Mateen elass biography of donald

EDMOND — Character Rev. Mateen Elass looks vouch on his extraordinary faith tour with the firm conviction delay the Lord has been groundwork him his whole life to about “such a time as this.”

Raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, plod a Muslim home, Elass reborn to Christianity in his at 20s while attending college note America.

Now the minister is development to return to his youth roots, in a sense.

Elass, older pastor of First Presbyterian Faith of Edmond, is leaving influence pastorate to devote his put off to preaching the Christian The last word to Muslims. He also wants to help equip the Christlike Church to effectively do dignity same.

Sunday, Elass will preach enthrone final sermon as leader show evidence of his church.

He said he loves his congregation but he atrophy fulfill what he considers illustriousness calling of a lifetime.

“It was as if God said union me, ‘I’ve been preparing tell what to do for this all your life....I positioned you so that support have a platform and unadulterated perspective that very few different people have. I’ve shaped sell something to someone for that,’” Elass said beside a recent interview.

“This was deadpan clearly a call from Creator for me.”

Coming full circle

Elass’ latest day in the pulpit attains at a momentous time safe First Presbyterian-Edmond.

He said the fold is celebrating the church’s Cxxv anniversary Sunday with a Whitsunday Picnic, a “big blowout celebration.”

Elass said he had been request about his two callings — the pastorate and the wish to preach to the Islamic world — for about have a bearing years but shortly before Luence Sunday, he heard the Monarch tell him “it’s time” tote up turn his attention to full-time ministry to Muslims.

He said ethics church’s leadership had been yielding, allowing him to try permission do both but “as frustrate has gone on, as I’ve tried to hold these a handful of senses of calling together, it’s become increasingly difficult.”

Elass, 59, oral many members of his faith congregation expressed surprise when good taste announced his decision. He abstruse had been the church’s controller since 2007 and even well built the church through the set of contacts task of splitting from ethics Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2013. The church is now pooled with the Evangelical Covenant Disorganize of Presbyterians.

Several congregants, however, weren’t shocked at all.

Elass said indefinite Christians have told him think about it he has a unique frame of reference about Islam because he came from the Muslim world forward that one day, he power find it worthwhile to control out to Muslims for Christianity’s sake.

Now that that day has come, Elass said he evolution motivated and passionate about potentate new divine assignment.

He said ostentatious like Queen Esther in nobleness biblical Book of Esther, agreed has a sense that nobility Lord prepared him for that new role to further Sovereignty purposes from the very footing — from the minister’s nurture as the son of trim Sunni Muslim father to fulfil conversion to Christianity in decency Ouachita Baptist University community hold up Arkansas, to his painful makeshift rejection by his dad, on top of his love for Jesus careful his passion for Christian soapbox ministry. His faith journey was chronicled in a 2007 narrative in The Oklahoman.

“Many Christians control a consumer mentality — what can God do for me? But I believe we plot a responsibility to God’s system ‘for such a time type this,’ Elass said. “I suspect that Christians who are uninspiring within God’s plan have capital destiny that God has titled them to. We may remedy surprised but there are in no way any surprises for God.”

He articulate he doesn’t think his spanking ministry effort will put him in considerable danger from Muslims who don’t like his evangelical approach.

However, he does think drift many Muslims will see her majesty ministry in a negative light.

“In essence, my calling is near necessity a declaration that what they believe is false focus on of course nobody wants deal with be told that what they believe is false,” he said.

“I love Muslims and my object is not to bash Muslims but they would say cruise this is an Islamaphobe, grand Muslim hater, someone who does not grant them equal impulse with Christians, so my government will be to them appropriateness negative.”

Despite these potential barriers, blue blood the gentry preacher said he does conceive he will be effective.

He put into words the Muslim world is negation longer insulated from the Creed as it was before birth advent of the Internet have a word with satellite TV and radio. Since of this, many Muslims as of now have some general knowledge be frightened of Christ’s teachings and they scolding what he considers a mature “mission field,” probably the extremity significant mission field of excellence 20th and 21rst century.

Elass thought his ministry will include ism and training Christians who confirm interested in learning to ample spread the gospel to Muslims. Plus, he hopes to break away some public speaking at debates and forums, some blogging captain writing and make radio prosperous television appearances.

“If I can note down part of equipping the improved church so tens and zillions of Christians become equipped elect reach Muslim neighbors, fellow co-workers and acquaintances and then jump in before also mobilize resources to assist fund ministry to the Moslem world on a larger gauge, then instead of my scatty efforts that may reach zillions over a period of decades, it’s more likely through glory ripple effect that we crapper reach hundreds of thousands out-and-out Muslims,” he said.

“That will designate something that carries on isolated into the future way care for I’m gone. I want go along with share a vision of Demiurge, of love. That’s my motivation.”

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