PEOPLE AND POWER
Some thoughts on patronage, missiology and the East Mediterranean today
Middle East
A Story About Rain
We are entering the rainy season here in my country in the Middle East. I love rain. The sound of it (my kids and I are great fans of rainfall white noise while falling asleep at night), the smell of wet fresh earth after rain, the way it makes everything green again, and how my …
Living Amongst Those In Poverty
I stopped for a moment. Wow….The remedy for poverty is not earthly wealth or solutions,, it’s hearing the good news.
Middle East Consultation: 21st-23rd September 2022
Since its launch in 2004, MEC has sought to respond in dynamic manner to issues facing churches and faith communities. It’s live, it’s prophetic and it’s online. Book in.
Hope For Communities Celebration Evening: 2nd September 2022
Sharo & Lex Ahmedi are back in London and would love to have you join them for an evening to celebrate the work of their charity Hope for Communities in Kurdistan.
The Jinn
Many people in the Middle East have beliefs and superstitions about ‘The Jinn’ – spirits which can be good or evil but, on the whole, people are afraid of them.
God Never Makes a Mistake
Nabil Costa shares his personal journey to advocate for his son, Christopher, and reflects on how Lebanon has changed over the past decade to more inclusive.
Greece is East
Greece is East Greece is often thought of as a Western European Country. An idyllic tourist destination full of beautiful beaches, whitewashed buildings and amazing sunsets. Having now lived in Greece for 2 years, our day-to-day experience is very different. It is undoubtedly a beautiful place with amazing weather, beaches, mountains and wonderful seasonal food …
A Theological Heritage
Arabs who believe in Jesus and live in the Muslim world have a long heritage. This began, of course, in the book of Acts.
Stories from Pakistan – Part 2
As we listened to his stories, we felt as if we were listening to a modern day book of Acts, our faith was stirred and we were so encouraged.
Stories From Pakistan – Part 1
As we listened to his stories, we felt as if we were listening to a modern day book of Acts, our faith was stirred and we were so encouraged.
Cyprus: The Island, the Donkey and the King
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, not a horse. The Cyprus donkey is a well-loved symbol of the island. What kind of king do Cypriots really need to meet?
Greece is East!
At Greece is East, we will share cultural insights and stories from our time settling in Athens and our encounters with both Greeks and refugees.
Living Amongst Those in Need
Several years ago, there was a family living in my apartment building. They would ask me for money fairly regularly. In the apartment there was the father, his second wife and her two boys,…
Not in Kansas Anymore!
I work in an education centre for Syrian refugees who cannot access education in a traditional school. As I walked in to work on the first day of this school year when we would actually have children in the centre (in mid-May due to Covid restrictions), I went over things that were likely to happen …
Shame Free (Part Two)
Everything was different about this church; the heat, the sounds, and the smells. Natalie was driven along the streets that belonged to the pimps of the district in India. She was visiting a project in the middle of the brothel district, which the church had set up to provide a safe place for children of …
Shame Free (Part One)
Shame plays an integral role in Middle Eastern culture. So much so, that since living here, it has been a daily (and sometimes hourly) battle to stand in my identity as a daughter of God: free from shame, forgiven and cleansed. In Isaiah 61, we receive a mandate for loving and serving those in poverty …
Looking for Trustees
Hope for Communities are looking for Trustees to join our team, do you share our vision and have the skills that our team need to help us bring hope to communities. Hope for Communities is a UK registered Charity that was founded in 2018 by Sharo and Alexis Ahmedi. Sharo and Alexis live and work …
Ramadan: For Women
Ramadan has come back round with its pretty flags and bizarre working hours. It is also a time to learn, every year I learn more about my Muslim friends and what they believe. Yesterday, a Muslim friend posted a list of activities that women who have their period during Ramadan should do in order …
A Piece of the Puzzle- Relieved to find that I still fit
Last weekend my sending church in the UK brought me back as a guest for their annual missions conference. I hadn’t left my host country in over 2.5 years, and a third baby, a pandemic, and a house move later, I was thrilled to fly back to the UK for a weekend (child-free- thank you …
A Piece of the Puzzle- Relieved to find that I still fit Read More »
Being Part of a Collective: Singleness Marriage and Family. Part 3: Singles Support and Sending
In Parts 1&2, Hayat shared some of her experiences as a single female living in an Arabic speaking part of the world, then shared some wisdom from Romans 12 on finding our place in belonging. In this final part, Hayat shares some helpful tips and insights for those involved in supporting and sending singles overseas. …
Being Part of a Collective: Singleness Marriage and Family. Part 2: Belonging to each other
One family here have taken me in and consider me to be one of theirs. I’m expected to celebrate Eids with them, to come over for iftar (the daily breaking of fast meal during Ramadan, the month of fasting), to visit on at least a weekly basis (ideally from dawn to dusk). It’s a joy …
Being Part of a Collective: Singleness Marriage and Family. Part 1: Being Single in the Arabic Speaking World
One of my favourite things about the Arabic speaking world is the high value placed on hospitality and the extended family. Living in this part of the world, it is rare that I would be asked questions typical to a western culture upon introducing myself to someone. “What’s your name?” “What do you do?” are …
Hard Stories: Processing Devastation in Poetry
First posted on middleeastnews.org.uk, a blog contributed to by westerners commentating on living life in the Middle East. Follow their blog for interesting stories, poetry, recipes and applied theology. There are many times when we have heard devastating stories from people’s lives. I have been learning how to respond with love, faith, empathy and compassion. …
Sea of Galilee: Part 2
Now, lets go forwards in time to Jesus. Jesus went to live in the region of Galilee. Matthew tells us that this was, “to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people …