In our last update on the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC), we shared the sad news of the seminary’s loss of three beloved professors (see previous update). And yet, despite this loss and its challenging consequences for the seminary, ETSC did not get discouraged. Instead, in grace and resilience, ETSC moved forward and continues its mission to form leaders and pastors for the Arabic-speaking church. 

In Iran’s shadowed landscape—marked by persecution, economic despair, and cultural wounds—John 1:5 resounds with divine promise: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This truth vividly animates the Radmard ministry in 2025, where God’s illuminating presence heals Persian-speaking men, restores families, and advances His Kingdom. 

In China, where Christianity surges despite tightening policies and cultural shifts, Christian Communications Limited (CCL) empowers a church pulsing with resilience and hope. From remote ethnic minority villages to vibrant urban centers, believers face daunting challenges: a shortage of trained pastors and difficulty engaging the next generation. Recently, CCL’s team shared stories of unwavering faith and bold innovation in China.

The people of Pakistan are enduring a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. This summer, and continuing today, catastrophic monsoon rains and flash floods have devastated more than one million people, including thousands of Christians. Homes, property, churches, and livelihoods were destroyed. Entire villages are submerged, roads and bridges wiped out, and families now face homelessness, waterborne diseases, and food insecurity.   

Exciting News from Lebanon – The Philemon Project GROW!

On May 1, 2025, our partner, the Philemon Project, celebrated the launch of GROW’s second center, expanding its reach in offering exceptional early Christian childhood development and adult mentoring programs.

Deep in the tropical lowland forests of southern México, the Lion of Judah is on the move. In the southern state of Campeche, the Presbyterian church in the small village of Manuel Castilla Brito is answering the call to bring light to neighboring communities. In partnership with the National Presbyterian Church of México and The Outreach Foundation, Iglesia El Buen Pastor (Church of the Good Shepherd), led by Pastor Eleazar López, has embarked on a bold mission to reach four nearby villages with the gospel.

Each summer, we share an update on the courageous work of our long-term partner in Pakistan: Pakistan Christian Recording Ministries (PCRM). Under the faithful leadership of Reverend Akash Emmanuel, a Presbyterian pastor, PCRM continues to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in one of the most spiritually challenging regions of the world.

Standing with Ukraine: A Trusted Partnership Amid Crisis

On August 15, 2025—day 1,269 of Russia’s brutal invasion—Ukrainians were glued to their media outlets awaiting word from the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Their hearts are heavy yet hopeful for a just peace. In this tense moment, The Outreach Foundation, rooted in our mission to fuel the global mission of Jesus Christ through trusted relationships, hosted a stirring conversation between a faithful donor from Northern Ireland and Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv. Our partnership, forged through three wartime visits delivering relief and trauma counseling training, embodies Christ’s love in action.

In Pakistan, where Christians make up less than two percent of the population yet endure relentless persecution, the Pakistan Bible Correspondence School (PBCS) in Faisalabad radiates hope. Supported by The Outreach Foundation and led by Eli Sardar, PBCS shares Christ’s gospel with the majority population and equips rural pastors lacking formal education, transforming lives in a nation where faith demands courage.

In 2024, PBCS reached over one million people via social media, ignited over two thousand conversations, distributed 544 New Testaments and 242 Bibles, and engaged 837 individuals in follow-up discussions, guiding many to faith.

In a region shadowed by geopolitical tension and historical trauma, the gospel is blooming. City Church in Lithuania is igniting a church planting movement in one of the least reached corners of Europe—what many call “Putin’s backyard.” Lithuania, a small Baltic nation bordered by Russia and Belarus, lives under the constant reminder of potential invasion. Yet amid this uncertainty, lives are being transformed, and Christian faith is flourishing.

The Outreach Foundation began partnering with City Church in 2023, drawn by its extraordinary ministry among Ukrainian refugees displaced by Russia’s war. Since then, The Outreach Foundation has visited the church three times

The war in Ukraine continues to tear at the soul of the nation, leaving devastation in its wake, especially for women and children. Yet even in the midst of sorrow, the light of God’s mercy is shining through His people. Across this battered region, partnerships are emerging that reveal His love, generosity, and compassion. The Church is becoming a beacon of relevance, and many are turning to Christ as a source of hope and healing.

One such partnership is with the Novus Foundation, led by Aneta and Pablo Montano. Their ministry spans humanitarian relief, trauma-informed psychological care, and the education of emerging church leaders.

Arabic New Testament in the Kuwaiti Dialect: One-of-a-Kind Project

Did you know that the Arabian Gulf is home to approximately 4-5 million Christians?! While most are expatriates, Kuwait has a small but vibrant native Christian community. What makes this community so uniquely strategic is its natural access to local non-Christians. As Kuwaiti citizens, they live and work among friends, neighbors, and colleagues who have often never encountered the message of Jesus in a personal or understandable way.

We are delighted to share that on June 7th, Bethlehem Bible College celebrated the graduation of 41 students—31 from our main campus in Bethlehem and 10 from our partner institution, Nazareth Evangelical College. This class represented nearly all our academic programs, including the MA in Theology in the Public Square, the BA and diploma in Biblical Studies, our Online Biblical Studies program, and the Hebrew diploma. We are incredibly proud of each graduate and the perseverance they have shown through challenging times.

Strengthening Pastors Across Brazil Through Mentorship

In August of last year, the SARA Institute made an intentional shift in how it communicates its mission. The word “association,” which felt too much like a social club, was replaced with “SARA Fraternity,” a term that better reflects the ministry’s deep commitment to journeying alongside pastors in friendship and relationship.

Our recent visit to Tete Province, Mozambique, was both productive and deeply inspiring. I traveled with Outreach Foundation Trustee Tom McDow and my wife, Elizabeth. While we had hoped for a larger team, we scaled back due to lingering unrest following Mozambique’s national elections.

We visited several villages alongside our local partners, including project director Sebber Banda, assistant director Rev. Carlos Faquione, and Presbytery Moderator Rev. Valentim Manuel. In Chimphako, we laid the groundwork for a new church to be built in 2026.

From International Antioch Ministries

We are overjoyed to share a powerful testimony from Brother Hossein, one of our courageous leaders in Iran. Amid the ongoing challenges of the Iran-Israel conflict, Hossein has opened his modest home to both believers and non-believers seeking refuge from fear and uncertainty. His heart burns with a passion to share the love of Jesus, and his home has become a sanctuary where the Gospel is proclaimed.

For many years, The Outreach Foundation has worked with partners in western Ethiopia in six United Nations refugee camps. Hundreds of thousands of refugees remain in the camps. Through partnership with U.S. churches and donors, we have been blessed to minister to and provide hope through trauma healing, Bibles in the Nuer language, and Christian education. A retired Outreach consultant recently traveled to Ethiopia and was given permission to visit several camps. He was hosted by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) West Gambella Synod. Here are excerpts from the report:

Earlier this May, we at the Children’s Bible Ministry in Cuba had the joy of welcoming a team from The Outreach Foundation and First Presbyterian Church in Thomasville, Georgia. From the moment we gathered, there was a deep sense of shared gratitude and expectancy. Among our visitors was Rev. Deena Candler, whose heart for children in Cuba has never wavered. As we caught up, she pulled up photos from her last visit in December 2022—photos of the very first children in our “Learning with Jesus” program.