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Against a backdrop of missile attacks, an outbreak of war, and a flurry of shelter-in-place alarms, a remarkable Gospel movement arose among Middle East Christians in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai.<\/p>\n
On February 25-28, Movement.org convened over 350 leaders for Scholars training, national strategy sessions, and Impact Day (Movement Day) Middle East. The conflict in Iran, just 80 miles from Dubai, started on Saturday morning as Impact Day was underway.<\/p>\n
A PLEDGE TOWARD UNITY<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cGod is at work here,\u201d said Mac Pier, founder of Movement.org. \u201cLeaders across the Middle East have strengthened relationships and pledged toward greater unity while the region spirals in chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2026 gathering in Dubai marked the eighth consecutive year that Movement.org has hosted Movement Day in the region. This year, our teams from the United States, the Middle East, and Asia equipped leaders from nine Middle East countries to bring spiritual and social transformation to their cities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an extraordinary several days here in Dubai,\u201d said Mac. \u201cIt feels like we are living in a world-historic moment. We hosted many of the great spiritual leaders of the Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n Because of travel restrictions following the outbreak of missile attacks in the city, Mac Pier and Movement.org Board Chair Bob Doll, along with about 100 city leaders who attended the Movement Day events in Dubai, had to spend several extra days at the host hotel. That time together bonded the group even tighter as they met for prayer in the morning and evening.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last week, there have been hundreds of missiles sent toward the UAE. It has reminded me of the early church, which was meeting in the context of being a minority religion against the backdrop of the Roman government,\u201d Mac said. \u201cAnd the church actually grew and thrived because believers were so dependent on God and dependent on one another. We have had that same sense here. There is a really strong sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n EQUIPPING MIDDLE EAST LEADERS<\/strong><\/p>\n On February 25\u201326, Movement Day Scholars Training was conducted in Arabic and English for 130 leaders from nine nations: Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE. The sessions were led by leaders from across the region and globe, including Movement.org board members Bob Doll, Rev. Gabrielle Beam, and Annie McCune, along with Josh Miles (Managing Director), Ilona Nagy (Global Ministries Coordinator), and Mac Pier.<\/p>\n The next day, each of the nine groups met as national teams to begin their decadal (10-year) planning. Lebanon has had three Movement Day Expressions. Jordan, the Holy Land, and Saudi Arabia are scheduled to start this year. Egypt will begin by 2027.<\/p>\n Dr. Andreas Zaki, President of the Protestant Churches of Egypt, was named chair of Movement Day Egypt.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Middle East community could double in size by our 2027 conference in Dubai,\u201d Mac Pier said.<\/p>\n Sona Kazanjian, Middle East Regional Director for Movement.org, said the time in Dubai was transformational.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was amazing to speak in Arabic, sing in Arabic, pray in Arabic, and have a very structured program built around the Middle East. The Scholars will go back home encouraged, knowing they have a mission to fulfill in their cities, and knowing they are not alone. They are partnering with God and with us. I’m believing God for big dreams.”<\/p>\n Impact Day Middle East was held on Saturday (February 28) for 356 leaders who prayed, worshipped, and collaborated around tables. The program was led by Dubai leaders who presented themes on family, marketplace and AI. Mac Pier and Bob Doll shared the history of Movement Day and its impact in New York City<\/p>\n \u201cThe New York story is inspiring leaders to dream big dreams for their cities,\u201d Mac said.<\/p>\n
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