The Revd Nabil Shehadi is the Pastoral Chaplain for Alpha International Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMENA) and the Alpha Course Levant Coordinator. He shared his encouragement and advice about mission and evangelism in a recent interview, ahead of the next Lambeth Call webinar.

The Alpha Course is an 11-week series of group conversations that allows participants to freely explore the basics of the Christian faith in an open, friendly environment. Revd Nabil is also involved in ensuring the provision of another of Alpha International’s offerings in his region, The Marriage Course which aims to empower and equip married or engaged couples to create and maintain a strong and fulfilling marriage.   

Can you explain how Alpha Levant came about and your role in it? 

I lived in London for 29 years, first working as an architect and after my ordination in the Diocese of London in 2001, I was involved with Alpha in several churches. In 2003-04, I was part of the London-based Alpha International team that helped to launch Alpha in Arabic with the Diocese of Egypt. This reconnected me with the Church’s mission in the Middle East. In 2005, as a Church Mission Society (CMS) missionary, I was appointed chaplain of the International Congregation at All Saints, Beirut. I also continued developing Alpha in Arabic as Lebanon Alpha Coordinator, and networking with churches in the region. As the Alpha ministry developed, I stopped my role at All Saints in 2015 and was appointed Alpha Levant Coordinator by Alpha International (as volunteer staff) to continue resourcing and supporting churches in the region. 

What are the unique challenges currently facing your mission? 

Some of the greatest challenges are developing the growing team in the Levant as part of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with the appointment of regional and national coordinators, and developing more contextualised resources both in terms of language (so far we’ve translated resources in Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Turkish and Armenian) and culture ( for example, addressing the Arab/Muslim culture of the Middle East).

Does Alpha and the Marriage Course work in other settings? 

Alpha International’s Mission Statement is “The evangelisation of the nations, the revitalisation of The Church and the transformation of society.” Alpha and Marriage Courses are being run in over 100 countries and 100 languages, in all church denominations, including Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and across all cultures, in all continents.

It is our greatest joy and privilege to serve the worldwide Church as part of the Alpha movement, with our motto ”What unites us (Jesus) is infinitely greater than what divides us”. The Alpha Course focuses on the Kerygma and avoids ecclesiastical topics that are divisive - over the last 40 years, I have seen it develop as an ecumenical course that has been tried and tested internationally, with continuous refinements. The course is endorsed by the Vatican’s “Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation”, and I am part of a working group developing Alpha in the Orthodox context. 

How have you contextualised the courses?

In terms of cultural contextualisation, the Chinese Alpha film series has led the way in the production of a version for its context, and similar editions are being worked on for Africa and the Middle East alongside the international version. It is the same with The Marriage Course video resource, with its latest edition that is truly international, with participants from all continents. The course is accepted in places as diverse as Communist China and Muslim Malaysia. The new Alpha Youth Series 3.0 was designed after listening to teenagers around the world and noting their questions and concerns. 

What inspires you about the Lambeth Call on Mission and Evangelism? 

I love the beautifully worded and recurring encouragements to churches to share Christ with the world, through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is our passion as Alpha teams in all countries around the world, as expressed by our Mission Statement: “Our mission is to serve the Church in its mission to help people discover and develop a relationship with Jesus.”  

What advice would you give your younger self about mission and evangelism? 

Abide in Christ and be fruitful and joyful in him. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Practice gracious hospitality. Love generously. Listen intently. Ask questions. Share Jesus, not a doctrine or a religion. 

What prayer or encouragement would you give to Anglicans around the world as they share the Good News of the Christian faith? 

Let us fulfil the prayer of Jesus: ”That all of them may be one… that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:21).

May we do the mission of Jesus as He commissioned us:  Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22).

May our mission be incarnational and Trinitarian. Mission is tiring! Let us answer His invitation: ”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light .” (Matthew 11:28-30). Let us learn from Jesus about being and doing in Him.