Fruitful Minorities
The Witness and Service of Christian Communities in Predominantly Islamic Socities
1st Edition
Published on 1. September 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-3-86269-160-9 (ISBN)
Description
Their minority status does not deter Christians in Islamic contexts from following their vocation. They impact their societies in profound and powerful ways, even though they have little political and economic power. The authors of this volume provide examples of Christian outreach in Islamic societies in the forms of witness, service, relief work and hospitality. They emphasise that a living faith cannot remain silent, even when in prison, kidnapped or under threat of violence. This book contains sobering reminders that Christian groups are still facing marginalization in a number of predominantly Islamic societies. Nevertheless, as several case studies demonstrate, sustained and concerted advocacy efforts may well lead to an improvement of their position. Dr Bernhard J.G. Reitsma (born 1965) is professor by special appointment VU University Amsterdam, for The Church in the Context of Islam, and also project manager Christianity and Islam at the Christian University of Applied Sciences in Ede, the Netherlands, Senior Lecturer in Missiology at the Christian University of Applied Sciences in Ede, and minister by special appointment in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. He obtained his doctorate in 1997 at the University of Leiden with a dissertation entitled: Geest en schepping (Spirit and creation) (1997), worked in Lebanon for almost 8 years on behalf of the GZB as a staff member of IFES and as a teacher at the Near East School of Theology and the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. After his return from Lebanon he worked for Open Doors International and is currently working at the CHE in Ede as a senior teacher of missiology and Islam and project leader for Islam.
More details
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Content
Introduction...........................................................................................................9
Arie van der Poel and Bernhard Reitsma
A Fruitful Minority: Biblical Reflections in the Context of the
Evangelical Church of Egypt .......................................................................15 Atef Gendy
Can You Drink the Cup I Drink? A Reformed Understanding of Power
and Justice in Islamic Contexts...................................................................23 Najla Kassab
The Challenges of Being a (Christian) Minority in an Islamic Context: Biblical-Theological Reflections.................................................................31 Bernhard Reitsma
The Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World: Being a Minority Church
in the Context of an Islamic Majority........................................................41 Petrus Sugito
Suffering that Brings Blessing: The Protestants of Luwu, Sulawesi ...........55
Lambang Mandi Tandi Pare and Petrus Sugito
The Blessing of Overcoming Fear: The Remarkable Growth of Algerian Churches in Recent Years............................................................................59 Youssef Yacob
Overcoming Modern Gnosticism: The Evangelical Churches in Egypt......67
Sameh Ibrahim
A Community of Hope in a Time of Violence: Christians in Lebanon
and Syria.........................................................................................................71 Wilbert and Rima van Saane-Nasrallah
Perseverance in a Time of Persecution: Christians in Central Asia............79
Anneta Vyssotskaia
6 Fruitful Minorities
Between Harmony and Conflict: The Evangelical Community of
Albania ............................................................................................................85 Andi Dina
Coping with Social Exclusion: Evangelicals in Kosovo .................................93
Rik Lubbers
Being a Christian with a Muslim Background: Some Notes Regarding Muslim Background Believers and the Dutch Churches......................101 Herman Takken
Sword and Shield: The Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Middle
East ................................................................................................................107 Wilbert van Saane
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................113
Wilbert van Saane
Arie van der Poel and Bernhard Reitsma
A Fruitful Minority: Biblical Reflections in the Context of the
Evangelical Church of Egypt .......................................................................15 Atef Gendy
Can You Drink the Cup I Drink? A Reformed Understanding of Power
and Justice in Islamic Contexts...................................................................23 Najla Kassab
The Challenges of Being a (Christian) Minority in an Islamic Context: Biblical-Theological Reflections.................................................................31 Bernhard Reitsma
The Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World: Being a Minority Church
in the Context of an Islamic Majority........................................................41 Petrus Sugito
Suffering that Brings Blessing: The Protestants of Luwu, Sulawesi ...........55
Lambang Mandi Tandi Pare and Petrus Sugito
The Blessing of Overcoming Fear: The Remarkable Growth of Algerian Churches in Recent Years............................................................................59 Youssef Yacob
Overcoming Modern Gnosticism: The Evangelical Churches in Egypt......67
Sameh Ibrahim
A Community of Hope in a Time of Violence: Christians in Lebanon
and Syria.........................................................................................................71 Wilbert and Rima van Saane-Nasrallah
Perseverance in a Time of Persecution: Christians in Central Asia............79
Anneta Vyssotskaia
6 Fruitful Minorities
Between Harmony and Conflict: The Evangelical Community of
Albania ............................................................................................................85 Andi Dina
Coping with Social Exclusion: Evangelicals in Kosovo .................................93
Rik Lubbers
Being a Christian with a Muslim Background: Some Notes Regarding Muslim Background Believers and the Dutch Churches......................101 Herman Takken
Sword and Shield: The Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Middle
East ................................................................................................................107 Wilbert van Saane
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................113
Wilbert van Saane