Today as I saw the Egyptians celebrating, I could not avoid my tears as I saw history and future in the making. They were tears of joy and hope....Whatever happens in Egypt, there is hope as democracy and freedom will surely bring a better future. - Abraham Najjar* on February 11, 2011, the "Friday of Departure" © Central Intelligence Agency

Written by Abraham Najjar*, OC Middle East/Central Europe Regional Director

"I say to you today, my friends...even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream." These are the famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech delivered in 1963. That dream has become a reality after many years of labor and dedication.

In an interview with an Egyptian Muslim activist, he stated that the words and nonviolent tactics of King and Gandhi were inspirational to the youth of Egypt. As the events unfold in front of our eyes, we witness the people of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) dreaming of a new morning of freedom, dignity and democracy. It is noteworthy that the protesters were so peaceful in a region known for being a violent one! The dream that was started by the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia is spreading its jasmine fragrance all over the region, impacting Egypt and beyond. The fragrance will, hopefully, fill the air to awaken the minds and hearts of many, so they will be able to dream a brighter future for their nations.

As a reformed theologian, I had my doubts on the role of dreams and visions in the life of the Church. My deep involvement in the MENA region is forcing me to review my rigid position. I have come to see and hear people whose dreams and visions have brought them into a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and even led them to pursue discipleship and theological training. It is becoming evident to me that God's dealings with unreached Muslim people are beyond my theological box! Those dreams are changing lives and communities, a change that only God through His spirit is able to achieve.

In January, I visited a country in North Africa. During my meetings to discuss a strategy for theological education in that country, a church leader expressed his thanksgiving to God for the ministry of evangelism and discipleship that the Church is doing in exceptionally difficult and challenging circumstances. However, he added that he had a "dream" to see sound biblical and theological training deeply rooted in the ethos and culture of the country. Overseas Council is in the business of dreaming and envisioning in order to make such a dream come true, not only in that country but all over the Middle East and North Africa. It is impossible for this to take place without your prayers and financial support. May all our dreams that please God come true!

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*Name has been changed for security purposes.

In the midst of the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, students and faculty at our Egyptian partner school, the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC), have been reaching out to their fellow citizens. (Their campus is safe and was not directly affected by the events.) We've repeatedly heard how these historic events have united Egyptians, Christians and Muslims alike, with a new sense of community that they had not experienced before. This new unity has opened the door for the Gospel and God's love to be shared. "Every one of us (faculty, students and staff) had his own way of communicating God's love and care to them...as [we've been able] to build bridges with members of our community that we never had a chance to communicate with before. The situation has created great opportunities for cooperation," said Mariam, ETSC Liaison. "We wanted them to know and believe that the Lord we've experienced over the years is and will be the same yesterday, today and forever." Here are some of the stories that we've received from our partners at ETSC:

• "What is really great is the hope you can see in people's eyes and their eagerness to learn more about the current political situation....Many seminars are being held to offer more enlightenment and encourage people to learn more. The church (as a community, not a building) is now more open to the general community, and bridges are being built toward more unity of the Egyptian people."

Unity expressed: Christians surrounded Muslims as they prayed in Tahrir Square (pictured above). Christians also conducted an open worship service in the square on February 6 (such activity is prohibited in Egypt). Christian songs about God blessing the country were sung by Christians and Muslims, and Christian pastors and Muslim clerics were standing hand in hand.)

• Two students said that during these events, "they stayed in the street overnight together with many of their neighbors (Muslims and Christians). They felt closer to each other than ever, and they were ready to defend each other's properties against any unexpected attack. This unity was great and new to our community, and it was a great opportunity to show God's love." There was also time for discussions in order for each party to understand the other better. One student discovered that "many of his Muslim neighbors misunderstood parts of the Bible, and he did his best to explain the real meaning of what they read. The neighbors said that it was the first time for anyone to offer such an explanation to them."
• "Another student said that his Muslim neighbors told him that they believe what is happening and this new age that Egypt is living in is God's response to the Christians' prayers over the years. This Muslim friend told him that they've always thought that Christians are negative and don't do anything to change the existing situation, but now he knows that their prayers and silence finally paid off."
• "At the time of the events, it was difficult for many church meetings to continue. Students and faculty visited people in their homes, prayed with them and encouraged them to trust in God who has everything under His control."
• An ETSC professor went to her Muslim neighbor (with whom she had never communicated before) because she was worried about Egyptians who get paid by daily means not having any source of income during the events. The two women started to work together to identify these people around them and raised funds that the people could use to support themselves during the crisis.

Other regional partners have told us that church members have been in prayer and fasting for the country and these events. The Church has been making every possible effort to support those in need, whether physically with medical attention or financially for those whose incomes were interrupted. They've mobilized teams to clean the streets of debris. Christians were singing Gospel songs among the youth that led the demonstrations, and they were welcomed. Dr. Bishara Awad, BBC President, said, "Let us pray that these changes will open way of the Good News of our Lord Jesus. Our Lord is a Lord of peace and justice, and the crowds are looking for peace and justice."

Please join us in prayer for this historic time of change in the MENA region.

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Founded in 2001, the Ukrainian Christian mission, "Hope for the Blind," expresses God's love through holistic ministry to blind people and reaching them with the Good News of Jesus. (Our partner school, DCU, estimates that there are about 65,000 blind people in Ukraine, including 25,000 children.) Nearly 600 blind people have accepted Christ as their Savior through the ministry, and about 4,000 are involved in Bible studies. Many of them now wish to reach their blind neighbors, relatives and friends. Thus the mission asked Donetsk Christian University (DCU) to prepare a special program for their missionaries from all across Ukraine.

To support this ministry, DCU prepared a one year certificate program to help train ministers to the blind, understanding that blind Christians are more contextualized and could therefore be more effective when reaching out to their fellow blind. The program is made up of five study sessions where students learn methods of studying Scripture, basic doctrines of the Bible, the history of the evangelical movement in Ukraine, apologetics and principles of missionary work.

One of the distinct features of the program is that it does not use any visual materials (books, written notes, visual aids) or require written work. Books recommended by the professor are read into a dictation machine and recorded in a sound studio, so students receive discs to listen to and learn from. All lectures are recorded and distributed to students at the end of class, and exams are given orally. Twenty-five "Hope for the Blind" students graduated in 2010. The university says, "We are thankful that we have had a chance to serve the 'Hope for the Blind' ministry and hope to continue to find creative ways to train more people for ministry."

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PTEE Graduation in Egypt, 2010

It was in a prison cell in Egypt that Luke* reconfirmed his faith in Jesus Christ. Unjustly imprisoned, Luke already identified himself as a Christian, but his faith was weak. He was visited by local tutors from the Program for Theological Education by Extension (PTEE), and their encouraging presence helped to bolster his faith. With their help, he began taking PTEE's courses, holding tutoring sessions during these personal visits and by mail, completing both the certificate and diploma courses of study. As Luke's faith and personal conviction grew, his fellow prisoners and guards noticed a difference in how he conducted himself day to day. His testimony gave him opportunities to talk about Christ with those around him in prison. In addition, Luke's PTEE training enabled him to delve more effectively into personal scriptural study, to instruct and counsel fellow prisoners in their Christian faith and to tackle questions of faith from skeptics as well. At the time of this report from PTEE, Luke had been released from prison with one final course remaining. He plans to earn his Bachelor of Theology degree soon.

Suha says she lived most of her life as a Christian by name only; she never knew anything about Jesus. Although she tried to attend church every Sunday, other things occupied her life and thoughts. She immigrated to Haiti with her husband where they ran an Arabic restaurant. When the business didn't survive, they returned to Bethlehem, but because of war, they decided to return to Haiti. Things were going well in Haiti until the January 2010 earthquake. Suha's husband was stuck inside his workplace, and their children were at school. "I did not know if they survived," she says. She raised her hand to the Lord and promised that she would life her life serving Him if he saved her family. He did, and that is why she is at Bethlehem Bible College (BBC), she says. "The moment God touched my life, I realized that I wanted to spend my life serving Him....I want to learn more about Jesus, who saved my life and my husband's and children's lives. I will keep serving Him until the final day of my life....How wonderful it is to know Him [now]." Suha is an OC scholarship recipient and says this scholarship means everything to her. "I thank God for everything He has done for me. Financially we lost much because of the earthquake in Haiti. It has been a blessing to be able to return to [Bethlehem] to pursue my education at BBC." Suha will graduate in two years and would like to share Jesus with children as a Christian education teacher.

"My growing in the Lord started seven years ago," says Slavik. He was taking Bible classes in his church in Russia when he felt in his heart that God was calling him into ministry. Despite many changes in his life during the previous few years (serving in the army and moving from his parents' house), "I still felt this call from the Lord all the time. Because of that, I decided to study at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS)." Slavik says God has abundantly blessed him during his studies, and he sees His hand everywhere. "I feel like God is strengthening, preparing and giving me vision for my ministry." Currently Slavik is in worship ministry and is preaching at a church. He will graduate in 2013 and plans to continue ministering in his local church, developing and growing in his ministry. As an OC scholarship recipient, Slavik says, "I always wanted to receive theological education, so when I found out about UETS, I started to pray about how to get there. Thank you very much for making my dreams come true."

*Name has been changed for security purposes.

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Please join Overseas Council in prayer and praise for the Middle East and Europe:

• For protection and wisdom for the Christian community, church leaders and our Egyptian partner schools, ETSC and VCI, that the Church may be ready for the opportunities that the Lord is preparing during this time of change
• For a new generation of leaders (lay and church) to be equipped in countries that are experiencing turmoil and uncertainty
• For the Lord to strengthen the faith of His flock, assure them of His presence, turn these trying times into rich moments of experiencing His love and grant them peace
• For the entire Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region and how this period of unrest will affect its countries
• For the 25+ Christians imprisoned in Iran because of their faith, that they will be protected and strengthened and for their families during this difficult time
• For the ministry of our Regional Director, Abraham Najjar*, as he continues to serve the seminary leaders in this region and Taras Dyatlik as our new Regional Director for Eurasia
• For the Lord's continual provision at partner schools in the midst of tough economic times
• For His special protection for students, faculty and graduates as they minister in the Middle East and Europe

*Name has been changed for security purposes.