By Pauline Nasri

During the hardest days of the pandemic, Zoom church was a blessing. Yet for many churches around the world, the return to in-person church has been rocky. Routines shifted, and even committed members seemed less available.

In Lebanon, this shift in church membership has been magnified by the exodus of Christians, seeking stability abroad amid a severe economic crisis. Meanwhile, ministry needs are growing.

Noticing this shift, Dar Manhal al Hayat (DMAH) and the Lebanese Evangelical Baptist Convention partnered together to host a consultation on an increasingly crucial skill: how to nourish and manage a church body.

The 9Marks series, translated into Arabic by DMAH, is a well-known resource that helps pastors and church members see what a biblical church looks like, and to take practical steps for becoming one. With this series in hand, leaders of 20 Baptist churches gathered to engage with scripture and practical implementation. John Folmar, senior pastor at the Evangelical Church of Dubai, led the discussion and focused on three books in the 9Marks series – Church Membership, Church Discipline, and Church Elders.