PLYMOUTH – One Arabic church sets the stage to create three new Michigan churches. Pastor Amgad Beshai of Evangel Baptist Church of Troy, a pastor, and a key strategist in the state’s Arabic ministry, is leading the way toward church multiplication among Arabic language communities. Two new church starts are projected to begin in the suburbs of Metro Detroit, and another church will be launched in another large city elsewhere in Michigan.
Beshai, and the church members at Evangel Baptist Church already launched a new church start during 2023 in Troy. North American Mission Board endorsed church planter David Selou and his wife, Rawa, received the needed sponsorship by Beshai and the congregation due to their longtime relationship. The Selou couple and their congregation share a space generously provided by Northfield Hills Baptist Church of Troy and Pastor Stephen Husava, which allows the English-speaking children in both congregations to attend Bible study together while the adults worship in separate services in their heart-languages.
Beshai and the members of Evangel Baptist Church boldly display one of the treasured values of Michigan churches, which is, “Normalize sentness because the urgency of the Gospel mission demands it.” They are not content to simply gather on Sunday, they believe their days should be filled with actions where they take the Gospel to others.
Beshai and the church established an impressive international, online presence years before others did during the pandemic. Beshai, a humble man, would hesitate to tell you about the thousands of followers he has on social media, but we can report it here. Beshai explained in a conversation one day, “I post things to bring people’s attention to the Lord, but I do not respond to comments online. I made that decision years ago, understanding that a personal conversation is much more valuable than a public post.” Beshai has on his heart the spiritual well-being of many throughout the Arabic communities in Michigan and overseas.
Earlier during 2023, members of Evangel Baptist Church returned from visiting family members in the Middle East. Reporting to Beshai that members of the families in the Middle East were suffering without food Beshai reached out to Tony Lynn, Church Planting Leader with the Send Network of the NAMB to ask what could be done. The church collected thousands of dollars, and Lynn created a direct connection with personnel with Send Relief and the International Mission Board to Beshai which made it possible for the funds to be directed to the need. The Southern Baptist Convention network responded rapidly and effectively due to the ongoing connection between local churches and worldwide efforts of relief and missions.
Lynn reports, “The missionaries were so impressed with the church’s actions and Beshai’s network with other Arabic speakers that they invited Beshai to visit Southern Baptist relief efforts in the Middle East. They want Beshai to see how he and others like him might come alongside Send Relief to disciple those who are coming to know the Lord in relief centers and refugee camps. Tony and Jamie Lynn have also been invited to join Beshai, at the end of 2023, on a vision trip to the Middle East to see how the Christian Arabic community in the United States can assist others throughout the world.”
Beshai and his family, who are originally from Egypt, experienced a call from the Lord to come to the United States. Beshai could have chosen a career and then served the Lord through his local church with his remaining time and energy but Beshai could not deny the Lord’s calling to come to the United States to serve as a pastor, so he pressed forward with his plans for ministry.
Before coming to the United States with his wife and children, Beshai traveled the Middle East in multiple countries helping in benevolent ministries, studying then teaching others, and sharing the Gospel as an evangelist.
Lynn explains, “Pastor Amgad Beshai and his wife Eman, along with their three adolescent and young adult children are shaping the direction of one of the most critical areas of ministry across the globe. We are thankful that their compassion, their wisdom, and their service found a home in Michigan. We are better with them in the ministry.”
If you are interested in assisting Pastor Amgad Beshai by contributing to strengthen any of the church starts, either as a one one-time gift or as a recurring contribution, you can write directly to Pastor Amgad Beshai at pastor@churchoftroy.org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe.
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