Lebanese Baptist Convention

The vast majority of Baptists in Lebanon is part of the Lebanese Baptist Convention, the Lebanese Baptist Convention.

History

During a trip to the United States, the Lebanese Muslim Said Jureidini (1866-1952) converted to Christianity. He was baptized in the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis / Missouri 1893. The municipality decided to return Jureidini as their missionary to Lebanon, and furnished him with the necessary means.

After his return, Said Jureidini began with an intensive missionary work among his countrymen. In 1895 - two years after his baptism - could constitute a first Lebanese Baptist church in Beirut.

The thriving community work underwent further support of the American Baptist General Association, the forerunner of the later American Baptist Association.

Due to the effectiveness of the American Baptist pastor Joseph K. David was another Lebanese Baptist church in Rasheiya 1904. Their formation meant that was formed in Illinois, the country of origin of David, a missionary society, the Gospel Missionary Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist Union of the American South, David supported work. They sent in 1948 a missionary couple in the region around Rasheiya.

In the following years came other communities. In 1955 she joined forces to Lebanon Baptist Convention.

Organization and statistics

The Lebanese Baptist churches are congregational in structure -oriented. The local communities are therefore autonomous.

In the Lebanese Baptist Convention 28 congregations are members. He counts ( without children and friends) around 2000 members.

Each community sent according to their number of members delegates to the national convention community. This selects an executive body that carries out the decisions of the Congress and this should also be considered responsible.

The Lebanese Baptist Convention is a member of the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance.

Theological Education

The theological education of pastors takes place in the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut. This academic training center was established in 1960 with American help and directed with their offers to theology students from throughout the Arab world. The governing body of the university are located next to Lebanese MPs also the Baptist Unions of Jordan and Egypt.