LE3 .A278 2017

2017

Das, Rupen

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

This thesis seeks to develop a Biblical Theology of Mission to guide the Lebanese Evangelical Churches (LEC) in their mission to Syrian Muslim Refugees (SMRs). The Scriptures unfold the redemptive mission of God as being fulfilled through the mission of the Servant of the Lord, Jesus, who is ruling over all. The church’s mission is to continue Christ’s mission, as Jesus works through His Spirit empowered people, who are to be a light to the nations as they obediently preach the powerful Gospel and demonstrate God’s love in works of mercy. The LEC must look to Jesus, His Word, and the guidance of the Spirit for their strategies and methods of mission to SMRs. Jesus and the Apostle Paul are our models for bringing the good news of salvation to the nations. We must be careful not to adopt methods that distort the Gospel or are deceptive and syncretistic. Interviews with LEC working amongst SMRs showed that before the start of the Syrian war in 2011 there was no strategy and very little mission to Muslims as they focused instead on evangelizing nominal Christians. LEC pastors often conflicted with Western workers who evangelized Muslims with methods that the LEC believed were more contextual, but did not see much fruit either. SMRs who fled to Lebanon came to LEC for help, and they responded with relief and outreach programs. This demonstration of love and truth resulted in many SMRs attending church and coming to faith in Christ. The data collected from the interviews shows the secret of the present harvest was neither the strategies nor the methods of the church or Western missionaries. It appears, rather, to be a season of harvest by the Lord himself, who sovereignly drew SMRs to himself. The findings of this study will be shared with LEC to discuss what Christ is teaching us through our experience of working with SMRs and through the Word of God. We will pursue Christ-driven and Spirit-given strategies and methods as we face challenges and opportunities of mission to SMRs and all Arabic speaking Muslims.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:2150