by Rev. Abjar
I never anticipated coming to the United States. I never expected starting a career in the land of diversity, contradiction, richness, and opportunity. I never dreamed of becoming a minister of the Gospel in America! I was born in a small village in Northeastern Syria called Al-Malikieh. Following my primary school education, in 1986, I entered St. Ephraim Theological Seminary in Damascus. In 1993, I received a scholarship from the Secretary of Christian Unity, located in Vatican City, to study at the Salisian Pontifical University in Rome. In 1998, following the completion of my M.A. I successfully defended my Doctoral Dissertation. 1999 I was appointed by my church toserve as assistant bishop to the western archdioceses located in California. After working three years, I moved to Texas where in 2004 I enrolled in the Masters program in Theological Studies at Brite Divinity School at TCU, in Fort Worth, where I completed two semesters. In the summer of 2006 I enrolled at the Doctorate Program at the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome, Italy. Since 2006 I have been a pastor of St. James Syrian Orthodox church in Corpus Christi TX. The reason I am writing this article is not to impress you with my resume, but to share how it was put to the test.
In 2006 I was introduced to POBLO through Rev. Karim Baidaoui. Recalling that meeting, I am confident that the meeting was arranged by God Himself, because it allowed me to acquire new spiritual, theological, and religious horizons. This experience really helped me discover the truth about how God works among his lost people. For the last year and half, through my work with POBLO-TX, I studied the Lutheran theology and learned how to apply it in the mission field where it counts the most.
The most amazing and recent eye opening endeavor was translating into Arabic the curriculum, Life with God, by Dr. Laurence L. White (300 pages). For the last two months, I was in a journey through the historic faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The book consolidated my theology and helped me understand, better, the concepts of Justification, Redemption, Sanctification, Law and Gospel, Word and Sacrament. I have been working, as a volunteer with POBLO-TX, reaching out to our Muslims neighbors in North Texas; teaching about Islam and Christianity; sharing my testimony and connecting with Muslim students at the campus of the University of Texas in Arlington,and many other places.
Preaching Law and Gospel from behind the pulpit became speaking Law and Gospel face to face with the lost children of Abraham, my Muslim neighbors. This challenge really put my “resume of theology” to the test... We have no choice but to face this challenge because every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is from God “is the spirit of antichrist, which you heard is coming and, even now, already in the world” (1 John 4: 2 – 3).
Many years ago, only a few people in the U.S. or in Western Europe, knew any Muslims personally. But the situation has changed radically. Immigration has brought many Muslims to Europe and North America. Mosques have appeared in many cities in the U.S. and Muslims have applied for chaplaincy positions in the U.S military. For the first time in history, Americans must deal with the presence of Islam, because Muslims are here to stay (Acts 17:26). Please keep me and POBLO-TX in your prayers as we continue to grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ
I never anticipated coming to the United States. I never expected starting a career in the land of diversity, contradiction, richness, and opportunity. I never dreamed of becoming a minister of the Gospel in America! I was born in a small village in Northeastern Syria called Al-Malikieh. Following my primary school education, in 1986, I entered St. Ephraim Theological Seminary in Damascus. In 1993, I received a scholarship from the Secretary of Christian Unity, located in Vatican City, to study at the Salisian Pontifical University in Rome. In 1998, following the completion of my M.A. I successfully defended my Doctoral Dissertation. 1999 I was appointed by my church toserve as assistant bishop to the western archdioceses located in California. After working three years, I moved to Texas where in 2004 I enrolled in the Masters program in Theological Studies at Brite Divinity School at TCU, in Fort Worth, where I completed two semesters. In the summer of 2006 I enrolled at the Doctorate Program at the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome, Italy. Since 2006 I have been a pastor of St. James Syrian Orthodox church in Corpus Christi TX. The reason I am writing this article is not to impress you with my resume, but to share how it was put to the test.
In 2006 I was introduced to POBLO through Rev. Karim Baidaoui. Recalling that meeting, I am confident that the meeting was arranged by God Himself, because it allowed me to acquire new spiritual, theological, and religious horizons. This experience really helped me discover the truth about how God works among his lost people. For the last year and half, through my work with POBLO-TX, I studied the Lutheran theology and learned how to apply it in the mission field where it counts the most.
The most amazing and recent eye opening endeavor was translating into Arabic the curriculum, Life with God, by Dr. Laurence L. White (300 pages). For the last two months, I was in a journey through the historic faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The book consolidated my theology and helped me understand, better, the concepts of Justification, Redemption, Sanctification, Law and Gospel, Word and Sacrament. I have been working, as a volunteer with POBLO-TX, reaching out to our Muslims neighbors in North Texas; teaching about Islam and Christianity; sharing my testimony and connecting with Muslim students at the campus of the University of Texas in Arlington,and many other places.
Preaching Law and Gospel from behind the pulpit became speaking Law and Gospel face to face with the lost children of Abraham, my Muslim neighbors. This challenge really put my “resume of theology” to the test... We have no choice but to face this challenge because every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is from God “is the spirit of antichrist, which you heard is coming and, even now, already in the world” (1 John 4: 2 – 3).
Many years ago, only a few people in the U.S. or in Western Europe, knew any Muslims personally. But the situation has changed radically. Immigration has brought many Muslims to Europe and North America. Mosques have appeared in many cities in the U.S. and Muslims have applied for chaplaincy positions in the U.S military. For the first time in history, Americans must deal with the presence of Islam, because Muslims are here to stay (Acts 17:26). Please keep me and POBLO-TX in your prayers as we continue to grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ
Posts
