The first event, “Engaging Islam,” will be a weekend seminar on June 10-11 led by Georges Houssney, director of Horizons International and author of “Engaging Islam.” He also will lead a weeklong training June 13-17.
Dearborn has become home to the highest concentration of Arab Muslims outside the Middle East, says Johnny Aho, the Covenant church’s lead pastor. Other areas in the United States are noting an increase of Muslim neighbors, and Aho says it is important for Christians to respond in ways that are Christian.
“Georges Houssney’s perspective allows us to intelligently get to know them by teaching cultural differences as well as how to share our lives and the gospel with them,” Aho says. “Georges led the translation of the Bible into Arabic and even had them printed by a Muslim publisher in Egypt. His own personal story shows us how we can be both bold and loving in our approach to reaching out our Muslim neighbors.”
At a time when churches in the area have been closing because they have been unable to adapt to the shifting demographics, Dearborn Covenant has continue to grow and reach out to its new neighbors. The church has registered students in English as a Second Language classes from more than 15 nations including China, Lebanon, Iraq, Brazil, Mexico, and Guatemala.
For more information, email Aho or call 313-701-8700.
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