Arab World Evangelical Ministers’ Association

The Arab World Evangelical Ministers Association (AWEMA) is the broadest national evangelical movement among Arabs in the world. Partners has worked alongside AWEMA since its earliest days in the 1980s. Today, we assist AWEMA in its mission to equip indigenous Arab church leaders in evangelism, leadership training, and community transformation. AWEMA’s ministry spans all 22 Arab countries.

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The Arab World Evangelical Ministers Association (AWEMA) is the broadest national evangelical movement among Arabs in the world. Partners has worked alongside AWEMA since its earliest days in the 1980s. Today, we assist AWEMA in its mission to equip indigenous Arab church leaders in evangelism, leadership training, and community transformation. AWEMA’s ministry spans all 22 Arab countries.

Reaching the world’s 22 Arab countries with a population of more than 370 million (and growing) is a daunting challenge. Aside from the sheer size of the Arab population, its diversity also adds to the complexity of the task. Demographers have identified 920 distinct ethnic groups within the Arabic-speaking region. Although nearly all the ethnic groups speak Arabic, their cultural distinctions are pronounced.

Though home to several historic Christian faiths, 95 percent of the Arab world has no Christian witness and today this region is sometimes called the “Land of the Vanished Church.” Ninety-two percent of the population in this vast region describe themselves as practicing Muslims. Christians in 16 of the 22 Arab countries cannot meet openly and instead meet discreetly in house churches, risking persecution and punishment.

After the revolutions that took place in Egypt and throughout the region in early 2011, the religious climate is both insecure and hostile to Christians. The current unrest is allowing Muslim groups to express openly their desire to come to power and impose an Islamic government.

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