A Baptist Seminary in Lebanon?

I had the chance to meet a man named Nabil Costa last week. He works for the Arabic Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon. His is an incredible story,


I had to confess to Nabil that I did not know nearly as much about Lebanon as I thought. It is a small country. It is roughly the size of two to three good sized counties in Texas. Lebanon has coast line, forests, mountains, and dessert. There are three million Lebanese inside the borders of this country. One third are Christian, One third Sunni Muslim, one third Shia Muslim.


Lebanon lies due north of Israel. Because of conflicts with Israel in the past, Lebanon's relationship with the United States is tenuous at best.


But tucked away in the middle of Beirut, there is a small group of people with a global vision.


They tape bible studies and put them on satellite television for all the Middle East and North Africa to see. They have a high school in the heart of Islamic Beirut. Islamic parents willingly sign a release allowing their children to be taught the Bible. They do this in trade for the quality of education their children will receive.


They have sixty students in their seminary. These are pastors from all of over the Middle East and North Africa. Their belief is simple. People in Tunisia will respond better to a Tunisian Pastor than an American Missionary.


They also have an incredible opportunity at their doorstep. Almost one million refugees have flooded Lebanon from war torn Syria. Most of these are Islamic people. Christians in Lebanon are at the front lines distributing aid to these Muslim refugees. Being able to put aside political differences for the good of people is admirable.


I will lead a group of ministers and laity to Lebanon this September. It will be a trip which will try to raise awareness of the issues Christians face in this part of the world.


It is one thing to be a Christian in Texas. It is quite another to be a Christian in Beirut.