The Free Methodist Church in the
Middle East
IME Refugee Outreach – Kurdistan
Photo Credits: Trevor Owens
Visit the IME website
Good News!
FMWM and Impact Middle East (IME) are joining God on His mission to redeem, reconcile and restore all creation. IME empowers national leaders to holistically proclaim the grace and truth of Jesus in word and deed and embody the hope of the gospel through creative strategies that best fit specific contexts. We plant reproducing communities of faith in the Middle East who live in winsome contrast to the world and bear witness to the kingdom of God.
Give Thanks for Kingdom Expansion
Give thanks and praise to the Lord for how He has been working this past year.
- 2,896 leaders were trained to serve, share Christ and plant missional communities.
- 500-plus children experienced Jesus through sports, trauma counseling, prenatal care and education.
- 3,000 people chose to follow Jesus.
- 3,755 faith communities met regularly.
Pray for Peace
Many countries in the Middle East are going through severe turmoil—from the war between Gaza and Israel to the new regime in Syria, protests in Turkey, fighting militias in Iraq, and unrest in Libya and Sudan. This news can be very discouraging, but we see a narrative not told in the news. We see hundreds coming to faith in Jesus Christ, many seeing Jesus appear to them in visions and dreams, and thousands of faith communities started amid the chaos. Please pray that the Prince of Peace will prevail, bringing peace to this region.
Pray for National Leaders
Our national leaders are on the front lines, boldly proclaiming the gospel message and holistically demonstrating the love of Jesus. The ongoing wars and unrest can lead to burnout, stress and anxiety. Many of our leaders are being taken into interrogation rooms by the authorities because evangelism is illegal in their countries. Please pray for wisdom. Pray the words of Matthew 10:19 will come true for our brothers and sisters: “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time, you will be given what to say.” Pray for their families and sustenance amid fear and uncertainty.
Pray for Ministries of Love and Compassion
We proclaim Jesus’ grace and truth through house church networks and the love and compassion expressed to the region’s people. Women leaders minister to women and girls who have been physically and sexually abused. Leaders minister to male violent offenders in a maximum-security prison and to their families outside the prison. Communities of friendship and love are created for at-risk young adults. “Searching Groups,” comprised of educated and often affluent members of the primary religion, gather in cities to discover Who Jesus is.
Praise the Lord for New Opportunities
God is opening networks, creating open doors into new countries, providing new leaders, forging new partnerships, generating new outreach opportunities, and expanding His kingdom in the Middle East.
Thank you for praying for those who faithfully serve to proclaim and demonstrate the message of Christ’s love throughout the Middle East!
─ Hany, Assistant Area Director and IME Field Coordinator
Countries
Missionaries
Dale & Dawn
Dr. Dale is area director for the Middle East region. In this capacity, he is also executive director of Impact Middle East, through which the FMC serves in this region of the world. Dr. Dale and his wife, Dawn, have served with the FMC for 37 years as members of the East Michigan Conference.
Hany & Joanne
Hany and Joanne work in church planting and leadership development with Impact Middle East. Hany founded a training center, the Noor Center (Noor in Arabic meaning “light”), to work with refugees. The Noor Center’s mission is “Bringing Healing, Light and Hope to Refugees and the Hurting.” In the region where the center is located, there are approximately 2 million refugees, most under 18. All these children and their mothers are at high risk of being exploited into slave labor, sex trafficking, or recruited into regional militias or even ISIS. Joanne works with abused women, bringing the hope of wholeness into broken lives. She also leads the Whole Woman Initiative.
GIVE
Church Planting and Development (CPD)
Middle East Area
Give to Extra Mile Projects
Iraq Set Free Project
Sending a team of medical and mental health experts to Iraq to train the team on the ground in basic care for survivors of human trafficking/sexual abuse.
GO
On behalf of the Free Methodist Church USA, FMWM has instituted a moratorium on all travel to the Middle East for ministry or tours until further notice. This restriction is in place for the safety of those who might otherwise go and those who would host them. Your prayers for peace and those ministering in this region are appreciated. Effective 11/7/2023.
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