Marsh Arab Mission

 

WHO ARE WE:  A Statement of Identity

 

Our Objective as MAT Care and Community Development

 

TO CREATE AWARENESS AND ALLEVIATE THE PLIGHT OF THE MARSH ARABS OF SOUTH IRAQ.

 

Specifically: 

 

•     To obey the ‘Great Commission’ – as detailed below – among the Marsh Arabs of South Iraq.

 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw Him they worshipped Him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”                                                     Matthew 28:16-20

 

•    And to add to this we associate ourselves with the following truths: ALL ARE TO BE SEEN AS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND INSEPARABLE FROM ONE ANOTHER.

The Lausanne Covenant – specifically:  paragraph 5. Christian Social Responsibility.

 

We affirm that God is both the Creator and Judge of all.  We therefore should share His concern for justice and reconciliation throughout human society and for the liberation of men and women from every kind of oppression.  Because men and women are made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, colour, culture, class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignity because of which he or she should be respected and served, not exploited.  Here too we express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive…nevertheless we affirm that evangelism and socio-political involvement are both part of our Christian duty…

 

Baptist Union of Southern Africa:  A Statement of Belief. 1924 – specifically: 

 

5.       We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice, according to the Scriptures, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

 

The Baptist Confession of faith of 1689 – specifically: 

 

Paragraph 1.11      The Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule for saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

 

•    IN Support OF the above, We are also more than happy to associate ourselves with the following convictions from four books: 

 

The Cross of Christ with study guide.  John Stott 1989 (reprinted many times)  Inter-Varsity Press. England.

 

There is good biblical evidence that God not only suffered in Christ, but that God in Christ suffers with his people still…I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the Cross.”   (p.335).

 

Bring Forth Justice.  Waldron Scott. 1980.  Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. U.S.A.

 

“To be saved, therefore, is to respond to God’s mercy and judgement in faith, to be forgiven of all sin, and to experience a liberation that expresses itself not only in the pursuit of holiness, defined privatistically, but social holiness, which is Kingdom holiness, social justice.” (p.263).

 

Anabaptism and Mission.  Wilbert R Shenk (Editor). 1984.  Herald Press. U.S.A.

“Anabaptists were sending their missionaries where they could get a hearing, for ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…’” (p.17).

 

Carey, Christ and Cultural Transformation. Ruth and Vishal Mangalwadi. 1997. O.M. Publishing. U.K.

 

“William Carey was the first man to stand against both the ruthless murders and wide-spread oppression of women, virtually synonymous with Hinduism…The male in India was crushing the female…”  (p.6).

 

Finally, the modus operandi of our company can be reduced to 5 principles –

 

 

The Directors.