Middle Eastern Presbyterians in the United States
Rooted in the Apostolic Faith ...
Nurtured in the Reformed Tradition ...
Witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ ...
Presbyterian Middle Eastern Americans trace the origin of their faith to the apostolic age, and their Reformed roots to Presbyterian missions in the Middle East in the 19th Century. There are currently more than 60 Middle Eastern Presbyterian congregations and fellowships  in the United States, worshiping in the Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Farsi and Urdu languages.
The office of Middle Eastern Congregational Support provides spiritual and organizational services to enhance the ministry of Middle Eastern Presbyterian congregations and fellowships in the United States. Learn more.
Meeting the spiritual needs of refugees
The Rev. Edward Eissabake, pastor of St. John’s Assyrian Presbyterian Church in Turlock, with a member of the congregation. Photo by Amgad Beblawi Being a refugee and its outcomes — which may include loss of home, identity, family, career and ancestral roots, along with the failures and challenges of life in a new country — cause spiritual crises for many. The spiritual needs of refugees are often threatened and unmet. These include safety and security, trust, happiness, healthy judgment, values, hope, faith, self-respect and purpose of life. An environment of suffering, culture shock and victimization may leave people feeling like failures and rob them of their ability to make long-term decisions in their new lives. The fulfillment of their spiritual needs, however, leads to restoration of a sense of purpose for their lives and results in the tendency to care about and to help others.
In the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees (Assyrian and Arab) have arrived in the United States in search of safety and stability. Middle Eastern Presbyterian congregations are committed to welcoming, praying for, assisting and doing mission among refugees from the Middle East. When they arrive their needs often are overwhelming. Yet God has called these congregations to this mission and with God’s help these Presbyterians seek to be faithful in their response.
Among these congregations are St. John’s Assyrian Presbyterian Church in Turlock, California (Stockton Presbytery), and the Middle Eastern Presbyterian Fellowship in Tucson, Arizona (Presbytery de Cristo).
Learn more in the Mission Yearbook entry on Stockton Presbytery.
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The Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel, moderator of the 214th General Assembly (2002) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), was elected moderator of the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus (NMEPC) June 11 during the Big Tent event in Atlanta. 
