Christian Right leaders lunch with Arab Ambassadors

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Christian Right Leaders Lunch with Arab Ambassadors

Background by JewsOnFirst.org, July 25, 2007

On July 2nd, luminaries of the Christian Right had a lunch meeting with a large group of Arab ambassadors. The meeting was set up by Rev. Benny Hinn and Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy. Religious right attendees included Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals and lobbyist Ralph Reed, as well as the sons of Pat Robertson, the late Jerry Falwell and Paul Crouch of Trinity Broadcasting Network, among others.

As reports slowly emerged from the luncheon, it became clear that the Christians had pressed for an opening to missionize in Arab countries, while the Arab ambassadors' request was for the Christians to moderate their partiality to Israel. Reed said that was non-negotiable. Meanwhile, at mid-month the Benny Hinn Ministries website replaced its slide show (we've saved the link) with an exultant piece entitled "The Door is Opening," presumably to proselytizing in Muslim countries. Indeed, Hinn claimed that some ambassadors are going to open up stadiums for his ministry.

U.S. Evangelicals Approach Muslim Envoys

Bill Berkowitz, Inter Press Service, July 25, 2007

OAKLAND, Jul 25 (IPS) - That it happened at all was a major feat. That not much was resolved was not surprising. That those involved are determined to meet again is fascinating. That it was organised by a controversial faith healer has made it that much more noteworthy.

In early July, a historic meeting took place "behind closed doors" at the Egyptian embassy in Washington, the Washington Times' Julia Duin recently reported. The two-hour meeting, between mostly conservative U.S evangelical Christian leaders, and ambassadors and advisors from several Middle East countries, was "orchestrated" by the flamboyant Pentecostal evangelist Benny Hinn, founder of Benny Hinn Ministries.

"The meeting was extremely productive," said Hinn, a pastor well known for his international healing crusades. "We had a candid exchange of ideas. The Christian leaders who met with the Middle Eastern ambassadors and advisors represented many factions of the religious community, from evangelicals to Pentecostals and more traditional denominations, and from educators to political insiders." Continue.

Evangelicals, Arab envoys talk Israel

Jewish Telegraphic Agency, July 12, 2007

Top U.S. evangelical Christian leaders met with Arab ambassadors recently to discuss religious freedoms in Muslim lands and the perceived evangelical tilt to Israel.

The Christians came to the meeting July 2 with concerns about restrictions on Christian belief in Arab lands, and the Arab envoys wanted to discuss why evangelicals seemed unstinting in its support for Israel, the Washington Times reported on Wednesday.

Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition who attended the meeting, told the ambassadors that support for Israel was "largely non-negotiable" but that the evangelicals "would love" more positive relations with Arab nations.

The meeting at the Egyptian ambassador's residence in Washington including envoys from Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq and the Arab League. Pastor Benny Hinn, an Israeli-born Christian, organized it.

Many of the evangelicals attending are scions of preaching dynasties, including Rev. Jonathan Falwell, Paul Crouch Jr. and Gordon Robertson. Continue.

Benny Hinn and Christian Leaders Meet with Arab Ambassadors

Benny Hinn Ministries, July 11, 2007

In a historic meeting that marked a new era between Christian and Arab leaders, a select group of ambassadors and advisors from Middle Eastern nations met with a contingent of well-known religious figures.

The prestigious group met July 2, 2007, at the Washington, D.C., home of His Excellency Nabil Fahmy, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United States. Ambassador Fahmy, a career diplomat, has played an active role in numerous efforts to bring peace and understanding to the Middle East.

In addition to the gracious host, other Middle Eastern representatives included His Excellency Farid Abboud (Ambassador of Lebanon), His Excellency Hussein Hassouna (Ambassador of the League of Arab States), His Excellency Nasser Al Belooshi (Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain), His Excellency Amine Kherbi (Ambassador of Algeria), His Excellency Ali Aujali (Ambassador of Libya), His Excellency Samir Sumaid'ie (Ambassador of Iraq), Mr. Nabeel Al-Dakheel (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the State of Kuwait), Mr. Abdel Hakim Al-Eryani (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Yemen), Mahmoud Al-Hinai (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Sultan of Oman), Ms. Laila Alaoui (PR Counselor, Embassy of the King of Morocco), and Mr. Ashraf Salama (Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt). Continue.

Doors Are Opening

Benny Hinn, Benny Hinn Ministries, July 17, 2007

The opportunities before us right now are greater than any I have seen in more than three decades of service in the ministry. The doors that God has opened to the nations are truly miraculous!

I told you in my last letter that I met with a group of Arab ambassadors recently in Washington, D.C. They invited me to come to the Arab world and offered their stadiums!

Since then, to my amazement, a few days ago I was back in Washington, D. C., meeting with the Egyptian and Kuwaiti ambassadors. The Egyptian ambassador again told me clearly that I am welcome if we can work out several details. I assured him that we could take care of those details. He said, "If you can do this, we say ‘ Yes!’ to you." I was so overwhelmed to hear him say that we can come to his country!

My precious partner, the Lord is truly opening the Arab world for the preaching of the Gospel in a most remarkable way. And the Kuwaiti ambassador was extremely gracious to me and very open to allowing me to come to his country. Continue.

TBN’s Paul Crouch, Jr. Encourages Arab Ambassadors To Improve Human Rights

Susan Zahn, PR-GB.com, July 24, 2007

Ambassadors from Islamic Arab nations were encouraged to improve their human rights records, open up religious freedom and to speak against terrorism in a meeting July 2 with several Christian leaders attended by Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Vice President of Administration, Paul Crouch, Jr.

Los Angeles -- July 23 -- Ambassadors form Islamic Arab nations were encouraged to improve their human rights records, open up religious freedom and to speak against terrorism in a meeting July 2 with several Christian leaders attended by Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Vice President of Administration, Paul Crouch, Jr.

"This was a meeting hosted by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, DC, and was attended by the ambassadors from Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain, and the Arab League of Nations," says Crouch. "We explained to them that Christians loved the Arab people no less than the Jewish people, but that there needed to be more public outcry against terrorism, more attention paid to human rights, and that Islamic nations needed to respect and be open to all religions." Continue.

Christians and Muslims in historic meeting

Jonathan Falwell, WorldNetDaily.com, July 7, 2007

On Monday, July 2, I attended what I can only pray may become a historic meeting. Several weeks ago, I received a call about attending a meeting at the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C. I was told this meeting would be hosted by the ambassador from Egypt and might be attended by representatives of other Arab nations, as well as by 10-15 pastors, evangelists and Christian media representatives.

My interest stirred, I agreed to attend the meeting even though I was not quite sure of its purpose. I asked Dr. Ron Godwin, Liberty University's executive vice president, to attend with me. When we arrived at the Embassy, we were greeted by Evangelist Benny Hinn and introduced to several other pastors, evangelists, Christian TV producers and representatives of Christian organizations. Among them were Gordon Robertson of the 700 Club, Paul Crouch Jr. of Trinity Broadcasting Network, Christian lobbyist Ralph Reed, Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals, Vernon Brewer of WorldHelp and several others.

Within a period of no more than 10 minutes, the ambassadors from Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain and the ambassador from the Arab League of Nations all arrived. I now realized that this meeting was far more than a social gathering. Soon thereafter, we sat down at a large table -- evangelicals all on one side and Arab representatives on the other, about 24 of us -- for lunch. Continue.

"Beginning of a new era of understanding" heralded after historic Washington event

PR Newservice, Benny Hinn Ministries, July 11, 2007