as despair about the Middle Eastern region may be, the hopefulness of Christ continually proves its prominence in all things.
In Lebanon, current realities are compelling Christ followers to rethink essential questions about the nature of the Church and its mission. The situation is marked both by fruitful possibilities and heightening uncertainty as faith communities respond to emerging challenges and work to foster the future of church communities.
The time is ripe to facilitate fresh discussion on ecclesiology as Lebanese churches seek to expand outreach and deepen gospel impact while responding to mounting challenges. Various church models and ministry approaches have indeed shown themselves durable and effective in many regards, but there is need to continually rethink how Christ-following communities can play active roles in the Middle East. By exploring questions about the Church’s call to make disciples, develop leaders, and engage society, Lebanon presents a compelling ecclesiological case study for a MEC 2021 discussion. This 3-day online event featuring presentations by local, regional, and global practitioners and scholars will stir discourse about the Church in the Arab world and serve as a resource for Christians engaging in faithful witness of Christ in their own contexts.
In Lebanon, current realities are compelling Christ followers to rethink essential questions about the nature of the Church and its mission. The situation is marked both by fruitful possibilities and heightening uncertainty as faith communities respond to emerging challenges and work to foster the future of church communities.
The time is ripe to facilitate fresh discussion on ecclesiology as Lebanese churches seek to expand outreach and deepen gospel impact while responding to mounting challenges. Various church models and ministry approaches have indeed shown themselves durable and effective in many regards, but there is need to continually rethink how Christ-following communities can play active roles in the Middle East. By exploring questions about the Church’s call to make disciples, develop leaders, and engage society, Lebanon presents a compelling ecclesiological case study for a MEC 2021 discussion. This 3-day online event featuring presentations by local, regional, and global practitioners and scholars will stir discourse about the Church in the Arab world and serve as a resource for Christians engaging in faithful witness of Christ in their own contexts.
Day 1: Disciple-Making
Christian discipleship is often misunderstood as something involving religious programs, ordained leaders, and special events. This has contributed to approaches that are widely generic, difficult to reproduce, and ultimately unfruitful. Biblical disciple-making, on the other hand, reflects a dynamic flow of the Spirit as it works to inspire belief in the gospel among unbelievers and deepen the faith of believers across contexts. Faithful practices of disciple-making resist reductionist believer vs. non-believer dichotomies by pursuing both revival within churches and spiritual awakening among unbelievers through integrated and adaptive ministries. Plainly stated, the intentional practice of disciple-making is an essential function of Christ-following communities.
Christian discipleship is often misunderstood as something involving religious programs, ordained leaders, and special events. This has contributed to approaches that are widely generic, difficult to reproduce, and ultimately unfruitful. Biblical disciple-making, on the other hand, reflects a dynamic flow of the Spirit as it works to inspire belief in the gospel among unbelievers and deepen the faith of believers across contexts. Faithful practices of disciple-making resist reductionist believer vs. non-believer dichotomies by pursuing both revival within churches and spiritual awakening among unbelievers through integrated and adaptive ministries. Plainly stated, the intentional practice of disciple-making is an essential function of Christ-following communities.
Day 2: Leadership Development
Church leaders emerge when disciples make disciples, and leadership is imperative in ministry to stir church maturation and multiplication. Questions about approaches to developing church leadership are complex and loaded with a myriad of variables. It begs the Church to ask: What are the kinds of training hubs and networks to help develop leaders? What leadership characteristics are primary for ministry cultivation? How can theological education help or hinder leadership development? All of this has implications on a fundamental task of churches as they work now to foster Christ-following communities that will be durable and sustainable for ongoing witness and growth.
Church leaders emerge when disciples make disciples, and leadership is imperative in ministry to stir church maturation and multiplication. Questions about approaches to developing church leadership are complex and loaded with a myriad of variables. It begs the Church to ask: What are the kinds of training hubs and networks to help develop leaders? What leadership characteristics are primary for ministry cultivation? How can theological education help or hinder leadership development? All of this has implications on a fundamental task of churches as they work now to foster Christ-following communities that will be durable and sustainable for ongoing witness and growth.
Day 3: Social Engagement
As widespread social, political, and economic needs compound across contexts, the need for disciples of Jesus to be involved in public engagement within their communities is becoming increasingly urgent. Robust understandings of the gospel of the kingdom help us resist narrow thinking by nurturing disciple-making communities to care for the needs of the marginalized, mobilize to address injustices, and minister to the souls of the unreached. This involves concern that seeks to both influence the health of a society and work towards the multiplication of churches. Vibrant faith in Christ effectively stirs believers to assume public presences proceeding from a devotion to Christ and a love of neighbor.
As widespread social, political, and economic needs compound across contexts, the need for disciples of Jesus to be involved in public engagement within their communities is becoming increasingly urgent. Robust understandings of the gospel of the kingdom help us resist narrow thinking by nurturing disciple-making communities to care for the needs of the marginalized, mobilize to address injustices, and minister to the souls of the unreached. This involves concern that seeks to both influence the health of a society and work towards the multiplication of churches. Vibrant faith in Christ effectively stirs believers to assume public presences proceeding from a devotion to Christ and a love of neighbor.
Contributors: Moufid Tohme, Fouad Kahawaji, Warrick Farah, and Alan Hirsch.
Contributors: Jirair Ghazarian, Andrew Salameh, Grace Al-Zoughbi, Elie Haddad, and Perry Shaw.
Contributors: Alia Abboud, Maher Hajj, Samira Luka, Martin Accad, and Gregg Okesson.