Middle East Resources


These articles, written by Shirley Madany over the past several years, have appeared in several different publications. Most of these articles were published in the Missionary Monthly, 4595 Broadmoor Avenue S.E., Suite 237, Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5365.

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM AND ELECTION DAY IN BAGHDAD by Shirley W. Madany May'05

Freedom comes with a price. And we are all debtors to brave men and women who have given their lives so that we can live as we do......

A PANORAMIC VIEW by Shirley W. Madany

The expansion of the Islamic world ... is a subject so enormous that it can't be exhausted in a life time. The mystery of Islam and its more than one billion adherents at the turn of another millennium is becoming increasingly relevant no matter where you are living.......

ALGERIAN MOVIE REVIEW by Shirley W. Madany

A movie produced by Muhammad Choueikh, an Algerian, and reviewed by Faysal Qassem in the Arabic magazine of the British Broadcasting Corporation--HUNA LONDON, was shown.......

AS SEEN FROM MANY ANGLES by Shirley W. Madany

Propagators of the Muslim faith have not wasted any time getting "online." We share the various items, and contrast them with some translations from Arabic-language magazines.

BOOKS EVERYONE SHOULD READ by Shirley W. Madany

Over the years we have acquired a considerable number of books focused on the Middle East......

COMPARING ISLAM WITH CHRISTIANITY by Shirley W. Madany Feb'02

People are searching for materials to help them understand Islam... In addition, he took the burden of our sins and gave his life as an atonement for our sins. Salvation is by grace alone. Because God is love, He calls us to love one another, even our enemies. What a difference between these two ways of believing...

THE COMPLEX NATURE OF MIDDLE EASTERN PROBLEMS by Bassam M. Madany

As we focus our attention on the Palestinian-Israeli problem, we have to recognize that the basic identity of a Palestinian Muslim is intimately connected with his religion. Since he considers that his religion has supplanted both Judaism and Christianity, he believes that neither of these faiths possess any legitimate claim to the land of Palestine. The underlying problem is theological and thus remains radically different from all other international problems.

CONVERTS AND MARTYRS by Shirley W. Madany

How often we regret our need to be circumspect when talking about converts.......

DISTINCTIVELY CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE - Daring to be Different by Shirley W. Madany

....those early Christians were not lacking in courage. No one had to ask them to live in a distinctly Christian way. They could not help but be different once they had decided to follow Jesus....

RECOGNIZING THE NEW DHIMMITUDE by Shirley W. Madany

Author describes personal experience of "dhimmitude" when she lived in Latakia, Syria. An experience which thousands of this world's citizens can relate to if they are displaced persons or refugees. 11/96wp12/98&12/02

ESTABLISHING A NEW BASE--AMERICA by Shirley W. Madany

How Muslims view immigration to America. Information in this article was taken from an Arabic-language magazine published in one of the Gulf States. It was meant to be an overview of the difficulties inherent in such a move.

FAITH COMES BY HEARING by Shirley W. Madany

"Are you encouraged by your work?" To that we reply: "Yes, we are". If ever one wanted to demonstrate an absolute reliance on preaching as the medium of bringing the Gospel.......

THE GREAT FEAST by Shirley W. Madany

With every flick of the dial we were in a different part of the Arab world. Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Tunisia were all coming in clearly......

FREEDOM by Shirley W. Madany

During the month of June 1994, many of us were transported back in time to those memorable days surrounding D-Day.......

DEFENDING THE FUNDAMENTALS by Shirley W. Madany

Do you find yourself more than ordinarily interested in the Muslim World? Then you may be interested.......

MORE GLOBAL WATCHING by Shirley W. Madany

In a previous article we made mention of a document called THE MUSLIM MANIFESTO which has been written and prepared by British Muslims to serve as a guide for their survival as a distinct and separate group.....

HOPEFUL SIGNS by Shirley W. Madany

A radio ministry provides a constant poll from which to estimate firsthand the effectiveness of a preaching/teaching format. There are the letters from.......

THE INTERNET AS A MISSION TOOL by Shirley W. Madany

.....The Internet is taking its place beside Christian radio missions and Christian TV missions.....

CRYING FOR JUSTICE by Shirley W. Madany

Take a few moments to remember the trials being experienced by the people of Kurdistan in the year 1993. Learn of two important books written by an Iraqi author about the Iraqi cruelty to these people. Titles of the books were The Republic of Fear: The Inside Story of Saddam's Iraq and Cruelty and Silence. The author, Kanan Makiya says: "Silence is a synonym for the death of compassion in the Arab world."

"KHILAFA" FOR BRITAIN? by Shirley W. Madany

Islamic societies and groups in Britain are on the march with continual meetings, lectures, book tables and debates. This article will open your eyes to a new kind of conquest--Islam in Britain. As recently as November 1999, a keen debate took place in London on this subject of Islamic rule. It's a call to action for all Christians.

WHAT'S THE ATTRACTION? by Shirley W. Madany

This article deals with the increased popularity of the Islamic faith in the west and the unfortunate contrast being made with what they call a "failed Christianity." Another debate, very different from the Khilafa Debate in November of '99, was held at Oxford in February 2000. Some surprising results.

THE HOUSEHOLD OF PEACE by Shirley W. Madany

There are things which we take for granted, such as our utilities and our mail service. We get rather upset when they fail us......

A PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVE by Shirley W. Madany

There is serious trouble in our world and it seems to center or swirl around cultural/ethnic/religious differences. One looks at the great sub-continent.....

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRISON MINISTRY by Shirley W. Madany

Christians facing long prison sentences ..... are feeling the call to bring the Gospel to fellow inmates, and in some cases to a particular group, namely those who have espoused the religion of Islam.....

REFLECTIONS ON THE "UNIQUENESS OF JESUS CHRIST" by Rev. Bassam M. Madany

A critique of some of the views expressed during the June, 1996, meetings of the Reformed Ecumenical Council regarding particularism, universalism and pluralism. Published in November, 1996, in THE OUTLOOK.

SHARED PROBLEMS: SHORTAGE OF WATER AND INCREASED POPULATION by Shirley W. Madany

Some wonderful things have been happening in the Middle East... we must be aware that there are some very real problems which must be faced by all parties in the Middle East, regardless of whether they are Israelis or Arabs; Muslims, Christians or Jews.

SLAVERY by Shirley W. Madany

A flare for history seems to be a prerequisite for understanding the Muslim world and its people. This time our subject is slavery.....

A TRIBUTE TO A MISSIONARY SCHOLAR – Written by Shirley W. Madany
for the October 1999 issue of Missionary Monthly

On August 7^th, 1999 a large group of friends and family gathered at the Heritage Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan, to participate in a memorial to the late Dr. Harvey Staal, a veteran scholar and missionary to the Middle East.

J. W. SWEETMAN: PIONEER MISSIONARY SCHOLAR - by Shirley W. Madany

A gripping story of a dramatic conversion illustrates a chapter titled "penitence and love" which was written by J. Woodrow Sweetman for a booklet prepared for the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1953. Sweetman, a missionary in pre-partitioned India, was one of the great scholars of the 20th century whose works deserve to be better known. His major works were published by Lutterworth Press in England in the 1960's. This article shares an excerpt of his work.

THE TREASURES OF ST. CATHERINE'S MONASTERY – Written by Shirley W. Madany
for the August/September 1986 issue of Missionary Monthly

The late Dr. Harvey Staal, veteran scholar and missionary to the Middle East, successfully worked on an ancient Arabic manuscript of the New Testament, containing the Epistles and the Book of Acts. For many centuries it was preserved at St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula. It was discovered in the early fifties, and after years of hard work, Dr. Staal published it in 1985 under the auspices of the United Bible Societies in Beirut, Lebanon. It is known as Mt. Sinai Codex 151. Increased interest in this important translation makes this article relevant reading.

WESTERN BAGGAGE by Bassam & Shirley Madany

The term "Western baggage" is frequently used in missiological circles. Some missionaries and missionary theorists torture themselves as they try to figure out .....

YEMEN - 1894-1994 by Shirley W. Madany

There is something special about Yemen, the fabled land of the Queen of Sheba ..... Located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian peninsula, the Yemen enjoys a fertile soil making it a unique kind of topography.....

YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBOR by Shirley W. Madany

The changing face of America as its Muslim population steadily grows. The need for every Christian to be familiar with this religion. The Muslim world has arrived in the west. 11/98 wp 12/98

Return to Middle East Resources home page