While serving God offers profound fulfillment, it also demands that individuals be properly trained and equipped for effective ministry. In this spirit of humble inquiry, the newly launched PhD program, a consortium of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), Bethlehem Bible College (BBC), and the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Cairo (ETSC), aims to increase the production of in-context theological resources for the region, and to serve as a voice to the global Church. As part of this initiative, out of the four students of the first cohort of PhD candidates, three students participated in a one-week colloquium in Beirut from 12 to 16 January 2026.

Throughout the week, each day began with a time of devotion that inspired mornings filled with heartfelt reflection. Walid Zailaa, Academic Dean of ABTS, welcomed the students and faculty and provided guidance throughout their stay. Evan Hunter, Executive Vice President at Scholar Leaders, discussed the rationale behind pursuing a PhD, emphasizing that its ultimate goal is the growth of the Church. Willem J. de Wit, ETSC Academic Dean, reflected on Psalm 23, highlighting how Jesus accompanies us even in the valley of the shadow of death. Yousef AlKhouri, BBC Academic Dean, focused on the story of the Canaanite woman, inviting students to hold on to their faith even through challenges. Dustin W. Ellington, ABTS Associate Professor, contemplated the role of pain in our lives, drawing insights from 2 Corinthians 1, while Kees van der Knijff, ABTS MTh lead, reflected on the principle that faith comes before understanding.

During the colloquium, students came together to learn, engage, and find encouragement as they began a journey of faithful dedication through a structured program. Students started their days with orientation sessions that introduced them to the program and provided guidance on their research projects. In addition, students completed the Critical Thinking course, taught by Parush Parushev, Associate Director for Academic Development at the Langham Partnership. They also completed the following four workshops: Introduction to Doctoral Studies with Martin Accad, President of NEST, Professional and Vocational Development with Caleb Hutcherson, Assistant Professor of Historical and Theological Studies at ABTS, Research Skills with Bernhard J.G Reitsma, Head of the Graduate School of the Protestant Theological University, and Proposal Writing with Hani Hanna, International Program Director for Langham Literature.

Moreover, on the final day, students presented their pre-proposals and engaged in constructive discussions with scholars from ABTS, BBC, and ETSC, receiving feedback on their projects. One of the students, from Egypt, selected a topic that supports the biblical role of women. She hopes to contribute to greater female representation and to support women believers from non-Christian backgrounds as they navigate the challenges of pursuing leadership roles in the Middle East.

Abdalrahim Kodi, from Sudan, is a pastor and a full-time lecturer in New Testament studies at the Nile Theological College (NTC) in Khartoum, where he also directs the Evangelical Cultural Centre. He explores the relationship between God’s plan and human actions, focusing on the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Kodi envisions a church in Sudan that is welcoming to all.

Emanuel, from Romania, serves as a pastor of a Pentecostal church in Transylvania. His research is a comparison between the Pentecostal experience of speaking in tongues and prophecy and similar mystical Sufi experiences in Islam. Emanuel also has a strong academic background in Islamic studies, having studied the field extensively over a long period. Reflecting on the colloquium, he shared, “This colloquium encouraged me through the example of those who have walked this path before me.”

We pray that God would use the students’ research topics to accomplish His will, not only in the communities they serve, but also beyond. May He guide them in every step, leading them through valleys of challenge and into the light He has prepared, a light that would shine brightly in the lives of those they serve.