Prime Highlights
- Regional church leaders said the graduation reflects God’s continuing work in calling both women and men for ministry across the Middle East and North Africa.
- Nila is recognised as the first Adventist prepared for ministry from her home country.
Key Facts
- The graduation marks the first time in Middle East University’s 85-year history that two women from the MENAUM territory completed theology degrees.
- Lila now teaches Bible classes at the same Beirut school where she first encountered the Adventist faith.
Background
Two women from the Middle East and North Africa Union Mission territory have become the first in the region’s 85-year history to graduate from the Department of Theology at Middle East University, one earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and the other in Religion. Regional leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said the milestone reflects God’s ongoing work in preparing both women and men for ministry across the region.
One graduate, identified as Lila, is from Lebanon. Though she attended an Adventist school in Beirut, she was not introduced to the faith until a volunteer Bible teacher invited her to study Scripture during recess. The lessons ended when she changed schools, but her interest persisted. About a year later, she and her mother came across an evangelistic series held at her former school, led by the same teacher. Lila, her mother and brother were later baptised, followed by her sister. She now teaches Bible classes at the same school.
The second graduate, known as Nila, comes from a country where practising Christianity is difficult. Her journey started after she quickly lost two brothers and then came across Bible lessons online. A series of dreams led her to consider ministry, and she was eventually baptised. She has become the first Adventist prepared for ministry from her home country and, now married, is preparing for ministry alongside her husband.
Regional leaders said the graduates’ stories showed that no heart was beyond the reach of God’s grace.
