104 participants from Vanuatu, the Solomons and Papua New Guinea met at the Scripture Union campsite at Pango Point on the Vanuatu island of Efate for the first Pacific Preaching Seminar from 24-28 March 2008. The Ni-Vanuatu participants came from seven of the main islands of Vanuatu.

participants at the preaching conference in Vanuatu

We are grateful to local organisers Andy Williamson, Philip Joses and
Sophia Silas from Talua Bible College.

The two main preaching facilitators were Chris Wright (LPI) and David Cook (Principal of Sydney Missionary and Bible College). LPA Board member John Buckle and LPA Scholar Ma’afu Palu also assisted in the teaching and group sessions, while LPA executive officer Wendy Toulmin assisted in the daily running of the seminar.

Every day was “full on”, as the Australians put it. We ran from 7.45am start with devotions, through until 9.00pm. The generator went off about 9.45pm, so nothing was possible after that except to try to sleep, until the singing from the men’s dormitory began around 5.00am!

From the start, we emphasized to participants that this was a long-term programme. The group workshops were organised geographically, so when we had the session on ‘Developing a Movement for Biblical Preaching in Vanuatu’, it was natural for them to meet in the same groups. There was general enthusiasm for setting up local Preachers’ Clubs. They appointed convenors and we have heard they are already beginning to meet. Please pray they will continue and serve a great purpose under God.

We returned from Vanuatu with a strong conviction that Langham Preaching Pacific region has been well and truly launched and has exciting potential in the years ahead.

Several Latin American leaders have expressed that a single-volume commentary is a project they have been hoping for. The discussion is at its infancy stages, and questions of expense, project management, distribution, and process details are continuing.

Project editors René Padilla, Milton Acosta, Rosalee Velloso, and coordinator Ian Darke

Among those who attended the discussion were LPI Literature Director Pieter Kwant, Langham Scholar Milton Acosta, Langham Partnership Regional Council member Rene Padilla, and LPI Committee Chair Mark Hunt. Also attending was Rosalee Velloso (South American Theological Seminary, Brazil), a key editor for the project and Ian Darke of Letra Viva, who will coordinate the project.

LPI will consider sponsoring as much as half the funds needed and helping with administrative needs. The project will take shape this summer as more details and editorial assignments will be set in motion in June.

In early March, I attended a Langham Partnership International Senior Management Team (SMT) meeting, held at the Hookses, John Stott’s coastal hideaway in Wales. “Uncle John” himself had been there with Frances Whitehead, his secretary of more than 50 years, and other friends, the week before. A few days after the conclusion of the SMT meeting, I had the privilege of paying Uncle John a visit at his home within the grounds of a retirement community for Anglican clergy 30 miles south of London.

At the Hookses, we faced what some British meteorologists called “the storm of the winter,” and the cold and wet weather continued during my train ride from London and short walk from the small village train station to Uncle John’s place of residence. But any thoughts about the inclement weather were quickly replaced by a sense of joyful expectation when I heard Uncle John reply to my knock on his door with a strong and cheerful, “Come in.”

It had been a few years since I had last seen Uncle John, and others who had seen him more recently had informed me of his increasing frailty and his need to use a walker to get around. While those reports were certainly true, it was just as true that his character remains intact—gracious, kind, gentle, faithful, hopeful, loving—in a word, Christlike.

We began our hour together reminiscing a bit, walking down the memory lane of our friendship of over 25 years. I also brought Uncle John the greetings of many friends from across the pond, which brought a smile to his face and some fond memories for him.

I asked how he was finding his living situation, which has been his home for about a year now. Uncle John shared that he has a number of evangelical friends in the retirement community, including one man whose friendship with John goes back 70 years when they were students at Rugby School! Uncle John related that he is often asked whether he is happy. His response is that while he would not say that he is happy (I would imagine that he misses many people, the activity of his ministry, his home in London, and the ability to travel abroad), he is content, citing Philippians 4:11, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

I provided Uncle John an update on JSM, which greatly interested him. He encouraged me to claim the promise of James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

We closed our time together, as we had done many times before, in prayer. Uncle John asked me to pray for his continued work on what he promised will be his last book. I was struck that the lone prayer request of this man of God would ultimately result in a gift and blessing to many, many people.

As I walked back to the train station, I pondered the words that he had graciously shared with me, and I gave thanks to God for the opportunity to be with Uncle John, a man who has been with Jesus and who so clearly gives off the aroma of Christ.

The Tanzanian preaching movement continues to extend its reach, with nearly 320 delegates attending the training seminars in February and March this year, as well as the launch of a new initiative in the training of local facilitators.

Coordinated by Frank Luvanda and Tony Swanson, the programme not only included large seminars in the north and south of the country. A small group of Tanzanian trainers have also been equipped to develop new level 1 training events in different regions of the country, taking the training to local groups and thereby strengthening the indigenous commitment of the preaching movement. This year over 170 pastors and lay preachers attended the Northern event in Mwanza, and nearly 150 attended the event in Morogoro.

Langham Preaching facilitator Rodney Wood worked with Frank and Tony, and they were joined by Mercy Ireri, the Langham country coordinator for the preaching movement in Kenya. Her training skills and her experience of nurturing preacher’s clubs in Kenya supported the Tanzanian training and is a good example of the emerging African preaching network - cross-border fellowship and support which is part of the Langham Preaching vision.

The small church property was saved from destruction, but some believers were attacked. The situation remains tense and volatile. Elsewhere, believers in Kisumu and Eldoret specially need our prayers as they provide shelter for families under pressure. Please pray for a just and peaceful resolution to the present political crisis, as well as for the wider repercussions of the unrest on many poor families across the country: such instability not only creates short term problems of food and fuel shortages, but longer term deterioration in the economic situation. There is international concern that the tribal conflict should not escalate into wider unrest across the country but, by God’s grace, the church can play a key role in reconciliation.

Edward wrote on 2nd March:
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. It has been a difficult time for Kenya but God is answering prayer! A political settlement has been reached and hopefully we can now get out of the woods. This affected all of us but our church members who are mostly from the slums were badly affected. Healing and reconciliation is now key. Please continue to pray for us.

read more prayer requests

The workshop focused on helping participants understand their own languages in relation to English and their own vernaculars, especially as far as translation into Bislama goes. We also discussed the state of standardisation of Bislama spelling and expression. Rosemary led this portion of the workshop, since she is our linguist. It was the lion’s share of the workshop, since everyone needs both the skill and confidence to write in Bislama. It was eye-opening and exciting for the participants to get to know their own national language better from a linguistic perspective, and to have light shed on their own questions and problems with the language. About 1/4 or 1/3 of the workshop was devoted to how to write Bible commentary, and what sort of Bible commentary we are hoping to write, that is, one that is tied to the text and serves preaching biblical, Christ-centred messages.

So, thanks so much for praying, but don’t stop now! The success of the workshop raises people’s expectations, which means more intense work from the VBC team. Pray the Lord gives us wisdom for guiding the venture, and grace to all who have begun working on their commentaries. Different individuals or groups are getting started on: Psalms 1-15; Proverbs 1-10; Haggai; Jonah; Ruth; Esther; Joshua; 1 Peter; 1,2,3 John; 2 Peter; Galatians; 1 Thessalonians; as well as the works nearly completed: Philemon, Philippians, Colossians, Mark.

Thanks again for thinking of us and praying for us.

Sincerely,
Andrew & Rosemary Williamson

Safia Nana Zakana could not understand what had happened to Pastor James. She attended his church in Abuja, Nigeria, where he preached regularly. But during 2007 something changed. “I found he was different,” she told Chris Wright, who was leading the second Nigerian Langham Preaching seminar. “He used to preach all over the place, but now he never uses illustrations or stories that are not relevant to the text he is preaching from. And he always ties his conclusion to what the text is saying.”

Safia was attending the seminar at Level 1, and Pastor James had attended it last year, and clearly it had changed him. “So when I see him,” Safia laughed, “I’m going to tell him, ‘Now I know your secret!’ Already we are asking him to train us and others in the church in what he has learned.”

Safia Nana Zakana

Safia herself was a TV presenter before, so she never had any problem about standing up and speaking before audiences. Her problem was knowing how to handle the Bible well and how to teach it properly to others. She works for RURCON – ‘Rural Church Councillors of Nigeria’ – a teaching and training network that encourages rural church pastors to have a holistic ministry of the Gospel in words and works. So she has lots of opportunities to teach and train others. “I wanted to know how to present the Word of God properly in context – its own context, and our context – so that people can understand it and be changed,” she said. “This seminar is helping me to do exactly that.” And with a final bright smile, “My husband, who works for Christian aid and can’t be here, is so jealous!”

The Nigerian Movement Grows Fast

The Langham Preaching movement in Nigeria started in February 2007 with 150 people at Level 1. This year, 90 of them returned for Level 2 training, while another 160 joined at a fresh Level 1. After taking the original group to Level 3 in 2009, it is likely the movement will have to split into several regional streams. This is not surprising, since everything in Nigerian Christianity is big. The movement is supported by several heads of denominations that number millions of members, some of whom attended throughout, at the invitation of Gideon Para-Malam, the main organizer.

Langham Literature provided books for the participants, and some more were provided as gifts and for sale through Africa Christian Textbooks, run by Sid Garland. Many bought copies of the “Africa Bible Commentary.”

And Langham scholars are involved as well. The chair of the Nigerian Langham Preaching committee is Pandang Yamsat, who is the President of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN). And another Langham scholar, Bishop Cyril Okorocha sent ten pastors from his Diocese of Owerri, and gave a guest lecture one evening.

Making a Difference
Chris Wright, who was the main facilitator at last year’s seminar and returned for this one, was keen to hear from members of the first group if what they learned last year had made any difference to their preaching habits and their churches’ lives. He got some encouraging responses.

Pastor Bitrus Abba pastors a church in the Hausa speaking Kagoro region. “I used to feel so guilty before,” he said, “because I never prepared properly. I would just do a bit on Saturday night or even Sunday morning before preaching. So last year’s seminar made me sit up. Now, I start every Monday morning to study and prepare. Then I do a little bit each evening and put it all together on Friday night. There has been a much better response from my people. Their level of interest is greater because they can see clearly the main message and purpose of each passage. Many more are coming to the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study.

“During the past year, I have preached through James (in 2 months), 1 Timothy, 1 Corinthians, and parts of Micah and Habakkuk. I have just bought the ‘Africa Bible Commentary,’ which will be really helpful. I find I learn so much as I prepare.

“During the past year we also started a preachers club for our town, and that has met twice, and we will go on meeting and learning together.”

Exploding but Dissatisfied
Pastor Caleb Mutfwang leads a large church in Kaduna, in the northern part of Nigeria. He told Chris Wright that although there is an explosion of church attendance in Nigeria, people are often dissatisfied with church. They look for somewhere where the Word is being taught because they are severely hungry. And they appreciate it when they hear thorough exegesis of the Bible itself. They are not gullible. What had he particularly learned from last year’s seminar?

• “I was conscious that I had often preached out of context. Even though the message might have been true, the supporting text was not appropriate.
• “Secondly I learned the need to stay within the text while preaching it.
• “Then thirdly, I learned the discipline of preparing sermon notes seriously, and not just extempore ‘as the Spirit leads’.
• “Fourthly, our church began to look at more theological themes, like ‘Who really is God?’, and if you do that, you have to be more diligent in your study. We have a fairly educated membership. In my younger days I used to despise theology, but suddenly I have realized through my reading of John Stott and others, that it is not dry. And you can give people good content without being boring.”

As the Nigerian Langham Preaching movement grows and spreads, pray that it may become an open secret, and change a whole culture of preaching back to its biblical roots.

Read more about Nigerian Langham Scholar Matthew Michaels

View the Langham Preaching-Nigeria Photo Gallery

Matthew began his ministry as a missionary church planter with ECWA in the mid-1990s. He took his first degree in missiology, and his zeal is still very apparent. Even during his Ph.D. studies, he engages in student ministry, taking some of his fellow students to the campus of the University of Jos and relating to village students there every Saturday and Sunday.

Matthew’s other main passion is the Bible. He has been specializing in the Christological intepretation of the Old Testament, but with the particular goal of reaching the new generation of Africans with biblical teaching about Christ that is culturally rooted and relevant. “I have a great dream for biblical Christianity in Africa,” he told me when we met in Jos in January 2008, while I was leading a Langham Preaching seminar there. “I want to see African Christological reconstruction that will go beyond the standard pictures of the past and really speak to ordinary Christians.”

For four years before starting his doctoral studies, Matthew had already been teaching several courses at JETS, on Hebrew and Old Testament studies. He is also on the faculty of another ECWA seminary at Kagoro and will probably move to that faculty after his PhD. He is a highly valued member of the upcoming ECWA leadership, and finished both his BA and MA studies with top grades in all classes. He is working equally hard at his PhD now, and will finish his course-work in May, and then move into two years of dissertation work, hoping to complete some time in 2010.

I was so impressed with Matthew and the way his enthusiasm for his studies just fizzed out of him as he talked about the topics he is researching and writing on. But then I discovered another reason for the joy in his voice and the sparkle in his eye. He got married just a couple of months ago, in December! His new wife, Juliana, is doing a postgraduate degree in Law at the University of Jos.

Matthew is one of a growing number of scholars that JSM-Langham is supporting to do their Ph.D.s in Majority World contexts.

Read more about Langham Preaching training in Nigeria
View the LPI  Nigeria photo gallery

Most Langham scholars’ eyes light up when they talk about their doctoral studies supported by a Langham Partnership International (LPI) grant. But Andrea Zaki Stephanous positively sparkles as he describes the difference it has made in his life. Andrea did his Ph.D. in Manchester, England, in the field of religion and politics. LPI International Director Chris Wright met him recently in his home country Egypt and asked him about it.

“My Ph.D. programme absolutely transformed my life,” Andrea began. “It was a paradigm shift for me. First it gave me a deep appreciation of the importance of education and adapting a proper scientific approach to problems. Secondly it equipped me with the skills I need in my role now. By the grace of God I serve in a top position in my church and country, and in that role I have to deal with intellectuals, with officials. I would not know how to do so without the experience and skills of the Ph.D. Thirdly it has empowered me in my job, as a professor, publisher, writer, speaker. I am invited both by the state and other organizations to give papers and presentations on a range of social and political issues as well as theological ones. Being academically equipped gives my church as a whole respect, in a culture where religious leaders are often despised as people of slogans only. Absolutely all my work as a leader in church, seminary, and society, has been transformed by the academic skills and challenges of the Ph.D. work.

“And yet at the same time, as you go through the Ph.D. you always affirm to yourself that you are a child in the world of learning. And even afterwards, I never feel that I am a ‘scholar’ – when you know how much there is that you don’t know! I don’t feel worthy of that title. There is still a very long way to go.”

So what exactly does Andrea do? Prepare to be astonished. He carries an amazing portfolio of responsibility. He described six of them.

• Director of Communications at The Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Service (CEOSS). Andrea was involved with CEOSS, working among the poor in squatter camps, since the 1980s. He now directs its publishing department, Dar El Thaqafa, producing books and multi-media resources not only for Egypt but the whole Arabic speaking world. In this role he is also involved as a resource person for inter-faith dialogue and peace-building and conflict resolution programmes for church leaders. This is Andrea’s main (and only salaried) job.

(shown: Two of the recently launched publications of Dar El Thaqafa: “The Arabic Contemporary Theology” (left), and “Salvation,” the sixth volume in the Global Christian Library.

• Professor at the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo. Andrea teaches at both undergraduate and graduate level on Religion and Politics, Theological Foundations for Social Change, and Inter-Faith Dialogue in the Middle East.

• TV Presenter: Andrea both writes and presents a weekly programme for SAT 7, which goes out across the Middle East, called, Without Embarrassment. Each programme features two guests – Christian and Muslim, discussing all issues imaginable, from religious violence to the resurrection of Jesus.

• Chair of the Council for Service and Development for the Synod of the Nile (the main Presbyterian church in Egypt). This works to empower local churches to be salt and yeast in society. He oversees the work of 10 staff, 500 volunteers and several major health, education and economic projects.

• Vice President of the Protestant Council of Egypt. There are 1,200 Protestant churches within this alliance, and its council functions not only as a forum for working together, and an authority structure, but also as a combined voice to the government. So Andrea needs great political wisdom as well as ecclesiastical diplomacy.

• International Deputy Director for the Middle East, for the Lausanne movement.

“And yet,” says Andrea, “I like to keep up my first love as a researcher and writer. This is a crucial part of what I do. I set aside time weekly for that. I have a nice office in my home where I do that. All of my children are at school or university, so everybody is studying and I am studying with my family around me!”

It would be hard to think of a better example of a rounded ministry of head, heart and hands, than the work of Langham Scholar, Andrea Zaki, in Egypt.

“I would not be as I am now without God’s grace and the support of Langham,” he concluded. “That is from my heart.”

Read more about Langham scholar Andrea’s work with the production of “Arabic Contemporary Theology”

View the LPI photo gallery of the January 2008 Egypt gatherings

There have been Arab believers since before the followers of Jesus were even called Christians (a nickname that was invented in Syria). They were there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10-11). And the Christian church has continued in the Middle East throughout the past two thousand years. Some of the rich tradition of Arabic Christian theological writings from a thousand years ago are being rediscovered today. But a distinctively evangelical Arabic Christian voice has not been heard addressing its own theological concerns in today’s world within significant book-size publications. Until this year.

(photo: “Arabic Contemporary Theology” at left, alongside an Arabic translation of Chris Wright’s “Salvation”)

January 2008 saw the launch of the “Arabic Contemporary Theology” (ACT). Beautifully produced as an A4-size textbook of 500 pages in two column Arabic, it is the fruit of a three-year project by a group of ten Arab Christian theologians in Egypt and Lebanon, some of whom are Langham scholars. From clear biblical foundations, it tackles some of the sharp issues that Christians face especially in the Middle East, including:

• How Arab Christians understand the Old Testament
• The Old Testament concepts of covenant and land
• The meaning of Jesus’ identity as a Jew
• Understanding prophetic texts in relation to religion and politics today
• Christianity and women
• Evangelical and ecumenical relations
• Salvation and other faiths
• Arab culture and identity and their theological challenges

(photo: “Arabic Contemporary Theology” contributors)

The book was launched at a three-day seminar at a coastal resort on the Red Sea (perhaps in the footsteps of Moses?), which brought together about 70 theologians, pastors and Christian leaders from various Protestant denominations in Egypt. Langham Partnership was invited to attend, since we have invested significantly in the project from its beginning, and so Chris Wright (International Director), and Pieter Kwant (International Programme Director for Langham Literature) were both pleased to participate, and Chris Wright was an invited speaker in some of the sessions.

The book is published by Dar El Thaqafa, which is the publishing arm of CEOSS, the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Service (founded in 1950 by Sami Habib). The Director of Dar El Thaqafa is Andrea Zaki Stephanous – a Langham scholar who has driven the whole project from the beginning.

A Dream Fulfilled

“The dream started when I was doing my Ph.D. as a Langham scholar in Manchester, England,” says Andrea. “My Ph.D. was about religion and politics, a theology of minorities. I realized it was so important for us as Arabs to have our own theology and understanding of the Bible. Originally we intended to produce an evangelical Arabic systematic theology. The only one we had before is about 150 years old, it is mostly translated, and not original. But the shocking fact is that there is no single evangelical Arab scholar in the region equipped to produce such a systematic theology alone. So the idea transformed into an Arabic contemporary theology.

(photo: Andrea Zaki Stephanous seated with his wife Hala, and Amani, manager of the Dar El Thaqafa publishing operation)

“We wanted to face a whole range of challenges that come from things like: our own Arab Christian identity; the existence of the state of Israel; political Islam, which wants to marginalize Christians; ecumenism and church divisions – Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant; the identity and role of women; salvation; inspiration of the Bible – Islamic or our own? So there are many challenges facing us, and there are lots of smaller articles and leaflets on these things, but no systematic treatment.

“It was a real challenge – even just to get us Arabs to work together! Part of our culture is that we easily disagree! We had tough deadlines, and of course some theological differences. But we agreed a clear theological framework and worked hard.

“Another objective was to pull together the Langham scholars in the region and help them not to feel alone, but to cooperate in a major project. That has been a blessing for all of us.”

First of Its Kind

“I hope this book will do for its readers what it has done for the participants in this seminar this week,” said Dr. Mary Mikhail, one of the contributors to the volume. Mary has been President of the Near East School of Theology, Beirut, Lebanon for the past 14 years and on its faculty since 1984, after years in IFES work in the Middle East.

“It is the first of its kind in this part of the world. It raises questions that we sometimes don’t want to face, and drives us back to the Bible to search for answers. And even when we don’t find easy answers, or don’t agree what they are, it keeps us asking and wrestling with important issues.”

Mary’s chapter is on “Women – in the Bible and Christianity and the Middle East Today.” “It is a privilege to be included,” she said, “for I do have something to say and a textbook like this will make so much more impact on the church than articles and leaflets. It will reach more people and help more people. One of the editors told me, ‘When I read what you wrote about Mary, I felt like I was frozen holding the paper.’ Another said, ‘Nobody has tried to interpret the Bible for us the way you did. You spoke to my heart. I felt included.’

“I know I am standing in a minefield, and that some of the other contributions will be controversial in this part of the world, too. But I hope the book will lead to a greater openness in the churches to read the Bible afresh. I chose to get involved in the project because it really is the first of its kind, and it is high time we produced some solid evangelical theology in the Arabic context – not just translations.”

Building a Different Environment

(photo: Nabil Abadir (left) with Andrea Stephanous at the launch of the “Arabic Contemporary Theology”)

Nabil Abadir is the Director of CEOSS, which is the umbrella Christian development agency under which Dar El Thaqafa functions. CEOSS is dedicated to blessing all the people of Egypt with the practical love of God that flows from the gospel. It serves among the most impoverished communities in health and literacy work, micro-enterprise, and sustainable development. CEOSS is also involved in cultural and inter-faith issues and stands in a high position of credibility and trust with the government as a result of 50 years of transparent integrity.

Nabil is delighted with the arrival of the ACT, and with the role of CEOSS in sponsoring it.

“It fits with all that CEOSS tries to do in building a different environment,” he said. “We live in the midst of a very tense situation here, and this book will help to develop new leaders who have a different attitude. Instead of an ignorant and aggressive stance, we want to relate to others in our country as human beings made in God’s image and sharing with us in God’s creation, and loved by God. We will want to develop forums for dialogue around the issues addressed in the book.

“This book comes at a very opportune time, in a region with such potential for causing world-wide trouble. We want to help Christians have the courage to develop positive programmes that build up society, to work with the rest of our society, and yet keep their Christian faith and identity very clear.”

A Very Practical Help
(photo:Basheer Anwar Nody)
But what about the ordinary pastor? Basheer Anwar Nody is pastor of a Coptic Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Gezer, Cairo, in the shadow of the pyramids. He felt that the contents of the book were addressing very crucial issues, but not in a merely academic way. The book would also be very helpful in all the practical matters that fill his life as a pastor, both in helping his own congregation, and in relating to the majority religious community around him and their spiritual leaders, and especially in the sphere of ministry he gives himself to most of all – peace-building and conflict resolution. He was very glad to be participating in the seminar.

The Dream Goes On

For Andrea, it is clear that this is just the start of the fulfilment of his dream.

“Our whole hope for a reference book like this is to create a debate, to open Arab Christians to the challenges around them, and to strengthen the church’s spiritual life,” Andrea said.

“But this book is not limited to the church alone. It is for Arab society - for Muslims and even Jews. I will be sending copies to intellectuals and some politicians even, to say, ‘Look how evangelical Arabs in your midst are thinking.’ We are saying, ‘Look, you have Arab Christians living among you. We are a minority, yes. But this minority is part of the region and they have their own theological understanding and identity. We are part of the region. We have our own cultural and social contribution to make. Please be aware that there is an evangelical voice, a faith, to be heard in this region.’

“We also hope that we can produce an English translation to make it available in the west,” Andrea continued. “I find some American and British Christians are astonished. They don’t know that there are so many Christians in Egypt and the Middle East. And they are your brothers and sisters, a solid community.”

The publication of the ACT is a vital first step, but only the first. Andrea and his colleagues are planning a 5 – 10 year programme. They plan further volumes in this series – an Arabic applied theology (addressing issues such as HIV-AIDS, the environment, nationalism, the arts, etc), another volume on theological issues not covered in the present volume (inspiration and authority of the Bible, the sacraments, inter-faith dialogue, etc), and eventually a full-blown Arabic systematic theology.

In addition, with Langham Literature’s further assistance, a five-volume “Arabic Contemporary Commentary” on the whole Bible is planned over the next 5-6 years. This will be a huge project. But Andrea is undaunted! And his confidence and competence combined with Langham’s continued investment and God’s gracious help, will bring it to fruition.

“Without the support of Langham Partnership and the help of God,” Andrea concluded, “this book would never have happened.”

Read more about Langham scholar Andrea Zaki Stephanous

View the LPI photo gallery of the January 2008 Egypt gatherings