Why I LOVE Conferences

I was thinking about how amazing this past One Name Boston Conference was and how much it means to me (I was saved there in 2009) and to so many others, and so I was prompted to share these thoughts with you. They are from a sermon which I preached at another amazing conference in May - The Arabic Baptist Church of DC's Annual Conference, a.k.a. May Camp.

I love conferences like this one for a few reasons:

• The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ is always preached, which means two things will happen:

1. Believers will be encouraged, challenged and reminded of their need for God in life, holiness and ministry
2. Nonbelievers will hear the gospel - many for the first time - and some will repent, believe and be saved

• You see a lot of the same people and so continue to develop great friendships with other Christians and enjoy fellowship with them while also meeting new people and growing new friendships

Another great thing I love about conferences is the opportunity to reflect on my life and walk with the Lord and make any necessary adjustments - repent of something specific, consider my prayer life and Bible reading, be challenged by God's word etc.

That being said, these next verses from Isaiah 44 sum it up pretty well for me:

Remember these things, O Jacob,

          and Israel, for you are my servant;

     I formed you; you are my servant;

          O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

     I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud

          and your sins like mist;

     return to me, for I have redeemed you.

     Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;

         shout, O depths of the earth;

     break forth into singing, O mountains,

          O forest, and every tree in it!

     For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,

          and will be glorified in Israel.

(Isaiah 44:21-23 ESV)

1. Remember - God is your maker, that He formed us, and that we are His servants. Remember that he has loved us so much, that He died for us on the cross as our substitute, exchanging with us righteousness for sin.
2. Repent - Since He has lavished grace on us, since he obliterated our past, present and future sin from His sight, let us quickly turn and run to him - His love and grace for us is our motivation for repentance.
3. Rejoice! Sing because the LORD has redeemed us, He has bought us back and restored worth to us by the blood of Jesus. Let us break forth into singing because God has redeemed us and will be glorified in us! 

As I get ready to head out to another conference this week, this text speaks to the importance of these reminders and check-ups that must happen on a regular basis - individually and daily in our personal prayer time, weekly in our local church communities, and somewhat nationally with the global church as we meet for conferences like this. And so I'm really looking forward to this upcoming weekend in Harrisburg, PA where I’ll be attending the 28th Annual Young Adults Conference hosted by the Arabic Baptist Church of DC. where we will fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, have a great time worshiping God and sit under the preaching of his word.

June Update - Partnership Program

Hello family and friends,

Happy Summer! I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful and sunny season which the Lord has blessed us with here in New England. Though summer is just getting started, it has already been both eventful and fruitful.

Thank you for your prayers for my preaching during the Arabic Baptist Church of D.C.’s May Camp. The weekend was a great blessing, filled with conversions and baptisms. About 10 people gave their lives to the Lord and at least 7 were baptized. 

Some of you guys already know, my grandmother went to be with the Lord a few weeks ago. I was supposed to be in a week-long intensive class that week, which I immediately dropped in order to go home and be with my family and for the funeral. My family and I are very thankful for for God’s grace during that time period, and for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 

I also recently turned 23 years old, by God’s grace. I am so thankful for the Lord’s love, mercy and provision over the past 23 years, and for his leading and guiding to this day.

Please pray for:
-Our annual 4th of July Conference - coming up in less than 10 days
-The Sunday sermon which I’ll preach on the last day of our One Name Boston Conference
-My Exegesis of Mark summer class - which starts in 3 weeks
-Continued provision from the Lord that I might be able to raise the support I need for the next school year

In Christ,

-Fady

May Update - Partnership Program

Hello friends and family,

Watch My First Video Update Here! 

Greetings in Jesus' name, I hope this update finds you well! The spring semester is now over and I am officially finished with my first year of seminary. I have successfully made it to the finish line only by God's grace. This has been a long, challenging and rewarding semester. I have grown and learned a lot about God and myself. I am excited that summer is quickly approaching and have a few things I'd like to share.

This week I started a new job at the seminary. I work alongside the Scholarship and Development faculty and will therefore stay on campus most of the summer. I will also be taking two summer classes, Pastoral Counseling and Exegesis of Mark, which I ask your prayers for. 

I recently had the chance to serve at the Boston 2020 Vision - March for Jesus, at the Boston City Hall Plaza. I lead worship with a friend of mine there and we saw hundreds show up to worship Jesus. This weekend I am also blessed with another great opportunity as I will be preaching at the Arabic Baptist Church of D.C.'s May Conference. I am also excited to spend time with my brother this summer until he starts school again in the Fall at Moody.

Please pray for my ministry this weekend, that the Lord would give me the words to say and that He would use me at the conference. I would also ask for prayers concerning my summer semester for the classes I will be taking, as well as for my new job. And please pray for my fundraising as well; I will be raising support for this next year of my Partnership Scholarship the next few months. Thanks for your encouragement and support, may the Lord richly bless you!

In Christ,

-Fady

P.S. This is a picture of some of my housemates and I at the place we share on campus called "Pilgrim Hall"

March Partnership Update

Hello friends and family!

I hope this update finds you well and that by now you have accustomed to dating things as 2013 and not 2012! The Lord is faithful and has brought us all to this moment and circumstance by his grace and I’m truly thankful to be sharing it with you. I appreciate the time you have taken to read my updates, remember me in prayers, and be so supportive and encouraging. This has been an intense semester, and I’m growing and learning a ton. Classes are going well; though the work load is heavy, the material is engaging and exciting. My classes this semester are Greek II, Church History, Interpreting the New Testament, and Spiritual Formation for Ministry.

The last two weekends my family and I were blessed to have my younger brother Joe join us from Chicago during his spring break. We were able to spend some time together which was really good for us, and last Saturday he went back to school to finish the spring semester. This past month has also been an exciting one for our church and youth group. As a church family, we are planning ahead for the July 4^th conference and our Good Friday and Easter services, which we are so excited for in the coming weeks. I’ve also been working with the kids’ choir at Arabic Baptist and they have learned a couple of medleys which they will sing on Easter.

Last week class registration took place and I’ve got my class schedule figured out for the summer and fall semesters. It’ll be a busy summer as I’m taking two full courses in addition to participating in ministry at the church and my job, but I’m looking forward to it. I also have a trip to DC planned for next weekend, where I’ll be ministering with my friend Fares at his church, preaching at the youth meeting and leading worship at their Sunday service. On a personal note, I joined an intramural soccer team with my housemates and we will be playing once a week at Gordon College for three weeks. I am also planning a silent retreat for this week, where I take a day of silence with the Lord, which is something I’d like to make more of a monthly discipline in my life.

Thanks for sharing this with me and taking the time to read my update, I appreciate you J I am praying that you would be “filled with the knowledge of his will and spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col 1:9) I ask that you would pray for my classes, that I would have understanding and be diligent in approaching my studies. Please also pray for my trip to DC, that the Lord would give me words to say and use me while there to further his work. That’s all from me. Happy Easter! May the Joy of the Lord be your strength and may the resurrection of Christ captivate our thoughts this season!

Blessings,

Fady