Giving praise to God for the great things He has done in 2018 in Europe and the Middle East

“We celebrate the vitality of our churches in Iraq and Syria and the birth of new churches in Finland and Kuwait”, shares Rev. Munther Shahatit, our Regional Coordinator for Europe and Middle East (EMERALD). Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who continue to proclaim Jesus Christ in the midst of destruction and migration crisis.

Dear EMERALD and AWF Family,

I pray that you had a very happy Christmas and that you will have a blessed new year full of hope and joy. I pray that 2019 brings more fruit for the kingdom in our lives as individuals and in our churches.

What an honour it is for me to serve as the regional coordinator of the EMERALD region starting in May 2018. It is a great joy and blessing to experience first-hand God moving in our region through the work of the Alliance national churches.

One of highlights for me was visiting and meeting with Iraqi pastors and see how God is using the Alliance church to be a light in that country. I was greatly encouraged by the vision, joy, and faithfulness of the church leaders and believers in Iraq. We as EMERALD are looking for more involvement and partnerships with the church in Iraq. Join us in prayers for the work of the Alliance churches in that country.

Another highlight in our region was the presence of the Alliance family in Finland and the official recognition of the Grace Montagnard Alliance Church by the Finnish state in July 2018. A Recognition Celebration celebrated this event on October 28, 2018 in Oulu, Finland, with the AWF and EMERALD families in attendance. Join us in prayers for the work of the Alliance church in that country.

Yet another highlight in our region was the growth that our brothers and sisters are experiencing in Syria. Seeing the church thriving in midst of the hard situation is a clear message that God is with them and using them in a mighty way. That growth resulted in the first Alliance church starting in Kuwait and the ordination of their pastor. Please continue praying for our brothers and sisters in that country.

We are praying in 2019 that God will be exalted in our region in building His church and expanding His kingdom through the work of all national churches in the region.

Rev. Munther A. Shahatit, Regional Coordinator – AWF EMERALD Region