About the Office of Middle Eastern Ministries
The office of Middle Eastern Ministries provides spiritual and organizational services to enable the growth and enhance the ministry of Middle Eastern Presbyterian congregations and fellowships in the United States.
Armenian Presbyterian Church
New Jersey 1927-1970. Presbyterian Middle Eastern Americans trace their Reformed roots to Presbyterian missions in the Middle East in the mid-19th century. Here in the United States, Middle Eastern immigrants started to join the Presbyterian Church more than a century ago.
In 1898, the Armenian Presbyterian Mission of West Hoboken was organized to minister to refugees from the 1895 Turkish massacres and was officially recognized by the Jersey City Presbytery. The Mission later became the Armenian Presbyterian Church in New Jersey.
In 1899, a small group of Lebanese immigrants met regularly for worship in an apartment in Fall River, Massachusetts. The group eventually became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, first as a mission and in 1934 as a church.
The first Assyrian Presbyterian Church in the United States was established in Chicago in 1910 as the Carter Memorial Persian Assyrian Presbyterian Church.
Today, there are more than 60 Presbyterian congregations and fellowships throughout the United States worshiping in different languages, including Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian and Farsi. This, indeed, is a reflection of the work of the Holy Spirit among us and a testament to the enduring witness of Middle Eastern Christians in Diaspora.
Download the 2008 Directory of Presbyterian Middle Eastern Congregations, Fellowships, and Ecumenical Partners. 
In partnership with its Advisory Committee and the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus, the office of Middle Eastern Ministries provides the following services:
- Assists presbyteries in forming new worshiping communities for Middle Eastern immigrants.
- Coordinates leadership training events for clergy and laity.
- Creates and produces language-specific resources.
- Advocates for the participation of women and youth in all ordained leadership roles in the church.
- Acts as a bridge of dialogue between Middle Eastern congregations and American congregations to promote education and cultural understanding.
- Works toward changing the negative images and stereotypes of Middle Eastern peoples and promote understanding between Christians and Muslims.
Meet the staff
Amgad Beblawi Amgad Beblawi is associate for Middle Eastern Ministries in the United States. A native of Egypt, he grew up and was active in the Presbyterian Church of Egypt, Synod of the Nile. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif. Prior to serving on the PC(USA) national staff, Amgad worked at Fuller Seminary as academic advisor and director of the Career Services. Amgad also worked with nonprofit organizations in the Washington, D.C., area for a short time prior to his appointment as General Assembly staff. Many of Amgad’s activities and interests in recent years have centered around teaching and advocating for a Christian perspective on just peacemaking and reconciliation, and ecumenism and Church unity.
Contact Amgad at (888) 728-7228 x8264 or send an him an email. |
