Middle East/North Africa (MNN) — In recent decades, conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa have uprooted the lives of untold millions of people. Yet for displaced, Arabic-speaking Christians among them, life in a new place can still be a fruitful season for gospel ministry.
That’s because of the work of organizations such as the Program for Theological Education by Extension (PTEE).
Erin James with PTEE explains that their team stands in the gap for Christians living in areas with low access to seminary. “We provide classes and training for refugees who have fled high-conflict areas and who desire to return after the conflict is over,” she says.
“The target [students are] the ones that either don’t have the money, no ability to move, or the ones that are working full time and can only handle one class at a time.”
Christian Ethics class.
(Photo, caption courtesy PTEE)
PTEE’s fully accredited program has been in place for more than 30 years and today offers certificate, diploma, and bachelor’s tracks. James says it was started to meet a felt need among Arabic Christians from different backgrounds to better understand the Bible.
“We want them to be able to teach Sunday school, be pastors, lead women’s ministry, children’s ministry, but from a biblically sound foundation,” says James.
James says their education by extension methodology has been tested and proven. Coursework, group discussions, and tests are an integral part of the program.
“It originally came out of South America. It’s been used in Asia,” she says. “So we started creating the classes where the cost is minimal. [Students] can meet in their local church or even a house, and study the Word.”
Please pray for PTEE’s current students to grow in their faith and understanding of how to serve Christ in their unique contexts.
“Lord-willing, when the conflict ends, then they have this solid biblical foundation to go back and be able to teach the Bible,” says James. “Then they can reach, talk to the people that stayed, that are now going, ‘Wait, who is God? We’ve lived through this thing, this horrible conflict,’ and they’re looking for a deeper understanding of the meaning of life, or just a deeper understanding of the Bible.”
Pray also for funds to support PTEE’s growing work.
“We’re doing a mobile program as well. [Pray] that we’d be able to expand the work and reach more Christians who desire to study the Word,” says James.
Header photo courtesy of PTEE.
