PLYMOUTH – Pastor Amer Safadi, originally from Jordan, and Pastor Amgad Beshai, originally from Egypt are two of the key leaders driving and fueling the ever-growing, bilingual Arabic Church Planters & Pastors Network & Gathering. Both men, with their families, reside in Ohio and Michigan, respectively. Though the ministry is a daily undertaking led by these two volunteers, two annual gatherings offer a glimpse of this young network’s expansion.
Inspiring Growth
Look at the comparison. Last year, in July of 2022, approximately fifteen leaders from across North America came together for the first annual gathering in Cincinnati, Ohio. This year, on July 13-15, 2023, forty-six pastors, church leaders, church planters, potential planters and their wives came from California, Arizona, Florida, Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan met in Troy, Michigan. That is an inspiring increase in just one year!
Busy Lives
While creating and sustaining this one-of-a-kind network, Safadi and Beshai serve as full-time pastors, husbands, and fathers. Safadi is the lead pastor of the Arabic Church of Cincinnati, of West Chester, Ohio. Beshai is the lead pastor of Evangel Baptist Church of Troy in Michigan. Both congregations are growing and yet Safadi and Beshai carve out time from their personal schedules to make personal visits, conduct online interviews, provide assessments, and answer questions from the curious who have heard about the outstanding reputation of this network. Safadi and Beshai rely heavily on the valuable resources of the Send Network.
Personal Multiplication
Safadi and Beshai are respected practitioners. Safadi and his young church plant are assisting an Arabic-language church plant in the state of Kentucky, just south of the Ohio River. This bluegrass Arabic-language church plant will be the first of its kind in Kentucky! Beshai, during the most recent gathering in July, announced that not only did his congregation launch the newest Arabic-language earlier in 2023, but that they have plans to launch three new church plants within the next twenty-four months during 2024 and 2025. These two titans of church planting are sterling examples of vision and determination.
Partnership
Working with Safadi and Beshai for years, Tony Lynn, the Church Planting Leader for the Send Network in Michigan, says, “The partnership between these two men is perfect. The skills and insights of one is complemented by other strengths found in the other man.” Tony goes on to explain that “Having trustworthy, reliable men of God, like Safadi and Beshai, whose interest in a Gospel movement both locally and globally is contagious!” Lynn reports that specific state conventions and specific Send Network regions contributed to and sent individuals to the two annual gatherings. Partnerships in the bilingual Arabic Church Planters & Pastors Network & Gathering are continually expanding and are processed personally by Safadi and Beshai.
Horrible and Heroic Stories
“Because my adult daughter would not wear a veil at the university, those in my country took her life. All she wanted to do was become a doctor and help others,” is what the man said without a hint of emotion on his face, reported Lynn. Stunned by the horror, Lynn was silenced. He thought carefully before speaking his next words of sympathy and support. Lynn says that his new friend went on to explain the heroism of others, “Friends and family helped us escape our country knowing that our teenage daughter would be next if we didn’t flee. After a series of refugee camps overseas we finally ended up living in southeastern United States. Relieved and safe there, we felt lonely and sad until attending this network, Pastor Safadi and Pastor Beshai invited us to come.”
Contact the Leaders
That is just one of the stirring conversations Lynn had at the second annual meeting of the “Arabic Church Planters & Pastors Network & Gathering,” during July 13-15, 2023, in Troy, Michigan. If you are interested in connecting with the leaders of this network you can contact them directly with your questions: Pastor Amer Safadi at amer.safadi.sm@gmail.com or (414) 949-4900 and Pastor Amgad Beshai at pastor@churchoftroy.com or (248) 583-1833.
Next Year’s Gathering
Safadi and Beshai welcome those interested in attending, supporting, or contributing to the network. Next year’s gathering is already scheduled for July 11-13, 2024. The location will be announced at a later time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe.