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When Dr. R.C. Sproul founded Ligonier, he charged the ministry to “reach as many people as possible” with the truth of God’s holiness. That means sending solid biblical teaching to many nations and in many languages, trusting that God will use this work to awaken His people to His holy character.
Over the past decade, Dr. Sproul’s global vision has increasingly become a reality. Many Reformation Trust books and Ligonier teaching series have been translated into other languages. The Reformation Study Bible is now available in German and Korean, with Portuguese and Spanish editions coming soon. Significant outreach is taking place across Latin America with the launch of our radio broadcast Renovando Tu Mente, the Spanish edition of Renewing Your Mind. And these outreaches are only the beginning as God opens up new Great Commission opportunities.
The recent addition of Ligonier’s Arabic outreach marks another important milestone for the ministry. This initiative is being led by Dr. S. Gendy, who has joined our international outreach team and who brings extensive experience in reaching the Middle East and other Arabic-speaking regions of the world. Under the leadership of Humphrey Dobson, our director of international outreach, the development of a global network of translators and linguistic specialists for Arabic and other languages is already underway. We are overjoyed with the team the Lord has brought together and thankful for the support of our generous donors who make this new outreach possible.
The Arabic-Speaking World: A Great Commission Opportunity
Now is a pivotal time in the Arabic-speaking world for the sake of the Great Commission. Weary of violence and oppression, many Muslims have become disillusioned with Islam. In fact, one missionary organization describes it as an era of “unprecedented, growing disenchantment with Islam worldwide.”
For Christians, persecution is a brutal reality in many parts of the Arabic-speaking world. Some suffer violence and are even driven from their homes and separated from their families. In the midst of these trials, biblical and theological resources are scarce. You and I have a clear opportunity to provide the comfort and hope of God’s Word to individuals, families, and congregations.
Of the world’s most spoken languages, Arabic ranks fifth with about 420 million speakers. Because the Arabic-speaking world spans multiple countries and people groups, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to gospel ministry there. We must bring the truth of God’s Word to a wide spectrum of spiritual climates within the Arabic-speaking world, requiring that we not only supply churches with trustworthy resources but also that we continue to learn how best to support the evangelistic and discipleship needs of each region.
Stepping In to Serve: Ligonier’s Arabic Outreach
Ligonier aims to bring faithful Bible teaching to Arabic-speaking people worldwide, equipping them to present the gospel, defend the faith, and grow as disciples. In time for the four-hundredth anniversary of the Canons of Dort this year, we were delighted to launch what we believe to be the first-ever translation of the canons into Arabic. This has received a warm welcome from Christians in the Middle East and North Africa.
Just as in the English-speaking world, new advances in technology have enabled publishers to distribute digital resources to millions while discreetly serving individual Christians living in the most hostile conditions. Through social media and online and offline access to e-books, audiobooks, videos, articles, and devotionals, even those in “closed” Islamic countries can find trustworthy teaching that stands on the authority of Scripture and remains faithful to historic Reformed Christianity. They may be surrounded by spiritual darkness, but the light of the gospel is breaking through. We at Ligonier seek to prayerfully and strategically maximize the opportunities before us to the glory of God alone.
If you know a church, a missionary on the field, or anyone else who could benefit from resources in Arabic, consider letting them know about http://ar.Ligonier.org. Above all, please pray for this new and needed outreach made possible by our supporters.