Newsletter Issue 1, 2015

I began writing this insert a few days after the ‘Martin Place siege’ in Sydney. Since then there have been the murders in Paris; geno-

cide in Nigeria with Boko Haram; and, contin-ued atrocities in Syria and Iraq. There is no end to this increasing violence.

Media reports continue to instruct us that these are ‘lone gunmen’ or ‘loosely associated groups’ but, be assured, they have nothing to do with ‘true Islam’.

Last year, John Stackhouse, Professor of World Religion at Regent College, Vancouver appeared on Q&A on ABC. He countered the prevailing view that Islam is a ‘religion of peace’ by stating that, to the contrary, ‘the Qu’ran and sharia law give permission for people (Muslims) to behave as they do.’ You can view his comment at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpHJVvbxkYw

I am not stating that ‘all Muslims are terror-ists’ – far from it! I have met and know many Muslim people who are very peaceful and do not agree with individuals or groups associated with Islam that use violence to impose their beliefs on others.

What we are tending to see, however, are groups of people committed to a militant and aggressive Islam acting to impose their view of Islam on others.

In the midst of the tragedy that is engulfing so many countries in the Middle East and Africa at the present time it’s good to hear some posi-tive news!

MECO has had a long association with ABTS (Arab Baptist Theological Seminary) in Beirut. In their most recent newsletter there is the encouraging news of a new program to serve the Church in the Middle East and North

Africa. The Certificate in Ministry is an Arabic-language, Internet-based program of study that aims to equip Arab Christian leaders all over the world for ministry. The Certificate in Ministry engages students in a systematic study facili-tated by ABTS tutors.

ABTS President Ellie Haddad states: “One of the major challenges for the Church in the Arab world is leadership. There is an increased need for leader-ship formation, forming leaders who are well-trained in engaging their Bible and engaging their culture so

that they can make the Good News of the Gospel relevant to their communities.

There are very few seminaries that are legally able to train Muslim background believing leaders in Arabic, in an Arab context. ABTS is one of these seminaries. Our students come from all over the Middle East and North Africa. We are now able to take the learning to the leaders where they are serving. Hundreds more will be able to be equipped and prepared for ministry through this mode of delivery.”

It’s a privilege to be partnering with ABTS and the scope of such a ministry is boundless that will have eternal consequences. You can partner with us and help our brothers and sisters in the Middle East by supporting us in prayer and financial gifts.

Your brother in Christ,

Rev Richard CoombsAustralian Director

‘Bad News ……. Encouraging News’

Legacies – Legacies are a significant way for Christians to continue support of taking the gospel to the people of the Middle East. You can have an ‘ongoing support’ of MECO and its ministries by remembering MECO in your will.

MECO Australia

DONatIONs aND suppORt

We have a variety of ways in which our work and ministries can be supported.

On-line – donors can use Visa and Mastercard - www.meco.org.au/donate/index.html

Internet - direct transfer to our account – BsB: 704 874 100009416.

Pushpay – is a new way to give electronically via your smart-phone (iphone and android). the app can be downloaded directly on to your phone. Visit https://pushpay.com/nonprofits and donate direct to MECO australia – very easy and very quick!

Ellie Haddad

MECO Australia has been privi-leged to serve in the Middle East in very practical ways

across the last three years as war has again invaded the region.

Through our Refugee Ministry Fund we have been able to forward much needed finance to known friends and partners in different coun-tries. Our policy has been to not discriminate between Christian and non-Christian and this has provided a powerful witness to many Muslim families who have felt abandoned by their faith.

In North Iraq (Kurdistan) our workers have utilised monies to help refugees fleeing the ISIS dominated rebels. Churches are often a place of refuge for these people. Scriptures are distributed in parcels of that contain provi-sions for basic needs.

In Syria we have two pastors on the ground who have refused to leave their places of ministry and through funds provided to them have been able to bring relief to people whose home shave been destroyed.

Churches and Pastors in Lebanon have joined together to bring a combined witness to Muslim people and families. Churches report many Muslims turning to the Christian faith because of the love that is being shown to them.

Additional gifts have been forwarded to Pastor friends in Jordan and Gaza to help alleviate the pressures brought by refugees flooding into the country and recent wars.

All the people that we forward finances to are good friends who are well-known to Richard and MECO workers.

The Refugee Ministry Fund makes an impor-tant witness and contribution to breaking down barriers between Christian and Muslim people. You can make donations to this fund through gifts forwarded to our National Office or on-line.

“Serving in My name…”

Continue to pray for our workers in the region of the Middle East at this time.

Anne, Matthew and Stephen are now back in amman where the boys are settling into a new year at school. It’s a new start for Matthew at High school. Rick is still based in New Zealand endeavouring to complete his Doctorate before re-joining the family.

Perry and Karen are being kept busy in their ministry at aBts. perry has had positive reviews and responses to his recently published book on the changing role of education in theological seminaries – ‘transforming theological Education’. Karen continues her dual role at aBts and also helping pastor an International congrega-tion in Beirut. Phoebe is in her final High school year.

Vicki is well settled in to her role with MEC (Middle East Concern) and keeping well. she has recently taken on an additional area of work in south america. If you would be interested in supporting Vicki contact our National Office.

Darren is still working hard on his arabic language exams and finished top of his class. He is leading a Bible study in arabic and also helping at the Lighthouse school run by Mike and Vicki just south of tripoli.

Richard was able to visit Ivy in taipei recently. she still has the Middle East on her heart and is looking to return their later in 2015. she would value prayer regard-ing her future plans and opportunities for service.

Stian and Katrina, Oskar and sebastian have settled well into amman and are enjoying their language study. the boys have settled into school. they would be encouraged with a few more financial and prayer partners - if you would be interested in supporting stian and Katrina contact our National Office.

Ken and Kerry Gray are now settled in Cairo and looking to stay on a long-term basis. they are teaching children at africa Hope. We would be keen to help them build up their financial and prayer support and if you would be interested in supporting Ken and Kerry contact our National Office.

OVERsEas WORKERs NEWs australian News

Richard Coombs has been speaking in churches and at different Mission Conferences recently. He and Marga-ret represented MECO at the recent Belgrave Heights Convention. He also spoke in churches and meetings in taiwan. He is available to speak in churches and other meetings and can be contacted on (03) 98980077.

Annette Cook is our Office and Finance Manager at our National Office in Melbourne. pray for annette as she continues to learn the financial, legal and governance information that helps us be effective.

Noel and Ros Uebergang continue to have excel-lent opportunities in their ministry in north Victoria among people from the Middle East. Folk can help with their support by forwarding gifts to our office.

John and Magda Ackad have had the opportu-nity to visit a number of our workers in the Middle East. they are available for speaking at churches and other groups and can be contacted on (02) 9822 2033 or 0404058569. Folk can help with their support by forwarding gifts to our office.

Middle East Tour – October 2015 – a MECO tour to the Middle East is planned for October 2015. It will visit many of the Biblical sites in Israel and include Jordan (Jerash, petra, baptismal site, etc) and also Greece (athens, Corinth, Cenchreas, Delphi). If you are interested in travelling with us next year please contact Richard at the National Office.

Refugee Ministry Fund – Over the past two years we have had a ‘Syrian Refugee Appeal’. this has now been re-named the ‘Refugee Ministry Fund’. With recent developments in the Middle East it broadens the extent of the fund and can include syria, Iraq, Egypt and Gaza. We are partnering with pastors and churches in the Middle East to help bring some relief to perse-cuted families. Gifts can be forwarded through phone, post and online – see donations and support section.

Prayer Points – monthly prayer points for the Middle East are distributed by email and print. We would be delighted to add your name to our list – please forward an email to office@meco.org.au requesting the prayer points and specify how you would like to receive them (email or print).

State RepresentativesN South Wales John and Magda ackad tel: (02)9822 2303 Email: mackad@optusnet.com.au

Queensland Joshua aylward tel: 0439 567 484 Email: joshaylward_18@hotmail.com

South Australia anna shepherd tel: (08) 8356 9317 Email: annashep@senet.com au

Tasmania National Office tel: 03 9898 0077 Email: office@meco.org.au

West Australia peter and Lorena thwaite tel: (08) 9309-6030 Email: petelorena8@bigpond.com

PO Box 136, Kerrimuir, Vic toria 3129 tel: 03 9898 0077 Email: of f ice@meco.org.au Web: w w w.meco.org.au

The Challenge of Islam stuart Robinson $5.00*

Dr Stuart Robinson in his book The Challenge of Islam writes a compelling call “…to the church to act with new decisiveness, humility and devotion”. This is not a call to war, to viciousness or turmoil; but rather a call to effective witness, evangelism and love.

Every Christian should at least read this booklet; every pastor should know this booklet well.

Farsi New Testament $15.00*

These New Testaments have been difficult to get. We now have a supplier and recently received a supply of 400 Farsi New Testaments. These are well produced and strongly bound. We recommend giving New Testaments to Persian and Arabic friends to introduce them to Jesus. A discount is available for purchases over 7 copies.

Topical Concordance to Qu’ran $10.00*

The ‘Topical Concordance to Qu’ran’ is a very helpful and useful guide to exploring the Qu’ran. An English index enables subjects to be explored in the Qu’ran. This Concordance gives some insight into conservative Muslim understanding of the teaching of the Qu’ran.

Every person who has dealings with people of the Muslim faith should utilise this helpful booklet. Muslims often know and reverence their holy book more than we Christians reverence the Holy Bible, the Word of God.

Books MECO austRaLIa | pO Box 136, Kerrimuir, Victoria 3129 | tel: 03 9898 0077 Email: office@meco.org.au Web: www.meco.org.au

Resources – Available from the National Office

* Please note – postage is additional

N South Wales John and Magda ackad tel: (02)9822 2303 Email: mackad@optusnet.com.au

Queensland Joshua aylward tel: 0439 567 484 Email: joshaylward_18@hotmail.com

South Australia anna shepherd tel: (08) 8356 9317 Email: annashep@senet.com au

Tasmania National Office tel: 03 9898 0077 Email: richard@meco.org.au

West Australia peter and Lorena thwaite tel: (08) 9309-6030 Email: petelorena8@bigpond.com

PO Box 136, Kerrimuir, Victoria 3129 tel: 03 9898 0077 Email: office@meco.org.au Web: www.meco.org.au

BOOKs: (postage is additional) price

Challenge of Islam - Stuart Robinson 5.00Defying Death – Stuart Robinson 20.00(The story of Father Zakaria Botross)Islam and Christianity on the Edge – Peter Riddell, John Azumah 35.00Islam – Human Rights and public policy – David Claydon 40.00Let Your Light shine – John Azumah 5.00Liberty to the Captives (Islam and Dhimmitude) – Mark Durie 15.00Light on Islam – John Azumah 5.00Mosques and Miracles – Stuart Robinson 20.00Revelation (Do we worship the same God?) – Mark Durie 20.00sharing God’s Love with Muslims – Bill Dennet 15.00the third Choice (Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom) – Mark Durie 25.00the Wisdom of Islam and the Foolishness of Christianity – Richard Shumack 20.00turn Back the Battle – Elizabeth Kendall 20.00

Bibles: (postage is additional)

arabic Bible (NaV) (Hardcover) 20.00arabic Bible (NaV) (Softcover) 10.00arabic-English Bible (NIV) 30.00arabic NT 5.00Farsi NT 15.00topical Concordance to the Qu’ran 10.00

DVD’s: (postage is additional)

JEsus (Arabic, Turkish, Farsi) 10.00Behind the sun (True life story from the Middle East) 15.00God is Love (Arabic) 10.00God is Love (Farsi) 10.00God’s plan – My Role (Arabic with English and French subtitles) 20.00Magdalena 10.00More than Dreams (Testimonies of Muslims) 10.00the prodigal (Arabic) 10.00secrets of the Kingdom (1 & 2) (Arabic) 10.00

MECO DVD’s: (a donation would be appreciated)From Now to Eternity (Egypt); to Win the Nations (Lebanon), God at Work (Jordan), shout for Joy (Syria), special Needs Ministries, (North Iraq)

teaching DVD’s: (postage is additional)By Dr Ken Bailey (author of Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes and Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes)

a Clear View of Jesus’ Birth 20.00the Lord’s prayer 20.00Women in the New testament (2 discs) 40.00Jesus the theologian – the parables (3 discs) 60.00

Resources – We stock a variety of books, Bibles (Arabic and Arabic-English) and DVD’s that are useful for being informed about Islam and the Middle East region. Enquiries can be made with the National Office for further information.