Dr. Anne Zaki joins The Fares Abraham Podcast for a rich and eye-opening conversation about the indigenous church of the Middle East and why remembering where Christianity began changes how we understand faith today.

Anne and Fares explore how the Middle East is not just a mission field but the birthplace of the Christian story, home to believers who have carried the gospel for nearly 2,000 years. Anne shares how reading Scripture through Middle Eastern eyes opens up the parables of Jesus, how unity is restored through honest conversation, and what it means to preach hope in a region marked by conflict. She also reflects on her journey as a woman called to ministry and why our “outer container” should never define or limit God’s call.

If you’re passionate about church history, cultural insight, or seeing the Middle East through a gospel lens, this episode will deepen your understanding and renew your appreciation for the living stones who continue to witness to Christ where it all began.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

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Helpful Links:

• “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” by Kenneth E. Bailey
• Anne Zaki’s Message on Unity at the Fourth Lausanne Congress⁠
• The Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo

Brian Heerwagen, CEO of MissionWorks, joins The Fares Abraham Podcast for a thought-provoking conversation on rethinking mission and partnership in the Middle East.

Together, Brian and Fares unpack how the gospel rises above politics, why effective partnership resists bias, and how ordinary believers—not just “spiritual giants”—are called to live sent where they are. Brian also shares insights from his decades of leadership, including how mentoring the next generation, allowing room to fail, and focusing on transformation over activity can reshape the church’s mission.

If you care about unity in a divided world, the call to everyday mission, and seeing the church move from programs to people, this episode will both challenge and inspire you.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

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Explore Brian Heerwagen’s work:

• MissionWorks (referenced in the conversation)
• ⁠Mission Connection Conference — Palestinian & Israeli on One Stage (referenced in the conversation)

Pastor Edward Awabdeh of the Alliance Church of Damascus joins The Fares Abraham Podcast for a powerful conversation on shepherding a church through war, bombings, and persecution in Syria.

Together, Edward and Fares explore the realities of pastoring in a city scarred by explosions and regime change, the mid-June bombing at Mar Elias Church, and the martyrdom of Dr. Abdelmasih that reshaped what “success” in ministry really means. Edward also shares why the church chose to stay when leaving was easier, how community outreach and home groups led to growth during the war, and what it looks like to live the resurrection in a city of fear.

If you care about the persecuted church, the cost of discipleship, and the resilience of faith in the hardest places, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

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Learn more about the church in Syria and its context::

• Recent coverage of the Mar Elias Church bombing in Damascus

• Global Christian Relief: How churches in Syria are mourning

• Syria Lebanon Partnership Network: How churches worldwide are standing with Syrian believers

As a Palestinian-American originally from the West Bank, Fares Abraham speaks with firsthand experience of the suffering, displacement, and cruelty that mark daily life for many in the land of Jesus. In this message from the Church at the Crossroads conference (September 11–13, 2025, Glen Ellyn, Illinois), he challenges the global Church to consider how the credibility of the gospel in Palestine and Israel depends on its witness of peace, reconciliation, and costly discipleship. His story is not abstract theology—it is a testimony rooted in lived reality, calling Christians to embody the cross in the face of conflict.The Church at the Crossroads brought together pastors, theologians, and practitioners to wrestle with how followers of Jesus can respond faithfully to the crisis in Israel and Palestine. Rather than retreating into silence or partisan slogans, the conference pressed into repentance, reconciliation, and solidarity with all who bear the image of God.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

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Helpful Resources:

• Church at the Crossroads Conference (CATX)
• A Collective Call to the Global Church from Middle East Evangelical Leaders

• CATX Resources

Evangelist, author, and founder of Dare 2 Share Greg Stier joins The Fares Abraham Podcast for a passionate conversation on mobilizing young people and the future of the gospel in the Arab world.

Together, Greg and Fares explore why so many teens are curious about Jesus but lack discipleship, what lessons Cairo cafés can teach us about relationship-first ministry, and why teen-to-teen gospel conversations are both untraceable and unstoppable. Greg also shares his remarkable journey from an inner-city childhood to leading a global movement that equips millions of students to share their faith.

If you care about the next generation and the rise of gospel movements across the Arab world, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠

Explore Greg Stier’s work:

• ⁠Dare 2 Share (referenced in the conversation)
• Gospelize Your Youth Ministry E-book
• The Greg Stier Podcast

Palestinian evangelical journalist and award-winning media figure Daoud Kuttab joins The Fares Abraham Podcast for a powerful conversation on journalism, truth-telling, and the pursuit of peace in the Holy Land.

Together, they explore Daoud’s remarkable journey from growing up under occupation in a pastor's home in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah, to becoming one of the Arab world's boldest evangelical voices. Daoud opens up about his experiences in Israeli and Palestinian prisons, the misunderstood narratives surrounding Palestine, and his passion for mentoring young Christian journalists in the Middle East.

If you're passionate about justice, peacemaking, and how Christians can faithfully engage with conflict and culture, this episode is essential listening!

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠

Explore Daoud Kuttab’s work:

• The State of Palestine Now
• Al-Fajr English Newspaper Archive

Can the gospel truly thrive in a region marked by conflict, complexity, and misunderstanding?

In this powerful episode, New York Times bestselling author and historian Stephen Mansfield joins The Fares Abraham Podcast to share why the Middle East is not just a place of crisis — but a land dear to God’s heart, full of spiritual hunger and gospel potential.

Fares and Stephen unpack the untold story of the Kurds, the growth of the Church in places like Iran, and how Christians in the West can move past false dichotomies to love both Israel and the Arab world. They explore how the Great Commission isn’t about exporting culture, but about empowering every nation to thrive in Christ.

If you're passionate about mission, unity, and God’s redemptive work in the hardest places — this episode is for you.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

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Explore Stephen Mansfield’s work:

• The Miracle of the Kurds Audiobook
• Stephen's TED Talk
• Stephen's Website

Violent extremism is one of the greatest threats in our world today—but is it also one of the greatest gospel opportunities?In this thought-provoking episode, Middle East advisor and theologian Scott Gustafson joins The Fares Abraham Podcast to share real-life stories of former ISIS and Al-Qaeda members who encountered something they never expected from Christians: kindness.Scott and Fares explore how radical love, forgiveness, and community can do what bullets and policies can’t—transform hearts. From modern-day “Pauls” emerging from war zones to the powerful role of dreams and visions, this conversation challenges how we think about mission, discipleship, and the people we often see as unreachable.If you care about reaching the unreached and seeing transformation where it seems impossible, don’t miss this episode!Visit ⁠⁠⁠faresabraham.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn how you can get involved and become a partner in this important mission. Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates from the region and powerful stories of transformation and changed lives.

Follow Pastor Fares Abraham on Social Media:

⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Tiktok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠

Mentioned Books/Links

Scott Gustafson’s writings – scottgustafson.substack.com