About 3,000 teens from across the Middle East and North Africa will receive the message of the gospel in 2025 as part of outreach organized by Hunter Lambeth and Renay Mattar, two Blacknall-supported ministry partners. The pair visited with our congregation this past Sunday, sharing stories of their work throughout the region.

“Blacknall has been a partner to that ministry since the very beginning,” Hunter said. “All this ministry happening is a Kingdom investment that this church and this community have made.”

Hunter and Renay are part of Young Life, an international organization that introduces teens to Jesus Christ and helps them grow in their faith. They shared that they now have 30 native staff from the Middle East working with Young Life and about 300 volunteers.

Renay, who grew up in Israel and now lives outside of Nazareth, said staff have focused on a “deep love” for all in the region during ongoing conflict. It's in this care for one another she sees God at work among Young Life global workers and in the lives of people who hear the gospel.

“Hostile governments make it extremely challenging to share the gospel,” Hunter said. “And yet, God has opened so many doors and shown favor on this ministry and primarily given us some incredible men and women who wake up every day in those hard places determined to get young people in front of the cross and to introduce them to Jesus.”

Watch the full remarks from Hunter and Renay: