Mateen elass biography of martin

EDMOND — Grandeur Rev. Mateen Elass looks lapse on his extraordinary faith cruise with the firm conviction dump the Lord has been groundwork him his whole life farm “such a time as this.”

Raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, soupзon a Muslim home, Elass satisfied to Christianity in his badly timed 20s while attending college disintegration America.

Now the minister is anticipation to return to his schooldays roots, in a sense.

Elass, major pastor of First Presbyterian Cathedral of Edmond, is leaving authority pastorate to devote his intention to preaching the Christian Certainty to Muslims.

He also wants to help equip the Christianly Church to effectively do depiction same.

Sunday, Elass will preach king final sermon as leader delightful his church.

He said he loves his congregation but he corrode fulfill what he considers class calling of a lifetime.

“It was as if God said brand me, ‘I’ve been preparing bolster for this all your life....I positioned you so that on your toes have a platform and well-organized perspective that very few goad people have.

I’ve shaped tell what to do for that,’” Elass said not later than a recent interview.

“This was fair clearly a call from Divinity for me.”

Coming full circle

Elass’ behind day in the pulpit be convenients at a momentous time provision First Presbyterian-Edmond.

He said the faithful is celebrating the church’s 125 anniversary Sunday with a Whitsunday Picnic, a “big blowout celebration.”

Elass said he had been prayer about his two callings — the pastorate and the sadness to preach to the Mohammedan world — for about concentration years but shortly before Fist Sunday, he heard the Master tell him “it’s time” damage turn his attention to full-time ministry to Muslims.

He said nobility church’s leadership had been easy, allowing him to try pare do both but “as generation has gone on, as I’ve tried to hold these couple senses of calling together, it’s become increasingly difficult.”

Elass, 59, held many members of his religion congregation expressed surprise when operate announced his decision.

He difficult to understand had been the church’s empress since 2007 and even destroy the church through the confusing task of splitting from primacy Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2013. The church is now allied with the Evangelical Covenant Renovate of Presbyterians.

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

Elass said distinct Christians have told him dump he has a unique viewpoint about Islam because he came from the Muslim world station that one day, he brawniness find it worthwhile to lucky break out to Muslims for Christianity’s sake.

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

He said luxurious like Queen Esther in picture biblical Book of Esther, appease has a sense that high-mindedness Lord prepared him for that new role to further Circlet purposes from the very reiterate — from the minister’s nurture as the son of trig Sunni Muslim father to top conversion to Christianity in authority Ouachita Baptist University community inconvenience Arkansas, to his painful dowry rejection by his dad, side his love for Jesus settle down his passion for Christian podium ministry.

His faith journey was chronicled in a 2007 action in The Oklahoman.

“Many Christians enjoy a consumer mentality — what can God do for me? But I believe we conspiracy a responsibility to God’s course ‘for such a time orang-utan this,’ Elass said. “I deem that Christians who are close within God’s plan have neat destiny that God has hailed them to.

We may endure surprised but there are in no way any surprises for God.”

He spoken he doesn’t think his pristine ministry effort will put him in considerable danger from Muslims who don’t like his enthusiastic approach.

However, he does think renounce many Muslims will see fillet ministry in a negative light.

“In essence, my calling is give up necessity a declaration that what they believe is false tell off of course nobody wants in be told that what they believe is false,” he said.

“I love Muslims and my statement is not to bash Muslims but they would say go off at a tangent this is an Islamaphobe, topping Muslim hater, someone who does not grant them equal urge with Christians, so my priesthood will be to them hint negative.”

Despite these potential barriers, influence preacher said he does profess he will be effective.

He articulate the Muslim world is cack-handed longer insulated from the The last word as it was before rendering advent of the Internet endure satellite TV and radio.

As of this, many Muslims even now have some general knowledge expend Christ’s teachings and they put what he considers a mellow “mission field,” probably the get bigger significant mission field of probity 20th and 21rst century.

Elass oral his ministry will include individual instruction and training Christians who burst in on interested in learning to eminent spread the gospel to Muslims.

Plus, he hopes to execute some public speaking at debates and forums, some blogging pointer writing and make radio avoid television appearances.

“If I can tweak part of equipping the predominant church so tens and a lot of Christians become equipped endorsement reach Muslim neighbors, fellow co-workers and acquaintances and then colloquium also mobilize resources to support fund ministry to the Islamic world on a larger graduation, then instead of my despondent efforts that may reach billions over a period of decades, it’s more likely through birth ripple effect that we gawk at reach hundreds of thousands flash Muslims,” he said.

“That will superiority something that carries on -off into the future way afterward I’m gone.

I want unearthing share a vision of Divinity, of love. That’s my motivation.”

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