September 3, 2007

Life is stronger then death.
I Corinthians 15:12-19

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,                                                      

Greetings from Beirut, Lebanon!

At this time of the church year we look and study the work of the Holy Spirit through the disciples as it is recorded in the Book of Acts. It is amazing what these men and women were able to do in sharing the good news and establishing the church. I encourage you to take the time and read the Acts in one month.

Left to right: Elder Dr. Zuhair Fathallah from Basrah, Iraq; Elder Yusif al-Saqa from Baghdad; Rev. Haitham Jazrawi from Kirkuk, pastor of the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Kirkuk.

As I visit with churches and meet with church leaders in the Middle East, I am often reminded of the Book of Acts. We had a consultation last week between a group from the PC(USA) and four church leaders of the Presbyterian churches in Iraq. The PC(USA) was represented by the Rev. Dr. Victor Makari , area coordinator for the Middle East; the Rev. Dr. Larry Richards, coordinator of the Iraq network of the PC(USA); Doug Dicks, regional liaison for Jordan, Israel, and Palestine; and myself, regional liaison for Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf.

Nuhad Tomeh (left) talks with Elder Yusif al-Saqa, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Iraq, and one of the elders in the Baghdad Arab and Assyrian Church.

We spent two days listening to the stories of faith and witness of the churches in Iraq. In spite of the dangerous circumstances, there was always good news, great blessings, and events that keep the church alive and prove that life is stronger then death. I wish there were time to share the details, but I can assure you that our Lord is alive and working through his people in Iraq.

Yesterday I was asked to go to south Lebanon and preach in a renovated Presbyterian church. Again, I was amazed of how these Presbyterians and Catholics, after being displaced during the civil war in Lebanon from 1975 to 1990, have gone back to their villages and rebuilt their homes and churches, which was completely destroyed. They continue their presence and witness in spite of the difficult political situation, and they had been their even before the deteriorating security situation that led to the war last summer war by Israel against Lebanon.

You may still remember what I wrote in my August newsletter about my visit to south Lebanon and the destruction I saw. A year later, your eyes will not believe the reconstruction that has taken place: bridges and roads are almost all rebuilt, homes and churches and mosques, hospitals and schools, all are under reconstruction. It is slow but sure, proving that life is stronger then death.

In Magdalena village, where I was asked to preach, 25 people gathered to ask the Lord for his protection and to share their faith and witness. Acts 8 was my text—the spreading of the church by the obedient disciples, who took the message of the gospel to Samaria and Africa.

The small congregation of Magdalena and other Lebanese living in south Lebanon proved to me again that life is stronger then death and the Holy Spirit is still working through faithful Christians.

Life is stronger then death, and the PC(USA)’s partnership with the churches in the Middle East is very much needed, as it is part of the church’s life support. Please support them and by doing so, prove with them and through them the reality of the gospel.

I’d like to let you know about a big event that’s about to unfold in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It’s called Mission Challenge ’07. During October, 47 PC (USA) missionaries will spend a week sharing the stories of their ministry in 143 presbyteries. That’s more than 80 percent of our presbyteries.

We hope to put speakers in 700 churches that month to share the news that every day, in Christ’s name—and thanks to your faithful support—lives are being saved, wells are being dug, and hope is being shared with people in need around the world.

Another part of Mission Challenge ’07 is an appeal to every church in the denomination to support Presbyterian missionaries like me.

In mid-September a letter will go to the pastors and clerks of session in all 10,884 churches in our denomination. This will inform them of materials coming in early October that interpret the excellence of the Presbyterian Church as a mission-sending agency and invite them to offer financial support to Presbyterian missionaries through World Mission.

During the first week of October, a box will arrive in every church with bulletin inserts equal to the church’s average Sunday attendance. The inserts include a call to action, inviting all to participate in mission by praying faithfully and giving generously. These are accompanied by a DVD featuring our new director, Hunter Farrell. It contains two brief but compelling videos that bring to life a representative sample of our missionaries.

We can’t send a missionary to every church this October, but I’m hoping that all churches will participate in Mission Challenge ’07 by choosing a Sunday to view the DVD and distribute the bulletin inserts.

Will you support and encourage your church’s participation in Mission Challenge ’07?

Nuhad Tomeh
Beriut, Lebanon

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 166