Sweden (MNN) – The Program for Theological Education by Extension’s (PTEE) courses are raising up Arabic-speaking leaders in the Church all around the world. Courses are guiding students in the Middle East and even in Europe.
PTEE’s Muna, who was previously a PTEE student, now leads courses in Sweden.
Muna’s Journey
Muna was born in Amman, Jordan and has moved to different areas of the world to work with refugees and immigrants.
“I studied sociology in Jordan, and I worked in Amman with refugees,” she says.
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in sociology, Muna worked in three refugee camps while she was in Jordan and taught health and social education in remote areas of the nation.
In 1986, she and her sisters became PTEE students, studying the book of Hebrews. Muna says her brother later became a student, as did his children and her sister’s children.
“PTEE has had a deep impact on so many in my family,” she said in a PTEE newsletter.
In 1989, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia and then later to London, working with different ministries, and finally, in 1993, she moved to Sweden.
Following her move to Sweden, she began supporting immigrants as they integrated into the culture of Sweden, which was different from their own. She also helped to explain what it was like to be a Christian in a secular nation.
“When we talk about family values, Christian values, so we talk about living in Sweden, how we as Christians [are] raising our children in a secularized country, how we can be wise, [and] how we can do things together.”
Recently, Muna also began coaching immigrants on how to find jobs to stop living on social benefits.
Muna says when she first moved to Sweden, she began to pray that a PTEE program would begin in the country. In 2004, her prayers were answered and a PTEE course began.
PTEE in Sweden
The PTEE courses in Sweden have been teaching believers how to share the Gospel effectively for 15 years now, but there are challenges.
“We face some problems because PTEE needs dedication. It needs people who know how to somehow spend time studying, and most, I can’t say all, but many of them [are] facing difficulties in this discipleship, how to take time and try to do the exercises right and analyze.”
Muna explains students are used to attending church, but there are different interactions and involvements between going to church and studying Bible courses.
PTEE requires students to analyze what they are reading, conduct research outside of the Bible, as well as reading and writing for assignments.
(Photo courtesy of The Program for Theological Education by Extension via Facebook)
“It was very hard for them to do it,” she says. “Many of them, they didn’t go to Sunday school when they were children, and many, many of them, they didn’t study after high school.”
As a result, students have had to change their study habits and learn to adjust to the heavy schooling of PTEE.
Along with these challenges, Muna has been acting as the sole PTEE tutor in the area as she has higher education and PTEE does not have another qualified Arabic-speaking tutor. She has led courses and met with students on a regular basis.
However, with the development of PTEE’s online courses, some of the weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and technology is making it easier for students to study and meet via the internet.
Help support PTEE’s programs through prayer and giving.
Pray for PTEE’s courses in Sweden and that more tutors will be recruited. Pray also for students to study well and be planted in the truth of the Gospel.
Finally, “we need financial support for the work. The work is great and we need people to be faithful in giving to the program.”
Support PTEE’s work here.
Header photo courtesy of The Program for Theological Education by Extension.
