What Monks, Mystics and Mosaics Teach us about Religion, Politics and Mission
Um al Rassas and the witness of Byzantine Christians.
Articles
Research on Religious Freedom and Security: What We Know—and Don’t Know
Here’s my latest on Religious Freedom on the Portico blog of the Institute for Global Engagement: Religious freedom is more than a moral ideal. It is a measurable factor shaping national […]
War in Lebanon: Letter from the President of ABTS
March 10, 2026 Dear friends and partners, Once again, Lebanon finds itself in a war it did not choose, and facing widespread displacement. Once again, the roads are filled with […]
Our New Research on Historic Scope of Conversion Phenomenon in the MENA region
Our new article in IJFM – conversion to Christianity at levels not seen since the 1st century in the Levant.
Does ‘Peace through Strength’ work with Terrorists?
Peace in response to threat is not just a “Christian” ideal. Decades of research and historical evidence challenge the notion that violence is what works.
Shalom During War
The 2024 war in Lebanon shattered many assumptions. As a community, we prepared for a conflict similar to that of 2006, only to find that this war was more drastic […]
The Importance of the Local Church for Church Growth in the Middle East (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of this article. Read Part 1 here. 3. Servant leaders emerge from within the congregation In Acts 6:3 we read, “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men […]
The Importance of the Local Church for Church Growth in the Middle East (Part 1)
I will outline here four factors from the early church, alluded to in Acts 6, that contributed to the growth of the early church. These factors have also contributed to […]
Is Peace Possible?
Lebanon, a country that has long been a crossroads of civilizations and faiths, has experienced cycles of war and conflict, shaping its modern history. Many people like me have endured […]
Listen to the Stories of Believers in the Middle East
A new statement issued by an esteemed group of Middle Eastern Evangelical leaders across theological traditions from Baptist to Presbyterian, Alliance, Nazarene, Church of God and non-denominational from Syria, Jordan, […]