Christian book distribution key to equipping the Saints
El Tareek, an Egyptian Christian newspaper, with an estimated 80,000 readers a month, is just one of many projects we support.
Training the churches - Equipping the pastors
The Last Harvest also trains native church leaders through correspondence Bible study, and numerous conferences in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria and Tunisia. "The thing we concentrate on is teaching these people how to be good Christians," said David Joseph, president of The Last Harvest. Good Christians boldly and strategically look for opportunities to spread the gospel in the Land of Islam.
"In Egypt, the mainstream churches don't work with the low-caste people -- the street boys and girls," said Joseph. "I developed conferences for pastors/leaders of churches and I pastor them about evangelism, and reaching Muslims about Christ in their area."
Book distribution
"We have a Christian bookstore on the most crowded street in Cairo," said Joseph. The store doesn't make a profit and that's intentional. In the store, Christians in Egypt will find hundreds of Christian books that equip and encourage them to be bold for Christ in a land where boldness carries a price.
The Last Harvest also rents Christian booth space in a secular book fair attended by millions of people in Cairo.
In Sudan, the ministry partners with a native ministry to do three to four book fairs a year. The Last Harvest trains native pastors in how to answer questions posed by people who attend the book fairs. "We cover apologetics and responses to the different questions that Muslims will pose," said Joseph.
Another bookstore is located in an independent evangelical church the ministry helps support in Iraq.
Joseph has authored several books that discuss the crucifixion, resurrection, and divinity of Jesus in a context that a Muslim would understand. These are also distributed throughout the Middle East.
Underground work
The Middle East's vast harvest field (over 320 million Muslims in Arabic-speaking countries) poses unique mission challenges. Islamic dominance in laws and customs necessitates underground gospel proclamation, and requires a Spirit-led strategic response. "We must strategically circumvent such challenges, and continue to multiply churches," said Joseph.
To protect the safety of our underground workers, we cannot tell you who our partners are in this effort. However, our network of co-workers in places in Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon secretly produces Christian materials designed to give Muslims the opportunity to compare Christianity and Islam side-by-side. Some of these materials are manufactured taking advantage of the latest in information media technology. Those who distribute these materials are also trained to answer questions from Muslims who are curious about Christianity.
Some materials are specifically designed to appeal to the same population group targeted by terrorists in their quest for new disciples: the young and intelligent.
"We need to give these educated young people the only alternative that can make a positive difference in their world -- the life-giving knowledge of God's Word and the resources to understand it. These students and young professionals are more open to the Gospel than we could ever imagine," said Joseph.
Jesus tells us to preach the gospel in all nations. These workers bravely bring the gospel to those who may never hear it in a culture that forbids attempts to convert Muslims to Christianity.
For more information about The Last Harvest, Inc., visit our main website.
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The Last Harvest supports distribution of Christian books at street fairs, and book fairs. These books are being distributed in Iraq. |
