Middle East: Growth brings fears of ‘discipleship gap’

Despite much turmoil across the Middle East, reports indicate that the gospel is advancing rapidly throughout the region, so much so that a “discipleship gap” could be looming if more church leaders are not found.

Local church leaders say that this “spiritual awakening”, which kick-started during the Covid pandemic, is growing at such a rate that positive problems are appearing, including the need for more spiritual leaders, as people increasingly search for meaning amidst the difficulties facing the region, according to the Church Mission Society (CMS).

CMS’s regional manager for Europe, Tanas Alqassis told en that the pandemic presented locals with safe spaces to investigate matters of faith as evangelistic efforts moved online, reaching people who had never engaged in such ways before.