« Home | "Peak oil" and guarded optimism » | Make an easy start to gardening » | Does the city hurt the brain? » | Currently reading: Scripture, Culture and Agricult... » | Ghost, Inc. » | Can I make my home carbon-free? » | My thoughts exactly: Eucharist and unity » | Been a long time... » | Political Perspective from the Psalms » | "Change the World"? »

Christians in Qatar get churches

The Christian Science Monitor has a report about Qatar allowing public Christian worship in new sanctuaries constructed in an area designated "Church City." These are the first church buildings to be erected since Qatar became Muslim in the 7th century.

The new constitution that was adopted in 2003 permits freedom of worship. As is typical of Muslim states in the Middle East, however, that freedom doesn't extend to evangelism. Almost all of the Christians who will be worshiping in these churches are foreign workers. I wonder when we'll hear about some getting in trouble for trying to convert native Qataris...

I once met some folks who were missionaries in that area, and they said it was a very, very delicate day-to-day situation, quietly maintaining their legal humanitarian work and their not-quite legal missionary work.

Post a Comment